Chapter Books
One of the manuscripts I’m working on in my own writing is for a chapter book, that small but delightful publishing industry category of books for those kids just beginning to be independent readers. It’s not the same as early readers, which are limited in vocabulary, and it’s not quite middle grade, which can include books as complex as Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. Chapter books must be accessible and suited to early elementary kids without pandering or becoming simplistic. The admirable and vast Magic Tree House and Junie B. Jones books are perhaps the reigning champs of chapter book series. Below are a few more that I recommend with both thumbs up.
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Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen (started 2005)
These were a favorite in my house, getting lots of re-reading. DiCamillo and Van Dusen populate Decawoo Drive with over-the-top characters sure to please kids. Mercy is a pig who is treated like a dog and manages to get into and out of a lot of trouble.
Alvin Ho series by Leuyen Pham and Lenore Look (started 2008)
Alvin is scared of a lot of things. At home, life is easy and great, but out in the world, there are elevators, girls, and school to fear. Look and Pham handle Alvin with care and show readers that it’s okay to feel anxious sometimes.
Dory Fantasmagory series by Abby Hanlon (started 2014)
Dory and her imaginary world are so inviting you don’t want to leave the book. When her siblings reject her, Dory retreats into her own world, where magic and danger abound. Dory is a wacky friend that kids will love.
Jasmine Toguchi series by Debbi Michiko Florence and Elizabet Vukovic (started 2017)
Jasmine loves her school, friends, family, and flamingos! Florence and Vukovic tell of the struggles and joys of being young. Jasmine is Japanese-American and parts of Japanese culture form a theme through the books.
Cilla Lee-Jenkins series by Susan Tan and Dana Wulfekotte (started 2017)
Cilla is half Chinese, half Jewish, and an aspiring author. She is rushing to finish her autobiography before her baby sister is born and her family forgets all about her. I adore this book and its two sequels. Cilla is appealing and funny and would make a great friend. I’ve seen this categorized at the library as middle grade, and I agree that it become more sophisticated as the series goes on.
Yasmin series by Saadia Faruqi and Hatem Aly (started 2018)
Yasmin is a second grader who loves to dream big. She tackles problems like the science fair, an English class assignment, and tension with friends. Yasmin is Pakistani-American, and I appreciated seeing her world and family depicted as both special and ordinary.
Dragons in a Bag series by Zetta Elliott and Geneva B (started 2018)
Jax’s mother dumps him with a weird old lady, who 1) turns out to be his grandmother, 2) is a witch, and 3) has dragons! Set in Brooklyn, this series is charming, suspenseful, and full of mischievous dragons.
Stella Diaz series by Angela Dominguez (started 2018)
Stella is a Mexican-American kid who sometimes gets words mixed up in her bilingual head. She loves animals and that takes center stage in many of the books in this series. Dominguez depicts how having a green card makes Stella feel — it’s great to show this aspect of the immigrant experience.
The Questioneers series by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts (started 2019)
Beaty and Roberts started the Questioneer characters in the picture book Rosie Revere, Engineer. They took Rosie and the others into these chapter books where the kids explore the world around them and solve problems they encounter. Great STEM content in a lively and engaging package.