Terrific Chapter Book Series for Kids

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Affiliate Links Discovering a terrific chapter book series is the gold at the end of the rainbow. For kids who struggle to find a book that will get them reading, a good book series is the answer! Once they’re hooked, then they don’t have to worry about what to read next. (At least for awhile.)

Here are chapter book series that I hope will get your readers excited to read.

Beginning Reader Book Series

good chapter books in series for beginning readers
Meet Yasmin!
by Saadia Faruqui, illustrated by Hatem Aly
ages 6 – 9
What an adorable main character! Yasmin is an exuberant girl who is interested in everything from exploring to building to fashion. This book tells four short stories from Yasmin’s life, all in chapters with lively, full-color illustrations. Each story shows Yasmin as a creative problem solver even when things get hard. Her Pakistani American culture is embedded throughout the story such as the foods Yasmin’s family eats like naan or how she calls her father Baba. I LOVE the diversity, the gutsy main-character, and the beautiful design of the entire book.
If you like this series, try Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke.

 

All Paws on Deck (Haggis and Tank Unleashed #1) More Good Book Series for Kids
All Paws on Deck (Haggis and Tank Unleashed #1)
 by Jessica Young
2 book series so far (ages 6 – 8)
In a word: HILARIOUS! These two dog friends with opposite personalities (and intelligences?) sail on a fun and silly pirate adventure. You will fall in love of Tank and Haggis.
If you like this, try Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst.

 

Terrific Chapter Book Series for Kids
Waggit’s Tale 
by Peter Howe
3 book series (ages 6 – 8)
Waggit is abandoned in the park. Fortunately, a group of dogs takes him in and helps him survive. He lives with them for many months, including a hard winter, but when a friendly woman feeds him and gives him a home, he finds his forever home.
If you liked this, try Dogs of the Drowned City by Daya Lorentz.

 

Terrific Chapter Book Series for Kids
Here’s Hank
 by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver
8 book series (ages 6 – 9)
Fourth grader, Hank, is a relatable character for whom learning doesn’t come easily. This is a easy to read, well-written, beginning illustrated chapter book series for readers transitioning to chapter books.
If you like this try The Vanishing Coin (Magic Shop Series) by Kate Egan and Mike Lane.

 

More Good Book Series for Kids

Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel
9 book series (ages 6 – 8)
In a word: Hilarious. We all think Bad Kitty is very naughty and oh so funny. These books are fun to reread over and over.
If you like this, try Zeke Meeks vs the Putrid Puppet Pals by D.L. Green.

 

Middle-Grade Book Series

 More Good Book Series for Kids
Killer Species by Michael P. Spradlin
4 book series (ages 8 – 12)
Kids love this easy, fast-paced adventure series about a mad scientist who creates a scary hybrid crocodile-dinosaur-bird killer creature to stop visitors from entering the Everglades. Emmet and his father arrive to investigate but when his father is kidnapped, Emmet and his friend, Calvin, know it’s up to them to find where the kidnapper is holding Emmet’s father. GREAT for reluctant readers — and anyone who loves a crazy sci-fi who-done-it!
If you like this, try I Survived by Lauren Tarshis.

 

More Good Book Series for Kids
The Baby-Sitter’s Club Graphix by Ann M. Martin, illustrated by Raina Telemeter
(ages 8 – 12)
This classic chapter book series is now retold in cartoons! Four best friends work together to handle all sorts of issues — from babysitting to emergencies, to competition from other babysitters. Your kids will love these excellent, addictive stories.
If you like this, try Sisters by Raina Telgemeier.

 

More Good Book Series for Kids
Chasing the Falconers by Gordon Korman
6 book series (ages 8 – 12)
Aidan and Meg Falconer are their parents’ only hope. The Falconers are facing life in prison — unless Aidan and Meg can follow a trail of clues to prove their innocence. The problem? Right now they’re trapped in a juvenile detention center. Until they escape one night — and find themselves on the run, both from the authorities and from a sinister attacker t who has his own reason to stop them. The Falconers must use their wits to make it across the country … with plenty of tests along the way. GREAT series for reluctant readers!
If you like this, try  Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Hadix.

 

Terrific Chapter Book Series for Kids
Dragon Slippers trilogy by Jessica Day George
3 book series (ages 8 – 12)
Young and brave Creel wants nothing more than to own her own seamstress shop but in her pursuit of this dream, she encounters and befriends a few dragons which will change the course of her life. Especially because she’s given a pair of magical dragon slippers that can help her speak and control to her most esteemed dragon friend. If these get into the wrong hands, the dragons will be used for war.
If you like this, try Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland.

 

good book series for middle grade readers
Ghost
by Jason Reynolds
ages 8 – 12
Ghost accidentally gets on a track team and it’s life changing. His coach becomes a mentor and father figure who pushes Ghost to take responsibility for his mistakes (stealing sneakers) and to start dealing with the ghosts of his past. Well-written and hopeful about growing up and growing into yourself.
If you like this, try Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt.

More Good Book Series for Kids
The Kicks
by Alex Morgan
5 book series (ages 8 – 12)
Finally, a fantastic book (series) for soccer girls! Written by Olympic Gold Medalist and U.S. Soccer team member (among other things), Alex Morgan, these are realistic stories of life, friendship, and playing soccer.
If you like this, try Liberty Porter by Julia DeVillers.

 

Terrific Chapter Book Series for Kids
Tunnels
 series by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams
4 book series (ages 9 – 12)
In pursuit of his missing father, Will finds a crazy, cult-like subterranean group (“The Colony”) controlled by frightening leaders who will stop at nothing to maintain control and order in their colony below the surface.
If you like this, try Vampirates by Justin Somper.

More Good Book Series for Kids
Spy Camp
 series by Stuart Gibbs
3 book series (ages 8 – 12)
12-year old Ben accidentally is recruited for a secret spy school. Which he kind of loves. Even though people are trying to kill him. And even though he’s not an encryption wizard. This is a fantastic, fast-paced and hilarious adventure series.
If you like this, try School for  S.P.I.E.S. Playing with Fire by Bruce Hale.

 

Terrific Chapter Book Series for Kids
Nightmares!
by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller, illustrated by Karl Kwasny
2 book series (ages 8 – 12)
Now with a second book that is JUST as amazing as the first book, I can say this is a superbly written and conceived series. Charlie lives in a purple mansion with a portal to the world of nightmares. Charlie, his little brother, and his friends must learn to face their fears in order for the nightmare world not to have access to the real world.
If you like this, try Starcatchers series by Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson.

 

More Good Book Series for Kids
H.I.V.E. (Higher Institute of Villainous Education)
by Mark Walden
10 book series (ages 8 – 12)
Otto is a prime candidate to become a supervillain says the school H.I.V.E. that kidnaps him, enrolling him unwillingly in their island school for villains. Otto and his classmates plan a daring break-out. Plus they need to stop the mutant flesh-eating plant that’s attacking everyone in the school. A great adventure series!
If you like this, try Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz.

 

The Books of Elsewhere The ShadowsMore Good Book Series for Kids
The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows
 by Jacqueline West
5 book series  (ages 8 – 12)
Olive’s house contains paintings that lead to other worlds and mysteriously cryptic, talking cats. Olive soon learns that the previous owner’s trapped many people in the paintings, including a boy Olive befriends who is now a 2D painting. The plot’s twisting kept me wondering what was happening, and I loved the main character’s gumption and her supportive side-kick cats.
If you like this, try Inkheart by Cornelia Funke.

 

I.Q. by Roland Smith
I, Q. series
 by Roland Smith
6 book series (ages 10+)
Step-siblings Q and Angela are being followed and in danger while touring with their rock star parents. Is Angela’s deceased mother’s past catching up with them? And is she really even dead? These are thrilling books filled with adventure and intrigue that will mesmerize readers.
If you like this, try Crime Travelers\ by Paul Aertker.

 

Best Fantasy Books (for Kids)
Lockwood & Co The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
4 book series (ages 9 – 12)
In historical London, dangerous ghosts and spirits aren’t just stories — they’re real and murderous. But, only kids can see and fight these sectors. We follow the perilous adventures Anthony Lockwood who owns his own agency (with no adults in sight) to combat the supernatural with his teen team of Lucy and George. Creepy and exciting!
If you like this, try The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason.

 

Five Kingdoms Terrific Chapter Book Series for Kids
The Five Kingdoms
by Brandon Mull
5 book series (4 published so far) (ages 8 – 12)
Cole and his friends are trapped in another world, a world of dangers and magic rules by an evil High King. But Cole doesn’t know where his friends are. This series follows Cole’s adventures through the kingdoms as he searches for his friends, his new friendships, a quest to topple the High King, and more. It’s exciting, it’s unique, and I highly recommend it.
If you like this, try The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen.

 

Terrific Chapter Book Series for Kids
Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger (series)
3 book series (ages 8 – 12)
In this riveting series, a telepathic girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world—before the wrong person finds the answer first. When Sophie meets Fitz, a mysterious (and adorable) boy, she learns she’s not alone because he’s a Telepath too. Fitz opens Sophie’s eyes to a shocking truth, and almost instantly she is forced to leave behind her family for a new life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known. But Sophie still has secrets, and they’re buried deep in her memory for good reason: The answers are dangerous and in high-demand. What is her true identity, and why was she hidden.
If you like this, try The Cloak Society by Jeramy Kraatz.

 

ages 8 – 12
Lucy joins coding club so she can make an app for her uncle to remember his medications. But the class is moving TOO slow. Then, a mysterious letter arrives on her locker with instructions in code:
if (you_want_to_learn_code) {
 do_everything_I_tell_you ();
}
The subsequent messages in code put her back in touch with old friends and help her build a new friendship. But who is sending her messages? Whoever it is, they’re teaching Lucy and her friends about input/output, conditionals, loops, and variables. To solve the mystery, the girls decide to write their own code . . . This series is off to a great start with an intriguing mystery, friendship dilemmas, and tangible coding knowledge. I’m impressed.
If you like this, you might also like Elements of Genius: Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray by Jess Keating.

 

More Good Book Series for Kids
The Iron Trial
(Magisterium) by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
2 book series so far (ages 8 – 12)
Even though Callum tries to fail the entrance trials, he is admitted the school his dad says is evil. But the Magisterium school is not as bad as he expects. Call learns about his elemental powers, he forges bonds of friendship with his teammates and rescues a wolf puppy who is infused with the evil magic of Chaos. I couldn’t put this book down — especially after the surprise twist of who Callum really is!! The second book, The Copper Gauntlet, is now out and just as excellent as the first.
If you like this, try The Paladin Prophecy by Mark Frost.

 

Terrific Chapter Book Series for Kids
The Paper Magician
 by Charlie N. Holberg
3 book series (ages 13+)
In a world where magicians specialize in a specific magic (metal, paper, and so forth), magician-in-training Ceony is assigned to learn from Magician Emery Thane. When his ex-wife tries to kill him, Ceony animates a magical heart to save Emery’s life then leaves to fight the evil magician Excisioners. As the story develops, so does the attraction between Emery and Ceony. Great character development and fast-paced action.
If you like this, try The Agency by Y.S. Lee.

 

More Good Book Series for Kids
Jackaby
by William Ritter
3 book series (ages 13+)
Desperately needing a job, Abigail hires on with R.F. Jackaby, an unusual private detective who observes details like Sherlock Holmes just like Abigail does. This combines the history of New England plus mystery and magical elements.
If you like this, try A Darker Shade of Magic y V.E. Schwab.

 

Terrific Chapter Book Series for Kids
Air Awakens by Elise Kova
4 book series (ages 13+)
Vhalla, a former librarian-in-training, learns she is the only air elemental in the kingdom and becomes a slave to the king’s army and his wishes. She’s conflicted by her friendship (and possible romance) with the crown prince, Aldrik and the limited choices she has — to fight or die.  I love this magical series!
If you like this, try Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder.

 

Terrific Chapter Book Series for Kids
The Grisha Shadow and Bone
 by Leigh Bardugo
3 book series (ages 13+)
When Alina’s powers reveal themselves, surprising even her, she’s taken to the magical leader, the Darkling, to train with the Grisha and serve the Darkling in his fight against the Shadow Fold. This is a unique and compelling fantasy series.
If you like this, try An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir.
great books in series that kids love to read

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