This list is ever-evolving. Feel free to message/comment and let me know what you think. If you’re looking for my other book lists, click HERE.

1. The Mercy Watson Series by Kate DiCamillo
Mercy, a lovable pig with a big personality, lives with the Watsons and gets into amusing misadventures. (Early Chapter Book)

2. The Never Girls Series by Kiki Thorpe
Four friends discover a magical portal to Neverland, where they have adventures alongside the fairies of Pixie Hollow. (Early Chapter Book)

3. Cam Jansen Mystery Series by David A. Adler
Cam Jansen, a young girl with a photographic memory, uses her unique skill to solve mysteries. (Early Chapter Book)

4. Dolphin Adventure by Wayne Grover
Based on a true story, a scuba diver rescues a baby dolphin and forms a special bond with the pod. (Chapter Book)

5. The Year of the Baby by Andrea Cheng
When Anna’s family adopts a baby from China, she learns about responsibility, sibling love, and her Chinese heritage. There are other books in this series that my kids enjoyed as well. (Chapter Book)

6. Mindy Kim Series by Lyla Lee
Mindy Kim, a young Korean American girl, navigates moving to a new town, school, and friendships while starting her own snack business. These books are so fun and I love how they introduced us to new foods and culture. (Early Chapter Book)

7. Zoey and Sassafras Series by Asia Citro
Zoey and her cat Sassafras help magical animals by using science to solve their problems. One caveat I have with this series is that the dad isn’t in on the secret, so I used it as an opportunity to talk about that. (Early Chapter Book)

8. Encyclopedia Brown Series by Donald J. Sobol
Boy detective Leroy “Encyclopedia” Brown solves mysteries with sharp observation and reasoning skills. (Early Chapter Book)

9. Nancy Drew Clue Crew Series by Carolyn Keene
Young Nancy Drew and her friends solve mysteries in their hometown, introducing readers to the iconic sleuth. (Early Chapter Book)

10. Nancy Clancy Chapter Book Series by Jane O’Connor
Fancy Nancy is all grown up, using her fabulous flair and wits to solve mysteries with her best friend. (Early Chapter Book)

11. Amelia Bedelia and Friends Series by Herman Parish
Amelia Bedelia’s quirky literal interpretations lead to funny and relatable moments as she navigates school and friendships. This is also a great way to talk about idioms. (Early Chapter Book)

12. Felix Powell: Boy Dog by Jane Breskin Zalben
Felix Powell, a boy who believes he’s a dog, explores family and self-acceptance in this charming tale. (Chapter Book)

13. Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne
Jack and Annie travel through time and space on magical adventures, learning about history, science, and culture. I love to pair these books with holidays and history lessons.(Early Chapter Book)

14. Sophie Mouse Series by Poppy Green
Sophie Mouse and her friends explore the enchanting Silverlake Forest, facing challenges with courage and kindness. I always recommend these as read alouds as well. (Early Chapter Book)

15. Meet Addy by Connie Porter
Set during the Civil War, Addy, an enslaved girl, escapes to freedom with her mother and builds a new life. This is a heavy book and a good way to gently introduce the concept of American slavery in history. Pre-read yourself or read aloud so you can talk about the BIG topics covered. (Chapter Book)

16. Jeanie and Genie Series by Trish Granted
Jeanie’s best friend Willow is a genie! Together, they navigate the ups and downs of elementary school and magic. (Early Chapter Book)

17. Frankie’s Amazing Bakery Series by Louise Hudson
Frankie and his friends run a magical bakery, mixing delightful treats with friendship and fun. (Early Chapter Book)

18. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
Wanda, a quiet girl teased for wearing the same dress daily, surprises her classmates with her talent and kindness. (Chapter Book)

19. Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus
A poetic tribute to America’s flag, diversity, and history, accompanied by stunning illustrations. The topic of this is important, but age appropriate. (Picture Book)

20. Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
Ramona, an enthusiastic kindergartener, learns about growing up while dealing with school, friends, and family. Such a classic. (Early Chapter Book)

21. Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin
A worm’s hilarious diary entries show his everyday life and struggles, from dodging birds to school assignments. (Picture Book)

22. The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
Vashti learns to embrace her creativity and inspires others to do the same in this empowering picture book. This book goes perfectly with art projects. (Picture Book)

23. When Will I Read? by Miriam Cohen
A young boy wonders when he’ll finally learn to read, inspiring patience and perseverance in new readers. (Picture Book)

24. Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
A mysterious board game brings jungle chaos to life in this suspenseful, imaginative story. (Picture Book)

25. What Should Danny Do? by Adir Levy
This is a 9 in stories in 1 book, where the reader has the option to change the story based on choices they make along the way. (Picture Book)

26. Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
Stanley becomes flat after an accident and enjoys imaginative adventures in his new form. (Early Chapter Book)

27. Mia Mayhem Series by Kara West
Mia Mayhem discovers she’s a superhero-in-training and learns to balance school and saving the day. (Early Chapter Book)

28. Sofia Martinez: My Vida Loca by Jacqueline Jules
Sofia’s lively personality shines in relatable stories about her close-knit, bilingual family and everyday adventures. (Early Chapter Book)

29. Junie B. Jones Series by Barbara Park
Spunky Junie B. faces the ups and downs of school, friendships, and growing up with humor and charm. (Early Chapter Book)

30. The Tales of Beatrix Potter by Beatrix Potter
Classic stories featuring beloved animal characters like Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-Duck in whimsical countryside adventures. (Picture Books)