Finding good books to read can be tough. But when you get hooked on a series, you don’t have to worry about finding your next great book; you can just enjoy reading them because you always know what’s next.
This list includes titles kids grade school-age and up can enjoy—and grown-ups also can, too, because this list includes books that readers of any age can appreciate. Whatever your child chooses to read, they can log it in My Reading Adventures: A Book Journal for Kids.
There are so many more great series to choose from, and I hope you share your personal favorites in comments.
The Terrible Two series
The Mysterious Benedict Society (Book 1)
Anne Of Green Gables Series
The Shoe Books
These charming books were discovered by a new generation of readers when Kathleen Kelly (played by Meg Ryan) recommended them to a Fox Books patron in Nora Ephron’s 1998 movie You’ve Got Mail: “I'd start with Ballet Shoes, it's my favorite; although Skating Shoes is completely wonderful.” There are 11 shoe books in all. Age 7 and up.
More info →
Betsy-Tacy
This series follows the journey of Betsy Ray and her best friend, Tacy, from the time they are 5 years old. The first book, Betsy-Tacy, begins with the line, "It was difficult, later, to think of a time when Betsy and Tacy had not been friends." A sweet series that celebrates friendship and the wonders of childhood. 10 books in all. Age 5 and up.
More info →
The Boxcar Children Series
Warren was a first grade teacher who was frustrated that she couldn’t find good books for her young students that were easy enough for them to read. She began writing The Boxcar Children books to fill the gap, and countless children have fallen in love with reading because of these stories of 4 orphans who make their home in an old railway car. (Stick to the first 17, written by Warren herself. Subsequent books written by different authors will bear the words “created by Gertrude C. Warren” on the cover.) Age 5 and up.
More info →
The Ramona Collection
Ramona Quimby is a rambunctious, imaginative girl who is constantly getting herself into trouble. (The second book of the series is--for good reason--entitled Ramona the Pest.) Ramona’s misadventures frequently embarrass her big sister Beezus and her friend Henry Huggins, but the characters remain convincing, warm, and loyal. (Ramona makes appearances in several of the Henry Huggins books. The audio recordings of these books--done by Neil Patrick Harris--are excellent. Stockard Channing does the audio for the Ramona books, and the audio versions aren’t quite as lovable.) 8 books in all. Age 6 and up.
More info →
The Gaither Sisters Trilogy
Mo & Dale Mysteries
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
What are your favorite childrens’ book series? Please tell us all about your favorites in comments!
P.S. Check out these beautiful editions of Anne of Green Gables, and these wonderful, beautiful books for kids’ bookshelves (or, let’s be honest, yours).
101 comments
My son is older but he LOVED the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. A couple of years ago I pieced together a set of hardback books for him for Christmas. I think he has read them at least three times now!
The Taggerung was my absolute favorite. Probably what also instigated my fierce love of otters, too.
The audiobooks are fun, too, read by Jacques and a full cast with musical accompaniment.
I second (third? fourth?) this recommendation; my brothers and I all loved these!
My son loved them, too. He wanted me to read them, but almost 30 years later, I still haven’t gotten to them!
My daughters all LOVE the Whatever After series by Sarah Mlynowski
We have loved the Upside Down Magic series by Sarah Mylnowski and are eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
Our whole family loves The Green Ember series by SD Smith.
Yes! The Green Ember series is completely wonderful!
The Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan and its companion series The Brotherband Chronicles. Fully developed characters, exciting plots (in a medieval setting with knights, castles, battles) and the clear message that duty and honor always win. Later books are set in a Samauri Japan, ancient Arabia, and in icy “Skandia”. These books will hook readers and they will rush to get the next in the series (and this is a LONG series, perfect for winter break)
These were my now college-aged son’s favorites! I have a pic of him with John Flanagan. 🙂
My children all loved the Arthur Ransome’s series Swallows & Amazons, so much so that as an adult my eldest has gone out and purchased the whole series for when he has children. Some of them also enjoyed the Redwall series.
I loved those books, especially We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea. My library recently deaccessioned them, which made me very sad because it means fewer kids will have the opportunity to discover the series.
We LOVE Swallows & Amazons here too! I got all 12 in ebook form for $2, although we are slowly purchasing each volume b/c they are a family classic at our house. Even our 4 year old knows all about the S, A and Ds 🙂 Although we are sailors and my husband builds and repairs wooden boats… so we might be biased. Glad to see these added to the list.
We are thoroughly enjoying the “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” series by Grace Lin.
I find them to be an enjoyable read aloud. Full of Asian culture, moral fables, adventure and likeable characters.
My 6 year old loves them.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is an absolutely amazing book and very underrated. I wish more people knew about it. I tried to give the “companion” novel a try, Starry River of the Sky, but was sorely disappointed and abandoned it. The main character, Rendi, was so off-putting and the story and structure seemed forced, and not at all effortless and magical like Where the Mountain Meets the Moon was.
When I was a kid, I loved the Black Stallion series by Walter Farley.
Yes! I can vividly remember the one where they were stuck in a valley in an island. Island Stallion, maybe? And the Black Stallion’s Filly. Oh wow- I might have to re-read one of them!
Oh, yes, I LOVED the Black Stallion series!! Couldn’t get enough of it. Another reader mentioned “The Black Stallion’s Filly”, a cornerstone book for me, leading to a lifelong love of horse racing.
There will always be a special place in my heart and on my bookshelf for the Betsy-Tacy series. I also loved the Trixie Belden mystery series when I was a kid. They rereleased some of the series about ten years ago and I got them for a read aloud with my boys but they didn’t put out the whole series, sadly. And I did enjoy the Beanie Malone series, too.
I also loved the Trixie Belden series. I still have the few books that I received as a child. Maybe I’ll check the library to see if I can read more of the series and re-read the ones I have.
I have all the Trixie Belden books and love the Beany Malone series too. I also have 15 or so of the box car children books and all the Nsncy Drew. Just waiting until my grandchildren are old enough to read them.
Yes! You’ve listed many of my own favorites and a few new ones! I’d also add the Chronologicals of Narnia by CS Lewis and the Misty of Chincoteague series by Margarita Henry, I think there’s three more books. My family actually went to Chincoteague on a family vacation thanks to reading these!
Sue, yes, The Ranger’s Apprentice series is great. Thanks for mentioning it though, my husband and I have read and loved them as adults and I hadn’t realized that our kids will enjoy those soon, too!
I was OBSESSED with the Chronicles of Narnia when I was nine or so, except for the last book, which I didn’t finish until I was an adult. I think (in part at least) I just wasn’t prepared for Narnia to end. 🙂
If you like Ranger’s Apprentice, you might like the Fabelhaven series by Brandon Mull as well. I haven’t read them but my 13yo son would not allow them to leave in my latest bookshelf culling (I always do one in December to make room for new books. Alas, never enough shelf space!).
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood
Then Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson
We absolutely loved these two series! Your list is great and we’ve read most of those too. I love reading kid lit on my own. Why should the kids have all the fun?!
An excellent list! It gives me plenty to read in 2019. My oldest is not quite 3, so I’m trying to start now on finding books all my kids will love in the coming years. In 2018, I started the Penderwicks series and I adore it. I also started the Emily of New Moon series and actually like it better than Anne 😉
My daughter and I love the Grandma Attic books. She is 11 and just reread them for the fourth time.
I’m so glad to see that someone else is aware of these! I read them growing up but never see anyone else talking about them.
Yes, my kids loved the Swallows and Amazons books by Arthur Ransome. If you can find it, I highly recommend Christina Hardyments “Arthur Ransome and Captain Flint’s Trunk,” which is part biography of Ransome and part travelogue as the author and her children visit the places where the books are set. Except for “Peter Duck” and “Missee Lee,” of course. C. S. Lewis’s Narnia books and Diana Wynne Jones’ Chronicles of Crestomanci, are good series, too. I also highly recommend Madeleine L’Engle’s Time books, and her series about the Austin family: Meet the Austins, The Moon By Night, The Young Unicorns, A Ring of Endless Light, and Troubling a Star. And Sally Watson’s historical novels about the English, Scottish and colonial branches of the extended Lennox-Cameron-MacLeod clan: Linnet, Mistress Malapert, The Outrageous Oriel, Loyal and the Dragon, Witch of the Glens, Castle Adamant, Lark, Jade, Highland Rebel, The Hornet’s Nest, and Poor Felicity, which the author has updated as The Delicate Pioneer. These are great books for girls, with strong, adventurous, brave female characters.
Wow, I need to track down the Hardyments book. I just read the Crestomanci books for the first time this year and am looking forward to passing them on to my young nephew when he’s ready. I also really liked Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising series.
The Melendy Quartet by Elizabeth Enright! Enjoyed by both my girl and boy children on audio.
https://www.amazon.com/Melendy-Quartet-4-Book-Series/dp/B0788S4MPS/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1544460795&sr=8-10&keywords=melendy+quartet+set
Yes! I read and reread these books often when I was a girl. Enright’s sense of place is wonderful. I also loved Gone-Away Lake and its sequel.
There are so many kids books about orphans or kids who have been abandoned. I wonder if those stories are harmful or helpful for kids who have been adopted. Does anyone have experience with this?
I have wondered this as well.
My kids (aged 8-12) begged me to read the first of The Keeper of the Lost Cities series and I loved it! The seventh one just came out and they couldn’t get their hands on it fast enough. Its fantasy, middle grade and a lot of fun.
I’d also add:
Redwall series, Brian Jacques
The Murry and Austin books by Madeleine L’Engle
Tamora Pierce’s series – the Alanna and Wild Magic especially
Warrior series, Erin Hunter – my brother was obsessed with those
Percy Jackson and Harry Potter just assumed, too?
Oh I loved the Madeleine L’Engle books when I was a kid and my daughter loved them, too! My boys loved The Indian in the Cupboard series by Lynne Reid Banks, their first introduction to fantasy.
I find Ransom Riggs’s books ingenious. (Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children / Hollow City / Library of Souls) He is a collector of ephemera from the Victorian age, primarily photos that are very strange, and he bases his stories on these pictures.
My 8th grader loves these too!
My daughter loved the Silverwing series by Kenneth Oppel. It it’s a four book series about the adventures of a young bat.
I’m so glad to know One Crazy Summer is part of a series! I’m really hoping you’ll read The Birchbark House series by Louise Erdrich, as a companion or alternative to Little House. I adore the Little House series, but am very concerned about the racism towards Indigenous people. I know I’ve suggested this in comments before, but my kids and I loved the Birchbark series.
I also always feel compelled to mention the Birchbark House series whenever Little House is mentioned. I feel it is an absolutely necessary companion. And a wonderful, rich reading experience all on its own.
I was introduced to Erdrich’s writing while a student in college–Love Medicine–and have enjoyed reading her ever since. I was thrilled to find the Birchbark books, and my middle daughter really enjoyed reading them.
I was obsessed with the Baby-Sitters club series as a kid, so it’s been fun to see the series re-issued as graphic novels by Raina Telgemeier. I’m glad a new generation of readers can discover the BSC in a fresh, new way.
My boys and I love the Guardians series by William Joyce. We also enjoyed The Series of Unfortunate Events, 39 clues, the Mr. Lemoncello books, and the Kingdom Keepers series.
SO many fond memories of reading Ballet Shoes with my daughter. That’s what I love about all of these – the memories they create.
By the way – I have been listening to “Libertarians on the Prairie”, about Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane – it’s a fascinating story if you haven’t read it! It gave me a completely different insight into the Little House books.
I fondly remember Pipi Longstocking and just passed on all my Artimas Fowl books to a niece.
My son and I got into a habit of reading series together so we could talk about them. (I’m sure that I’ll keep it up way past the time that he enjoys this set-up!) We both loved the Artemis Fowl series. And, though a tougher read, the Wizard of Earthsea series by Ursula le Guin
My sixth grade daughter and all her friends are obsessed with The Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger. They devour those books.
I and my daughter both loved the “Little House” books, but they are clearly problematic when it comes to racial issues. A good series to read with the “Little House” books that gives a different perspective and a stepping board to conversation is the “Birchbark House” series by Louise Erdrich.
Thank you for this recommended partner series… I don’t have kids yet, but I’ve wondered about how to discuss some of the problematic aspects of older books. I remember my mom reading Little Women to me and stopping to keep reminding me that opportunities for women and what it means to be a ‘good woman’ has changed since the book was written. It was annoying at the time (I just wanted to know what happened next!), but I appreciated the historical perspective.
Thanks for sharing this recommendation, because you are so right about Little House.
These kinds of things (the racial issues in Little House) don’t disturb me in the least because those books were written in a different time. I think it is really, really important for readers of today to keep in mind that the time in which a book was written will be reflected in the story. This will be true for today’s books, too, some of which may be considered completely reprehensible for one reason or another, in fifty years or so. Does this make them any less valid or less worth reading?? No! but the reader needs to take into account when they were written, and be prepared, if necessary, to think through and discuss the issues with their children, or with others. We have to let go of the thought that everything we read should reflect today’s mores and ideas. If that were so, many of these older books which are being applauded here would not be read at all and that would be a great shame. On top of that, sometimes real change comes about specifically because of a greater understanding of where we came from and reading these books can help develop that understanding.
Well said!
Not sure if two books is a series, but my daughter loved “Savvy” and “Scumble” as well as the Half Upon a Time series when she was in middle school. Now that my kids are teens, they like the Lunar Chronicles series, and the Scythe series.
There’s a 3rd book in the Savvy series called Switch. So good!!!
I recall fondly Edward Eager’s Magic Tales series – Half Magic, Time Garden etc. I haven’t read them recently as an adult, but I think my mom enjoyed reading them with us.
I think adult readers can enjoy books by Edward Eager–who was also a noted humorous playwright in his day– even more than children (for example, jokes about “Iron Curtain” in KNIGHT’S CASTLE and “excavated” i.e. expurgated editions of classics such as THE THREE MUSKETEERS for younger readers). Eager made a point of mentioning author E. Nesbit in his own books “so that any child who likes my books and doesn’t know hers may be led back to the master of us all”. In fact, respected children’s librarian Marcus Crouch wrote book THE NESBIT TRADITION: The Children’s Novel 1945-1970 using framework of elements Nesbit–a friend of H.G. Wells–pioneered in children’s literature.
One reason I still re-read Eager, Elizabeth Enright’s MELENDY and GONE-AWAY books and Mary Norton’s 5 volume BORROWERS is that they don’t write down to young readers or dumb-down vocabulary as in these days of Lexile ratings. (How can you learn new words without being exposed to them in context?)
Not sure if Barbara Sleigh’s beloved reprinted CARBONEL, KING OF THE CATS trilogy counts as a series, 3rd written a decade or two later has different mood, tho “same” characters. I still can repeat summoning charm “By squeek of bat and brown owl hoot, by helabore and mandrake root, come swift and silent as the tomb, dark minion of the twiggy broom”. Other British fantasy series decades before Harry Potter include DARK IS RISING by Susan Cooper and GREEN KNOWE by L.M. Boston.
Historical novels by the remarkable Rosemary Sutcliff include young characters in harsh times; some follow a family thru the centuries from Roman Britain until middle ages; Marcus Crouch wrote that her “descriptions, one feels, are the work of an eye-witness….a gentle woman so disabled (from childhood) that no movement can be made without pain knows exactly what it was like to swing an axe in the shield-ring”. From her autobiography, I gather that from sitting motionless outdoors in countryside, as well as listening to her naval father talk of his male friends and crew, she learned how her characters would think and perceive their world.
LITTLE WOMEN was followed by sequels, and I actually prefer Alcott’s non-March family books EIGHT COUSINS, AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL and JACK AND JILL. I may look for Eleanor Cameron’s JULIA REDFERN books–already re-read her WONDERFUL FLIGHT TO THE MUSHROOM PLANET series!
The Winterhouse series by Ben Guterson. The first book is Winterhouse; the second is Secrets of Winterhouse and is due out December 31. It’s slated to be a trilogy.
My son is ten and loves the Warriors and Seekers series both by Erin Hunter. The author has written several series, each about a different animal. He wanted me to recommend them to eight to ten year olds. 🙂
So many great suggestions! Another vote for the Swallows and Amazons series.
Little Britches series by Ralph Moody.
My Side of the Mountain series by Jean Craighead George.
The Little Britches series by Ralph Moody. Our children gave their dad one for every holiday for a while so he could read them all aloud!
Nancy Drew, Miss Piggle wiggle and Encyclopedia Brown. All of which can still be checked out of the library. ?
As a child I loved all books by Enid Blyton. There are several series for children of ages 3-14. Read Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, and Hardy Boys also. My daughter however, reads Goosebumps, diary of Wimpy kid and Geronimo Stilton.
Yes to Enid Blyton, especially her Malory Towers books! Formulaic but hard to go wrong with a boarding school series.
I loved Enid Blyton as a youngster, my English Auntie sent them, but I just re-read one and sadly, it did not hold up for me.
Enid Blyton doesn’t hold up for adults but kids still love them. My daughter, now 15, loved Enid and I did too when I was under 10. As an adult she can come across as trite.
So many of us loved the Nancy Drew books! They’d be a little old fashioned now, with all the advantages a modern “sleuth” in her “coupe” would have, like cell phones, the internet, Google . However, they are still exciting, with each chapter leaving the reader eager to read the next, then the next, and so on.
The Magic Treehouse series is like this and is a series my granddaughter is enjoying now.
For adventure, I enjoyed the Jules Verne books.
All cub scouts should read The Jungle Book.
I completely adored all the Louisa May Alcott series.
The Little House series by Laura Ingals Wilder was a big favorite of mine. The racism aspect is somewhat overblown, I think. There is no hatred expressed. As a matter of fact, though fearful of the tribes on the Plains, she merely wrote what her experience was. It can be discussed as the experiences of her family AT THAT TIME, not something that is the same today. It is a good opportunity for discussing this segment of the American experience. We have had (and still do have) many episodes through which the people of this nation lived. Not all are admirable, but, they are historical and should be contrasted with today’s attitudes as part of citizenship education. We needn’t avoid teaching about the past, just as long as we couple it with discussion of values that should be strived for.
The old versions of the Bobbsey Twins could be problematic, too, but they also offer jumping off points for discussion. At the age that readers of this series tend to be (younger), discussion is a little harder to carry on, however. So, I would recommend the later versions of the Bobbsey Twins mysteries which are fun for children 8 and up.
I was very surprised at the response of my grandchildren to the Harry Potter series. My son read the entire series aloud with his daughter who was 7-8 during that year. Her younger brother and sister listened some. They all became totally enraptured with the books! They then watched the movies, which I thought would frighten them. But they only increased their interest! They dressed as Harry, Hermione, and Ginny for Halloween, and now they want to do the Harry Potter LEGO sets… so, if you want to get kids into reading…
The Hobbit and the following trilogy are also engaging for older teens.
Mary Stewart books like Nine Coaches Waiting and The Moon Spinners followed by The Clan of the Cave Bears series are good for high school aged kids.
I guess that’s enough for now!!
The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer. I knew he had talent when I used to watch Glee but never knew he could write such good books! I’m in my 20s and don’t have kids an I swear by the audio books. He narrates them himself and does an amazing job with all the character voices.
I loved so many of these series –and loved reading them with my daughter — including the Shoes series, the Penderwicks, the Edgar Eager Half Magic books, the Betsy Tacy books, the Narnia books, the Little House books, and of course, the Harry Potter series.
I’d also add the Lloyd Alexander Chronicles of Prydain series, The Borrowers by Mary Norton, the Oz books, the B is for Betsy series by Carolyn Haywood, the Dorrie the Little Witch series (for 5-6 year olds), the Little Tim series by Edward Ardizzone and the Alfie books by Shirley Hughes (4-5 year olds).
I came to recommend The Borrowers series, too! I loved those books as a kid.
The Bobbsey Twins.Nancy Drew,Beverly Gray,Pat Of Silver Bush,Honey Bunch, Riding Academy,Emily Of The New Moon,The Northwest Adventures,All of the Marguerite Henry series Baby Sitters,Linda Gray,Saddle ClubDrina. Some of your choices.
Marion
The Nancy Drew series,Beverly Gray,Judy Bolton,Bobbsey Twins,Betsy Tacy,Little House On The Prairie,Anne Of Green Gables,Grandmas Attic,Anne Henry,Northwest Adventures,Drina little Women series,Campfire Girls.
Joan
The Drina ballerina series?!?! One of my all time favorites! Years ago I spent way too much money ordering the series online. ?
The Sophie series by Dick King-Smith, and Hermux Tantamoq Adventures are the only two I don’t see mentioned above. I have to second Little Britches, Misty of Chincoteague, and Little House on the Prarie, my favorite of all time!
The Shoes books were the best! I checked them out of the library over and over and over again.
In my mind they will always be tied with a series of non-fiction books- A Very Young Dancer (Skater, Circus Performer, etc). They had stories, with lots of pictures, of a child preparing for and performing in their discipline. I loved those books.
You people are all missing out on a fairly recent series called “Bloody Jack” by L. A. Meyer!! (aka The Jacky books) I’m trying to get the word out! They are so much fun, for all ages (well, maybe not the very youngest), there are about 14 in the series, and we just ached until the next one came out. My family sees them as a funner, infinitely more cheerful Dickens series for kids, with a spunky heroine named Mary Faber, (also an orphan, what is with that in child lit??) set in early 1800’s London, and then around the world with “Jacky”—her alias as a boy on a British Navy ship. Do try them! Boys or girls.
N.d.wilson 100 cupboards. I read these as an adult and have reread several times. There are a couple of places where it gets slow but the ending is so worth it. His Ashtown Burials series is even better but unfortunately something weird happened with his publishing house and the 4th on hasn’t appeared. (How is it the non-American is recommending this?)
As an adult I’ve read all of Erin Hunter’s Survivors series (dogs!) Growing up my sisters and I loved Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, and the Boxcar Children.
For light-hearted fun try the Hank the Cowdog series. We would read these aloud as a family and we laughed as much, or more, than our kids. My girls and I also really enjoy the All of Kind Family books.
I LOVED the All of a Kind books!
I was searching through the comments to see if anyone else mentioned the “All of a Kind Family” series. I loved those books and read them until they fell apart!
My class read the first one together and I got in trouble for continuing to read when we moved on to another subject in class.
I have read many of the series on your list. Thank you for theses suggestions. I read the Elsie Dinsmore series. As a Catholic some of the writing is disturbing to me. I just read the Ballet School series. Yes I still enjoy reading young adult and children’s books from time to time. I have read Honey Bunch,Bobbsey Twins,Thoroughbred,Saddle Club,Babysitters Club,Beverly Gray,Nancy Drew,Little House,All of the Little Women series, Betsy Tacy, All of Lucy Maud Montgomery series, the Shoe series,All of A Kind Family, The Moffets,Drina,Linda Craig, The American girls, Dear Diary and Dear America. Books are the best gifts to receive.
Wishing you and yours a Blessed Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful 2019.
Marilyn
I don’t think anyone has mentioned The Happy Hollisters books. My brothers and sisters loved them 50 years ago and our kiids loved them, too…now some grandchildren are reading them. Also, I still chuckle when I think of what fun my son and I had reading the Junie B. Jones books.
All of a Kind Family, Percy Jackson, Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga, Wilderking Trilogy
Oh! And how could I forget: A Series of Unfortunate Events — we enjoyed this series via audio
My daughter loved the Magic Treehouse series of books when she was in 1st – 2nd grade. Another series that my son and daughter both loved was the Hank the Cow Dog series by John Erickson (hope that is right). The Hank books are really funny, and I think that appeals to boys. Another series is recommend is the Paddington Bear series.
Yes! My 10 & 13 yo’s still let me read to them every night, I will be heartbroken when they are no longer interested. Series-wise, we have enjoyed: Wingfeather Saga, 100 Cupboards, Peter & the Starcatchers, Miss Piggle Wiggle, Narnia, Calpurnia Tate, Candymakers, Wildwood Chronicles, Anne of Green Gables, Penderwicks, Green Ember, Ramona, How to Train Your Dragon & the kids will tell you Percy Jackson…
We too have enjoyed many of the series you’ve suggested, Anne. Thanks for the other suggestions. I see one which we could really enjoy once we finish our current series. I just have one child who still wants to read with me, so those days are closing down. I’ve been reading to my kids for 17 years, and it will be weird when it’s all done.
As a side note, we have a massive library system where I live and to my amazement, they do not carry any Maud Hart Lovelace books.
We have been huge Cynthia Rylant fans, and so I must share 2 of her series: The Cobble Street Cousins & The Lighthouse Family. These are shorter stories than typical family series, but they have beautiful and charming characters & storylines. The Lighthouse Family has an excellent theme of family being the people you are with (any kind of people), and caring for each other.
I must add: Land of Stories (& the series), by Chris Colfer.
The Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne!!! Also available as books on tape/CD, so they are perfect for car rides. They learn about history and other cultures and go on amazing adventures! I know the suggested age is older, but our 3-year-old adores them just as much as the big guy!
The Mrs. Piggle Wiggle and
Pippi Longstocking series
My children (ages 8 qnd up) love the “Keeper of the Lost Cities” series and I have been through all of them more than once on audible.
A friend turned me onto the Gateway Chronicles (for fans of summer camp and magic and angsty feelings!). They are SO good. I never wanted them to end. And, still think about the characters. I recommended them to a friend for her middle schooler and she has devoured them, too! Adults and children giving rave reviews.
Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull, my students loved as a read aloud. Older students similar to Harry Potter. Magic Treehouse !
I’m surprised the Magic Treehouse Series isn’t on this list!
The 68 Rooms series by Marianne Malone is fabulous. It takes place in the Thorne Miniature Rooms at the Art Institute in Chicago. Love those books!
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and Tamora Pierce’s Alanna series and Circle of Magic Series. My kids loved the first one (and the outstanding Netflix series) and Tamora Pierce is just outstanding.
All Sharon Creech books are wonderful. So are books by Kate DiCamillo.