One of the greatest joys for me this year has been to watch my oldest (age 5) start to take off as a reader. It seemingly happened overnight, and I was left scrambling trying to find my books I had carefully packed away and feeling like I was trying to constantly catch up to him. We started reading chapter books together, which is now a special time in our day. This has also launched a fascination for independently reading “chapter books”, which took me on a search to find some early ones at his level.
In my search for some new books, I discovered the most AMAZING book list I have ever seen. I now use this list to check out books at the library. One of the reasons I like it so much is that there is a brief synopsis of the series so I can see whether it is appropriate for my son or something that he might be interested in. I really appreciate that in the description it will point out if there is rude behavior or potty talk. There are 250 early chapter book series in this list; many I have read or am familiar with, but we’ve also stumbled upon some new book series that are really fun! There is also a printable download that includes the series title in alphabetical order, reading level, and a one sentence description of what the series is about. I have it printed and accessible!
Find the list HERE.
Here are a few of our favorites!
(This post contains affiliate links. I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Magic Tree House (by Mary Pope Osborne) – a very popular series. My son loves the history and facts in these books, and they have sparked so many great discussions about people, events, and places.
Greetings from Somewhere (by Harper Paris)- This is a current favorite! Two twins, Ethan and Ella, travel with their parents around the world. In each country they solve a mystery!
Gus and Grandpa (by Claudia Mills)- the grandfather in this series reminds me of my own grandpa; these are very sweet books!
Poppleton (by Cynthia Rylant) – My son could not get enough of this series! We checked them all out at the library, and I think they might make another appearance.
Humphrey’s Tiny Tales (by Betty G. Birney) – these are an easier read than the more advanced Humphrey books (which we also love for a read-aloud). This series includes some pictures and focuses on the adventures of a class hamster, written from his perspective.
Young Cam Jansen (by David Adler) – These are an easier read than the original Cam Jansen books. My son loves them!
Mercy Watson series (by Kate DiCamillo) – We (myself included) couldn’t put these books down!
Reading Level Lists
It can be tricky to find books in your child’s reading level, especially in the current situation where we can’t go into a library to open books ourselves. It can seem like a guessing game! There are many ways to level books and determine reading level, but the following list is a great place to start. It describes the types of books you might find in each lettered level and has a printable leveled list of books as well. I use this list for checking out books that my son can read independently.
Find the list HERE.
Kristen's Korner 