Booklist for Kids: Short Chapter Books

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I focus a little more on the chapter books/book series, because I’ve found it’s helpful to have recommendations for books that your kid is going to read independently. When my kids were very young and we’d go to the library to pick books, I could flip through picture books quickly to see if I liked them. However, once you get into chapter books, they are obviously longer and that’s not an option. I often read a couple pages to get the feel for it, but once your kid’s reading starts to take off, you probably won’t get the chance to pre-read any of the books.

So, I’ve listed some series that I have either read with the kids, or the kids have enjoyed solo. Or, a lot of times, I’ve started reading a book in the series to the kids, and then they finish the book or start the next book on their own. Which is actually a great way to get your kid into a book they may not think they’d like.

And I’ll add that while this tip may be obvious, the best way I’ve found great new books for my kids is by asking children’s librarians.

This page focuses on Short Chapter Books, but take a look at my Picture Books, Early Reader, Longer Chapter Books, and Magazine pages.

Below the list, I included a link to the same book list in my Bookshop.org shop. Every purchase at Bookshop.org directly supports independent bookstores, which I think is pretty cool!

Short Chapter Books