This list is aimed to help emerging independent readers,
aging around the 5-8 mark.
For beginning chapter books, I feel like the most
important thing it keeping the reader engaged so by having adventures and
cliff-hangers, books are harder to put down! However, they’re also in that
transition stage between picture books and chapter books. If a book doesn’t
have enough pictures, it can look daunting and we don’t want to discourage our
readers, we want them to gain confidence as independent readers!
So with that being said, these are a few of my FAVORITE
early chapter books.
Good Dog by Cam Higgins
Published: December 2020
This first-person
narrative series currently included 8 books. Bo Davis is a farm dog and lives
with his adoptive human family. In the first story, Bo loses his collar tag and
visits other farm animals in search for it.
This series includes an interracial
couple (Bo’s human parents) and a 3-legged dog.
Sample Page:
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The Fabled Stables by Jonathan Auxier
Published: October 2020
My favorite of the list! This combines the bold,
eye-catching illustrations you find in picture books with a whimsical adventure
story.
The premise isn’t entirely new – a young boy, Auggie, works at a
magical stable filled with magical creatures and constantly growing. When an
empty stall appears, Auggie must venture through a portal into a magical realm
to save a creature that needs the protection of the Fabled Stables.
Sample Page:
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Ana & Andrew by Christine Platt
Published: December 2018Ana and Andrew are siblings that encounter
realistic situations throughout the series like, learning new instruments,
getting a pet, visiting the museum or enjoying a snow day.
These beginner
chapter books are short – 32 pages long- and in the few that I have read, Platt
finds a way to tie in facts about African American history. For example, in The
Magic Violin, the kids father tells them about Frederick Douglass who also
played the violin.
Sample Page:
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Charlie & Mouse by Jonathan Auxier
Published: April 2019Aside from Doggo and Pupper, this is the
simplest book on the list. The sentences are very simple and it is only 36
pages long. In fact, I almost didn’t add it to this list.
In this story, siblings Charlie and Mouse are
going camping with their parents. Charlie and Mouse tell stories and play with
their imagination in the woods during their trip. It’s a very simple but fun
story that leaves readers smiling.
This book is actually #4 in the series. There
are currently 5 books in this series.
Sample Page:
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Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us by Lauren Castillo
Published: May 2020Caldecott Honor-winning artist, Lauren Castillo authors
and illustrates this sweet and simple story about woodland critters finding
friendship and bravery to recover one of their own. Hedgehog lives on a tiny
island in a river, between two great woods and when his best friend Mutty
(stuffed animal) is carried away by the wind during a storm, Hedgehog is
desperate to find him. Along the way, he meets a wealth of other creatures who
help him in his search.
The illustrations in this book are beautiful and
one thing I enjoyed about this was, each time a new animal was introduced, the
animals greeted them in a different way. For example, Mole said “Bonjour”, Owl
was greeted with “Guten Tag”, “Hola!”, “Salaam”, etc. Young readers may not
catch on at the various common greetings in other parts of the world, but for
adult readers, it’s a neat touch.
Sample Page:
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Kondo & Kezumi by David Goodner
Published: October 2020Kondo and Kezumi live on a tropical island. One
day, a bottle washes ashore and they find a map inside! The map is full of
other islands. Kenzumi is excited about the contents on the map and convinced
Kondo to build a boat and travel the ocean with her in this 3-book series
(currently… maybe there will be more?).
Sample Page:
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The Princess In Black by Shannon & Dean Hale
Published: April 2015Husband and
wife duo, Shannon and Dean Hale have come together for the Princess In Black
series.
This ongoing series currently has 9 books that center around Princess
Magnolia, aka The Princess in Black. These books have reoccurring plots of the
Princess in Black being alerted of a monster nearby, solving the monster
situation and goats.
Sample Page:
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Doggo and Pupper by Katherine Applegate
Published: March 2021
This early chapter book by Newberry Award
winner, Katherine Applegate is sure to have your beginning reader giggling.
Doggo has a great life – a terrific life. He takes naps, watches bug, plays
with his human kiddos, etc. but his humans are worried that Doggo is bored and
needs something more in his life. So they bring home Pupper which upsets the
life that Doggo has come to know. Right now there are only 2 books in this
series.
Sample Page:
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Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo
Published: December 2009
Kate Dicamillo’s 6-book collection centers
around Mercy who isn’t just a pig to Mr. and Mrs. Watson but a porcine wonder. In
the first book, Mercy decides to crawl into bed with her two-legged parents when
she gets scared of the dark. When danger strikes, Mercy quickly jumps up from
the bed and runs to the neighbors for sugar cookies – er, I mean… help!
Sample Page:
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Anne's Kindred Spirits by Kallie George
Published: May 2019
A kid-friendly, accessible retelling of L.M. Montgomery's Anne Of Green Gables! The shown cover is actually book 2 in this early reader series. This is a must-read for young girl in your life.
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