It’s often difficult to transition younger readers from easy reader books to early chapter books, especially when you as a parent know that your young one is ready to take the next step! Finding the right book(s) to interest your child is the key to getting your child to make the switch. There are so many great books to choose from to encourage your youngster to read, you just might have to try a few to find the right ones. Here are a few early chapter book series recommended by Miss Rosemary from our Children’s Services team.

The Tried and True Favorites

Illustrated cover of "A to Z Mysteries Collection #1" shows two children descending blue stairs in a basement, with another child in the background. Text highlights "Four Books in One!.

A to Z Mysteries
by Ron Roy

Book cover of "Magic Tree House #6 Afternoon on the Amazon" featuring two children in a canoe navigating a river with an alligator, monkey, and parrot in a jungle setting.

Magic Tree House
by Mary Pope Osborne

Book cover of "Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot" by Dav Pilkey, featuring Captain Underpants and cartoon characters in a comic-style scene.

Captain Underpants
by Dav Pilkey

Book cover of "Dog Man" by Dav Pilkey, featuring a cartoon dog in a police uniform standing on a pedestal against a starry background.

Dog Man
by Dav Pilkey

Book cover of "A Bear Called Paddington" by Michael Bond, featuring an illustrated bear in a blue coat and red hat, holding a suitcase, against a red and white background.

Paddington
by Michael Bond

Illustrated book cover of "Narwhal: Peanut Butter and Jelly" by Ben Clanton, featuring a narwhal holding a sandwich and a jellyfish, on a yellow background.

Narwhal and Jelly
by Ben Clanton

Books with Strong Female Leads

Cover of "Ivy + Bean" book, featuring two young girls standing back to back; one holds a book, the other holds a ball. Title and author names are displayed above and below the illustration.

Ivy + Bean
by Annie Barrows & Sophie Blackall

Cover of "Owl Diaries: Eva’s Treetop Festival" by Rebecca Elliott, featuring a colorful cartoon owl perched on a branch, with pink and yellow decorative elements.

Owl Diaries
by Rebecca Elliott

A girl sits cross-legged with a cat and a small creature in a field of blue flowers, with a white owl flying in the background. The book title reads "Zoey and Sassafras: Wishypoofs and Hiccups.

Zoey and Sassafras
by Asia Citro

Book cover of "Princess Pulverizer: Grilled Cheese and Dragons" by Nancy Krulik, featuring a girl with a sword, a knight, and a dragon in a cartoon style.

Princess Pulverizer
by Nancy Krulik

Cover of "Mia Mayhem Is a Superhero!" showing a girl with curly hair in overalls and a cape, standing confidently with a cat beside her against a bright, comic-style background.

Mia Mayhem
by Kara West

Cover of the book "Unicorn Diaries: Bo’s Magical New Friend" by Rebecca Elliott, featuring two colorful unicorns standing together on a grassy field.

Unicorn Diaries
by Rebecca Elliott

Book cover of "Amelia Bedelia" shows a woman in a blue coat and hat standing in a doorway, holding a handbag, with a red patterned background.

Amelia Bedelia
by Peggy Parish

Cover of "Junie B. Jones: Toothless Wonder" featuring an illustrated girl with glasses, missing front teeth, wearing a yellow dress and polka-dot shirt, smiling widely.

Junie B. Jones
by Barbara Park

Books with Strong Male Leads

A child in a trench coat and detective hat stands outside a building, while two eyes peer out from a window. Text reads “Nate the Great” by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, illustrated by Marc Simont.

Nate the Great
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Book cover of "Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid" by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, showing a cartoon boy holding a pencil on a white background.

Stink
by Megan McDonald

Book cover of "Fantastic Mr. Fox" by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake, featuring a fox carrying a sack over its shoulder against a blue and red background.

Fantastic Mr. Fox
Roald Dahl

Illustration of an elderly man with glasses holding a tray with a teapot and cup, accompanied by an orange cat. The book title is "Mr. Putter & Tabby Pour the Tea.

Mr. Putter and Tabby
by Cynthia Rylant & Arthur Howard

Illustrated book cover showing a smiling boy with arms raised. Title text reads "Pedro First-Grade Hero" by Fran Manushkin, on a green background with doodles.

Pedro First Grade Hero
by Fran Manushkin

Book cover of "EllRay Jakes is Not a Chicken!" shows a smiling boy in a green hoodie, with his hands on his hips and a shadow of a chicken behind him. Author: Sally Warner.

Ellray Jakes
by Sally Warner

Illustrated book cover showing a smiling boy holding a small brown dog with its leash wrapped around his legs. Title: "Here's Hank: A Short Tale about a Long Dog.

Here’s Hank
by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver

Book cover of "Dog Days" by Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman, showing a boy in a helmet riding a skateboard next to a small dog on a leash.

The Carver Chronicles
by Karen English

Cartoon boy in a blue hoodie runs energetically across a red background with city buildings, wearing sneakers with a yellow lightning bolt. Text reads "Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Takes Off.

Zapato Power
by Jacqueline Jules

Books that Defy Gender Norms

   A girl in a pink tutu and crown holds a tray of mochi. The book title reads "Jasmine Toguchi Mochi Queen" by Debbi Michiko Florence, with illustrations by Elizabet Vuković. Jasmine Toguchi Mochi Queen
by Debbi Michiko Florence

Three characters from "Steven Universe" play in the ocean under a blue sky with clouds and foam, with the show's title and subtitle "Just Right" at the top.

Steven Universe
by Rebecca Sugar

Book cover of "Too Small Tola" by Atinuke, showing an illustrated girl carrying a large basket on her head against a yellow background.

Too Small Tola
by Atinuke

Book cover for "Lola Levine Is Not Mean!" by Monica Brown, illustrated by Angela Dominguez, featuring two children with a soccer ball, one standing and one lying on the ground.

Lola Levine
by Monica Brown

Book cover of "Thunder Rose" by Jerdine Nolen, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, showing a young girl in cowboy attire holding twisted metal with storm clouds behind her.

Thunder Rose
by Jerdine Nolen

A Personal Favorite: Judy Moody

Book cover of "Judy Moody Was in a Mood" by Megan McDonald, featuring an illustration of a girl with curly hair and playful lettering.

Book cover of "Judy Moody Gets Famous!" by Megan McDonald, featuring a cartoon girl with red hair, sunglasses, and a pink feather boa, against a zebra print background.

Book cover of "Judy Moody Saves the World!" showing a girl with a cape and "JM" shirt holding a flag with a globe, illustrated in blue and brown tones.

The first book in the Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald really caught my attention. Judy is feisty and has a lot of attitude on the first day of school because things are going to be different. Judy does not expect the third grade to go well—there is no armadillo sticker on her desk, her class does not have a porcupine named Roger and she sits across the aisle from Frank “Eats Paste” Pearl. Frank sent Judy five Valentine’s Day cards when they were in first grade. In second grade, he gave her a cupcake on Halloween, Thanksgiving and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Now in third grade, she gets an invitation to his birthday party.

Judy also has an annoying little brother named Stink. She once stole his baby belly button to bring to show and tell at school. If this sounds fun, follow the adventures of the feisty and humorous Judy Moody by reading the Judy Moody series and Judy Moody and Stink series. Also, Check out the Judy Moody website for some fun, way-not-boring stuff to do and make!