As soon as my kids hit 3 and a half, I found their attention spans lengthening and we were finally able to move on from picture books to short chapter books. In particular, short chapter book series. I love quality children’s picture books but I was getting tired of reading the same ones over and over, and wanting to get into something with more of a plot! This is a list of the books we turned to first. The best short chapter books for young kids (IMHO).
Though I started reading these books to my kids before they could read, they’re also a good selection of beginner chapter books. Each of these books are also a part of a series which I love, because once you find a series your kid is really into it gets them excited to get the next one and might encourage them to read on their own too.
Here are our top picks for the best short chapter book series for young readers—tried, tested, and loved.
(This post includes affiliate links that help support our blog. We earn a small commission, at no cost to you! As a reminder: your local bookstore is a great place to pick up these books and browse the illustrations, get a feel for the language and length etc. before purchasing, and so many books are available second hand on places like Facebook Marketplace.)
Fun & Engaging Reads for Early Readers
Unicorn Diaries
Author: Rebecca Elliott
Books in Series: 11
Why Kids Love It: Bo the unicorn has a big heart and even bigger dreams. This sweet, sparkly series blends fantasy and friendship with easy-to-read text and colorful illustrations—ideal for early readers.
My take as a parent: This series and Owl Diaries (below) are both by Rebecca Elliot. As a parent, I enjoy Unicorn Diaries a bit more (I can’t really explain why, maybe a school of unicorns is more believable than talking owls? Maybe it’s cos I just can’t wait to see what these unicorns are gonna get up to next?!). They’re almost like a graphic novel/chapter book hybrid and great as that first step away from simple picture books. Lots of images on each page, that keep our kids engaged. These series’ are a favorite of our 4 year old.
Owl Diaries
Author: Rebecca Elliott
Books in Series: 21
Why Kids Love It: Written in diary format by a little owl named Eva, this series is full of friendship drama, school adventures, and adorable woodland creatures. A hit with emerging readers who love graphic elements.
My take as a parent: I’m more of a Bo girl than and Eva girl, but this series is cute.
Dragon Masters
Author: Tracey West
Books in Series: 30+
Why Kids Love It: Action-packed but easy to follow, these books follow young dragon trainers on magical missions. A great pick for fantasy-loving kids ready for their first series addiction.
My take as a parent: If I were to recommend one series out of all the series’ listed in this post it would be this one. My eldest has been into these since she was 3 and a half, my youngest is just getting interested in listening to them at 5. What I like about these books is there are more characters for kids to relate to, each book introduces new dragons and their masters and we’d have lots of discussions about which were the kids’ favorites and why. I like the wide variety of characters and the interesting problems being solved each book that it keeps me interested as a parent too.
Zoey and Sassafras
Author: Asia Citro
Books in Series: 10
Why Kids Love It: Magical creatures + real science = a perfect mix. Zoey uses scientific experiments to help injured mythical animals, with the help of her cat, Sassafras. Educational and empowering.
My take as a parent: I think this is my…[braces against desk]…second favorite series in that list! I THINK. It may be that we just finished one of the books last night so it’s feeling fresh. I think this book is for everyone, but particularly if you have a kiddo with some interest in science. Zoey is really into the scientific method without making it too boring. My only little issue with it is [SPOILER ALERT] ——- Zoey’s dad doesn’t know that Zoey and her mom can see these magical creatures. We like to tell our kids we don’t have secrets in our family, so I don’t LOVE this aspect of it. But I talk to our kiddos about how we think they could bring dad into the loop which makes me feel better about. Overall – love it.
Trouble at Table 5
Author: Tom Watson
Books in Series: 6
Why Kids Love It: This hilarious series about three friends solving kid-sized mysteries and dilemmas is great for readers who enjoy school stories and silly adventures.
My take as a parent: Each of the three friends in this book have their own quirky personalities. Not one of them is the ‘hero’ in the story and they really care for each other, know each others strengths and weaknesses and support each other so nicely. I hope there will be another book out soon!
Stick Dog & Stick Cat
Author: Tom Watson
Books in Series:
– Stick Dog: 12
– Stick Cat: 5
Why Kids Love It: With simple doodle-style illustrations and goofy humor, these series follow Stick Dog and Stick Cat on their quirky quests (usually involving snacks). Easy, funny, and full of charm.
My take as a parent: Same author as Trouble at Table 5 but a different vibe! My kid really started loving listening to the audio book version of these at 6 or 7, we also read them together. It wasn’t my favorite to read aloud as there’s lots of short dialogue with a lot of characters, but I think it would be a great first chapter book for a kid to try reading on their own.
Ivy and Bean
Author: Annie Barrows
Books in Series: 12
Why Kids Love It: Ivy is quiet and imaginative. Bean is loud and full of ideas. Together, they make a perfectly chaotic friendship pair. Great for kids navigating friendships and figuring out who they are.
My take as a parent: I love the unique and quirkiness of Ivy and Bean and their friendship. There’s a lot of sibling rivalry between Bean and her sister and that can be a bit ‘extreme’ at times.
The Kingdom of Wrenly
Author: Jordan Quinn
Books in Series: 20+
Why Kids Love It: Prince Lucas and his friend Clara travel through magical lands, meeting dragons, fairies, and mermaids. Each book is a complete adventure, perfect for fantasy-loving kids.
My take as a parent: We’ve only read the first 3 from this series, but if you have a kid who likes Dragon Masters they’ll probably like this too. There isn’t the variety of characters as in Dragon Masters, but their adventures are entertaining.
Magic Tree House
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Books in Series: 60+
Why Kids Love It: Jack and Annie find a magic treehouse that takes them through time and space. These books blend history, mystery, and adventure—and they’re addictive. One of the most iconic early reader series out there.
My take as a parent: If your kid gets into this series you’ll have endless reading material. I also find their easy to find at second hand stores, garage sales etc. We haven’t read one yet that we dislike and I love the supportive relationship between Jack and Annie.
The Questioneers
Author: Andrea Beaty
Books in Series: 5
Why Kids Love It: Each book stars a curious kid (like Ada Twist or Rosie Revere) who loves solving problems. These stories celebrate STEM, creativity, and asking big questions—just what young minds need.
My take as a parent: If your kid liked the picture book version they will enjoy meeting these characters again. We found the Iggy Peck one a bit scary for our younger kiddo, but the others were OK.
The Last Firehawk
Author: Katrina Charman
Books in Series: 12
Why Kids Love It: When the evil Thorn threatens their world, Tag the owl, Skyla the squirrel, and Blaze the magical firehawk team up to save it. This richly illustrated series has just the right dose of danger and magic.
My take as a parent: I found these as interesting to read as my kids did. I’d say they’re for kids 6+ though as the challenges that the kids encounter and some of the characters can be quite scary.
Final Thoughts: Building a Love of Reading, One Chapter at a Time
Short chapter books are more than just beginner reading— reading them together with your kids you can both get into a series and look forward to each new book. I also think they start of a lifelong love of books when they really get to follow characters over a longer period of time. These series offer something for every kind of young reader: fantasy lovers, science explorers, mystery solvers, and kids who just want a good laugh.
If you’re looking for the best short chapter books for kids, this list is a great place to start. Have a favorite that didn’t make the cut? Let us know—we’re always adding to our stack.
You might also enjoy reading our article on classic books for young children.