Introduce these series starters to budding readers in your classroom or library and spark an enduring love for reading. Featuring everything from uproarious adventures to sweet friendship stories and relatable characters, these series offer diverse gateways to captivate every kind of young reader.
Enter the sweepstakes to win free books for your classroom! One grand prize winner will receive a virtual visit from InvestiGators creator John Patrick Green.
Series Starters
Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel
Bad Kitty is bad. Very bad. But she doesn’t always mean to be. Whether she is trying to be a good little kitty and eat her vegetables or be a quiet little kitty and behave at a birthday party, it seems that trouble finds a way to her. Children will fall in love with Bad Kitty–and be roaring with laughter at all of her antics. Bad Kitty is a delightful picture book and an alphabetical romp through berserk cat behavior, and the follow up books are the perfect introduction to chapter books for young readers.
InvestiGators by John Patrick Green
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Meet Mango and Brash, the super spy alligator duo in John Patrick Green’s goofy graphic novel series InvestiGators. These gumshoe gators travel through the sewers and fight the forces of evil with their Very Exciting Spy Technology and never-failing method of toilet-based traveling. Can the two follow the clues, crack the cases, and catch the criminals in the jaws of justice? Find out in this fun, laugh-out-loud gator sleuth series for kids.
Jasmine Toguchi by Debbi Michiko Florence; illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic
Debbi Michiko Florence’s charming chapter book series for young readers, illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic, stars Jasmine Toguchi—a spunky, eight-year-old Japanese-American heroine unafraid to try new things while learning life lessons about family, friendship, and sisterhood along the way.
“The Toguchi family’s warmth and affection for one another will leave readers eager to spend more time with them.”—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (on Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen)
Surviving the Wild by Remy Lai
Planet Earth meets Narwhal and Jelly in this heartfelt, funny, and suspenseful young reader graphic novel adventure series featuring heroic animals surviving against the odds! Includes nonfiction content about wildlife and how kids can help protect the environment.
“A heartening and pensive story, told through irresistibly charming art, Star the Elephant is an utter delight.” —John Patrick Green, New York Times-bestselling creator of InvestiGators
Stella Diaz by Angela Dominguez
Meet Stella Diaz, a sweet Mexican-American girl who conquers her shyness as she prepares a presentation on marine animals for her classmates. It’s her favorite subject, but Stella’s worried she might mispronounce words and slip into Spanish. This wonderful middle grade series by award-winning illustrator Angela Dominguez, beginning with Stella Has Something to Say, is based on experiences from the author’s own childhood. With black and white illustrations throughout, and simple Spanish vocabulary integrated into the text, these charming books are ideal for aspiring young bilingual readers.
★ ”Fans of Clementine and Alvin Ho will be delighted to meet Stella.” —School Library Journal, starred review
Blue, Barry & Pancakes is a delightful children’s graphic novel series of friendship stories for emerging readers, featuring three friends (a bunny, a worm, and a frog) who get into conflicts and adventures driven by their very different personalities.
Written and illustrated by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson (co-creators of the hit animated show Rocket Monkeys on Nickelodeon), this engaging children’s series with its bright and colorful pages is perfect for early readers with adventurous appetites.
Doggo & Pupper by Katherine Applegate
New York Times bestselling author Katherine Applegate is back with her first chapter book series for kids, Doggo and Pupper!
Doggo and Pupper stars an old dog set in his ways, and a new playful puppy looking for adventures. This heartwarming tale of unlikely friendship told throughout the series, featuring beautiful illustrations by artist Charlie Alder is not to be missed!
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish by Mo O’Hara; illustrated by Marek Jagucki
Get ready for dangerously hypnotic, laugh-out-loud funny stories in this New York Times bestselling series written by Mo O’Hara and illustrated by Marek Jagucki.
When Tom’s Evil Scientist big brother dunks his goldfish, Frankie, into radioactive gunk, there’s only one thing Tom can do – zap the fish with a battery and bring him back to life! But there’s something weird about the new Frankie. He’s now a Big Fat Zombie Goldfish with hypnotic powers, who has appointed himself Tom’s bodyguard, and together, with a little help from their friends, they thwart Mark’s Evil Scientist plans.
The Treehouse Series by Andy Griffiths; illustrated by Terry Denton
Join New York Times-bestselling author Andy Griffiths and illustrator Terry Denton on a series of wild storytelling adventures that Publishers Weekly described as “Anarchic absurdity at its best.”
Andy and Terry live in a tree. And when we say “tree,” we mean “treehouse” and when we say “treehouse,” we don’t mean just any old treehouse, we mean the most amazing treehouse in the world! It’s filled with things like shark-invested see-through swimming pools, secret underground labs, and marshmallow machines that follow you around and automatically shoot marshmallows into your mouth whenever you’re hungry.
The treehouse is also where they make books together. Andy writes the words and Terry draws the pictures…or they would if it weren’t for all the invading pirates, giant gorillas, out of control inventions and evil vegetable attacks that keep distracting them!
Rachel Friedman by Sarah Kapit; illustrated by Genevieve Kote
Introducing a charming chapter book series starring Rachel Friedman, a sweet and silly Jewish girl renowned for her peanut butter challah baking skills and larger-than-life personality!
Readers follow Rachel through various adventures with themes of friendship, identity, and self-discovery. Rachel’s Jewish identity, ADHD, and vibrant personality are portrayed with sensitivity, adding layers to her character and making her relatable to a broad audience.
Bodega Cats by Hilda Eunice Burgos; illustrated by Siara Faison
The Bodega Cats series by Hilda Eunice Burgos and Siara Faison is a heartwarming and humorous illustrated chapter book series that captures the friendship between a bodega owner’s child and a newly-adopted furry friend. Set against the backdrop of family and community, the narrative explores themes of kindness, acceptance, and the joys of forming unexpected friendships.
