I was a first-round judge for The Cybils Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books this past fall which meant that I read about 50 Easy Readers and 80+ Early Chapter Books that were nominated by the general public. Our group then came up with the shortlist, and then the round two judges picked a winner in each category.
To keep track of each book, I kept notes on each book, rating it on a 5-point scale. I share my notes below on the books I liked the most (4.5 or 5/5). Our group then held online discussions via email on books that we liked, culminating in an online discussion to pick the shortlist. It’s interesting that strong reactions to books could go either way. A good example is The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake by Robin Newman … I loved the film noir detective story but not everyone agreed with me. Charlie Bumpers vs. The Perfect Little Turkey is another book that I loved especially for its boy appeal — our list felt girl audience heavy — but our group tried to be gender-neutral.
Scholastic Branches also sent me a pile of books for their new Early Chapter Book series. I read them all and my favorites are on the list below too.
What are your favorite Early Chapter Books? Please share!
20 Great Early Chapter Books
Magical Animal Adoption Agency: Clover’s Luck by Kallie George, illustrated by Alexandra Boigner
The cover art is unfortunate as Clover’s head looks really oversized relative to her hands. The proportion makes her look deformed and makes the tiny horse look like a drawing error. The interior illustrations are in a different and more appealing style. Still, I loved the premise of this book of magical realism.
In this story, Clover believes she is cursed with bad luck. Still, she stumbles into a magical part of the forest where there is a pet shelter for magical animals … unicorns, dragons, and the like. She ends up getting a part-time job caring for the animals and is challenged with making sure each finds the right home which is harder than it sounds because there’s a nasty witch involved. (5/5) [early chapter book, ages 7 and up]
My Pet Human by Yasmine Surovec
Who is the pet? In this story, the stray cat tells the story of adopting a human in a charming, well-executed, and well-paced book. There is a graphic novel sense to the book in which dialogue bubble cartoons take up most of the page making it appealing to reluctant readers. The story also would appeal to boys and girls equally. It has a funny yet moving point of view. (5/5) [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake by Robin Newman, illustrated by Deborah Zemke
Like an old-time detective movie, this book oozes with a kid-friendly film noir. Wilcox and Griswold are mice detectives and as tough and scrappy as cops on the streets. Their beat is a farm and they are called in when food goes missing. With every little detail perfect, this book is perfectly paced and captivating. Fans of Nate the Great will like this new series. (5/5) [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
Charlie Bumpers vs. The Perfect Little Turkey by Bill Harley, illustrated by Adam Gustavson
There are some illustrations but this reads more like a chapter book than an Early Chapter Book to me. Bill Harley captures perfectly what it’s like to be a middle child, stuck with an annoying cousin on Thanksgiving weekend. Charlie Bumpers is an appealing character that reminds me of Alexander in the When Alexander Was Rich series. This will appeal to boys but if girls give it a chance, they will be drawn in too. (5/5) [early chapter book, ages 8 and up]
Dory and the Real True Friend by Abby Hanlon
Dory takes imaginative play to a whole new level in this hilarious series. She’s going to school for the first time so she considers leaving her invisible friend Mary home in order to make a real true human friend. There are lots of choices in her class. George is game to play her way, but Dory focuses on Rosabelle who seems like she is into creative play too. While Rosabelle has created a princess world for herself, it turns out that there is plenty of room for Dory, Mary, Mr. Nuggy, and that horrible Mrs. Gribble Grabble to join in, as well as knights, dragons, horses, and plenty of monsters. (5/5) [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
Big Bad Detective Agency by Bruce Hale
A clever, funny, and delightful spin on fractured fairy tales. The Big Bad Wolf is stereotyped and falsely accused of trashing the three little pigs’ homes. Mama Pig’s other son, Little Pig, insists on helping the Big Bad Wolf. He has 24 hours to solve the case or it’s a lifetime of porridge for the wolf in the dungeon. (5/5) [early chapter book, ages 7 and up]
Lulu and the Hamster in the Night by Hilary McKay
This is exactly the kind of Easy Chapter book that I wish there were more of. Lulu and Mellie just happen to be girls of color but that’s not the point. Their adventure as rescue pet adopters goes amok when they stay at their nan’s house and decide to hide their hamster during their weekend stay. It’s not easy taking care of a hamster in secret! (5/5) [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
Backyard Witch: Sadie’s Story by Christine Hepperman and Ron Koertge, illustrated by Deborah Marcero
This book was a nice surprise. It perfectly blends realistic fiction, fantasy, and science into a story about a girl whose two best friends are vacationing together without her for four days. During her alone time, she discovers a witch living in her backyard playhouse. Sadie can see the diminutive witch but no one else seems able to. The witch, Morgan (Mrs. M) is trying to find her old best friend/neighbor who turned into a yellow bird. In helping Mrs. M, Sadie learns a lot about bird watching during the four days they spend together. (4.5/5) [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
Princess Pistachio by Marie-Louise Gay
This is a funny book with a strong and wildly imaginative strong girl character. She’s not as loopy in a good way as Dory Fanstasmory, but this book is also a fun read that girls with younger siblings can relate to. I especially liked the realistic reactions of Pistachios’s family and peers when she “discovers” she’s a princess. Clementine and Ivy and Bean fans will love this. (4/5) [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
Piper Green and the Fairy Tree by Ellen Potter, illustrated by Qin Leng
Piper Green is missing her brother who goes to high school on the mainland and doesn’t live at home anymore. Her coping mechanism is wearing her earmuffs even though it’s not cold. Adjusting to life without her older brother is tough, but when she ditches school to avoid her teacher’s wish to remove her earmuffs, she finds a surprise on her island that helps her get over this big change in her life. A charming story set on an island off Maine. It’s an Early Chapter Book version of One Morning in Maine. (4/5) [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
Notable Newly Published Early Chapter Books
The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems, illustrated by Tony DiTerilizzi
Mo Willems’ stay in Paris resulted in this charming story about a pampered and very cautious dog and her new stray cat friend. Together, they explore the ups and downs in the life of a flâneur (someone who wanders the streets, bridges, and alleys of a city just to see what is going on). [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
Tales from Shakespeare: Hamlet retold in modern English by Timothy Knapman, illustrated by Yaniv Shimony
My co-judges prefer Hamlet in its original form, but I find that Hamlet because it’s such a complicated story, is helpfully retold in this shorter illustrated version. My older kids who are reading Shakespeare agree; they liked this easy-to-read version so much that they picked it off my desk and read it. [early chapter book, ages 7 and up]
Pedro: First Grade Hero by Fran Manushkin
Pedro from the Katie Woo series branches off on his own. Like the Katie Woo series, each chapter is a discrete non-connected adventure. Here, Pedro catches bugs for a class science project, tries out as a soccer goalie, solves mysteries, and runs for class president. Through it all, it’s clear that Pedro is a kind, thoughtful, and hardworking friend which makes him a first-grade hero! [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
Scholastic Branches Early Chapter Book Series
I reviewed one book from each of the Scholastic Branches series and these are my favorites.
Eva’s Treetop Festival: Owl Diaries series by Rebecca Elliott
This is a really appealing notebook novel that seems really popular with girls. It was under serious discussion to make The Cybils shortlist but got edged out probably because the plot was a little too predictable.
Eva Wingdale wants to plan a big Bloomtastic Festival at school but does not like to ask for help. Still, this is a big project that one young owl can do by herself. Will Eva learn to let go of a little control in order to get the festival done? [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
Rise of the Earth Dragon: Dragon Masters series by Tracey West
Drake apparently has the heart of a dragon and gets chosen by the king to become a dragon master. Drake didn’t even realize that dragons existed but now he has to connect with his dragon and find a way to help his dragon unleash his power. [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
The School’s Alive: Eerie Elementary series by Jack Chabert
Sam’s school is alive. It’s a living, breathing beast with evil intent and only the hall monitor can keep it in check. With the help of his friends, Sam must stop his school from destroying the actors in the class play because the show must go on! [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
Let’s Get Cracking!: Kung Pow Chicken series by Cyndi Marko
The previous year’s Cybils, I was drawn to funny chicken books such that I might just have a thing for funny chickens:
Extraordinary Warren: A Super Chicken
The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure
The Kung Pow Chicken series fits the funny chicken book bill for me. Gordon Blue is like the Captain America of chickens. When he fell into a vat of toxic sludge, he gained superpowers which are brought to good use when they discover the evil Granny Goosebumps denuding the chickens of their feathers at the Fowl Fall Festival. They uncover her scheme to sell sweaters to every cold chicken in town. [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
Monkey and Me and the Golden Monkey by Timothy Roland
I like this book’s format of part graphic novel and part early chapter book with additional illustrations breaking up text-heavy pages. The premise would appeal to kids who can’t sit still; Clyde turns into a monkey when he gets excited and his twin sister Claudia has to cover for him at their school trip to the museum because who is going to believe that her brother is a monkey? Things get exciting when a golden relic gets stolen and only Clyde knows who did it. [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
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Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
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Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
What a great list. Many books to love! I reviewed a chapter book series today.
Thanks so much Patricia! Which chapter book series did you review?
Thanks for the great list. I am on the Washington State committee for our new OTTER Award for transitional chapter books. I used the Cybils and your lists to help guide choices. I appreciate your help!
Hi Monica,
I’m so glad this is helping you! I also have an Early Chapter Book Pinterest board where I pin the best lists that I find from other bloggers. I hope this helps you too: https://www.pinterest.com/pragmaticmom/best-early-chapter-books/
And one for Easy Readers: https://www.pinterest.com/pragmaticmom/best-easy-readers/
Multicultural Children’s Book Day also has a huge resource of book lists from bloggers organized by genre, subject and level: http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/multicultural-reading-resources/diversity-book-lists-for-kids/
Yay! I love finding new book lists! I’ll be sure to add these to our reading list!
Hi Erin,
I’m so glad you like the list!
Hello my name is Caroline Robinson and I adore your site. I’ve just released my first early chapter reader. It’s the first in the series, as I’m fast and furious on to the next.
About 5 years ago, I began reading all the children’s books at my local library with my little one. My reader’s now in 4th grade and reads anything she can get her hands on. Through our book journey, I realized it was time to put my passion into action. – Bring a love of reading to children through my stories.
Did you know danger is lurking at your local library? The fairytales need help and thankfully Pixie, our book loving hero will do whatever it takes to save them from being captured by the evil Book Guardian. She goes on a wacky quest to save her new book friends from disappearing forever. – Pixie & The Green Book Mystery.
I ‘d love to send you a free copy to enjoy and share with other moms like myself. It’s a short 9 chapter book for ages 8-10 with some illustration. The hard copy coming out next week and would love to send you a free copy of that as well. 😉
And don’t worry no fairytales were harmed in the making of the EBook. They are alive and well in their paper books, for now…
I thank you for your time and good luck to you in your reading endeavors.
God Bless,
Coraline Grace
Hi Coraline,
Your book sounds fun! My girls loved fairy tales when started reading independently!