I’ve noticed that animal rescue books are popular in chapter books:
Books for Kids to Celebrate Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
Debbi Michiko Florence brings diversity and animal rescue to life in her newest early chapter book series, My Furry Foster Family! I’m happy that there are other diverse voices on this list as well as other great chapter books to get kids reading!
To kick off summer reading, I’m giving away four ARCs (Advanced Release Copy) books. Please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter.
How about you and your kids? What are some favorite chapter books that you recommend? Thanks for sharing!
13 Great Chapter Books for Kids
My Furry Foster Family: Truman the Dog by Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Melanie Demmer
Kaita Takano and her family foster pets as well as takes care of their dog Ollie, a dachshund, who is also a rescue. They have their hands full with Truman, a black lab with destructive tendencies. When it’s time to find Truman a forever home, it’s hard to let go.
This is an endearing series about pet rescue. My only criticism is the portrayal of the Takano family whose very large and round eyes and skin tone look more Latino than Japanese. An Asian illustrator might be more cognizant and nuanced about portraying a Japanese family more accurately. [early chapter book, ages 5 and up]
Charlie & Mouse Outdoors by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Emily Hughes
I think that this is the closest early chapter book series to Frog and Toad. It has the same innocense and charm. Charlie and Mouse are brothers (Mouse is the younger sibling) and they have these gentle, adult-supervised small adventures that are more like small treasured moments of a parent looking back in time at old VHS recordings of their children when they were young. This particular book has a camping theme. I’m a huge fan! [early chapter book series, ages 5 and up]
Frank and Bean by Jamie Michalak, illustrated by Bob Kolar
Frank and Bean have polar opposite personalities and that sets up the humor in this delightful early chapter book series. Frank is a cautious and careful planner. Bean is more freewheeling and LOUD! One is an introvert; the other is an extrovert. Obviously, they are destined to become best friends. Pair with Charlie & Mouse Outdoors for two takes on camping! [early chapter book series, ages 5 and up]
Barkus Dog Dreams by Patricia Maclachlan, illustrated by Marc Boutavant
There are a lot of children’s books about dogs that feel anthropomorphic but I love it when an author nails a dog’s personality like the Harry the Dirty Dog picture book series, and this series has the same “inside the head of an actual dog” feeling. Barkus has gentle adventures that a dog would relate to. And kids will delight in Barkus’s escapades too! [early chapter book series, ages 5 and up]
Sadiq and the Desert Star by Siman Nuurali, illustrated by Anjan Sarkar
Sadiq is from Somalia but that’s not the point of the story. This is a STEM story about Sadiq and his friends who learn about astronomy at school and visit an observatory. Their fascination motivates them to raise money to build a telescope of their own to find the desert star that Sadiq’s father describes as well as try to see Mars. Can a telescope built of paper towel tubes be powerful enough to see the moon and stars? Somali words are sprinkled throughout the book and the DIY telescope project is also included at the end. [early chapter book, ages 5 and up]
The Princess in Black and the Science Fair Scare by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
There’s an appealing goofiness to the Princess in Black and her adventures. Her friends might fumble around as they presto-change into superheroes and the villains are not too scary. The Science Fair Scare is no exception. I like the STEM thrown into the mix. This series sends a great message of girl power, gentle adventures, and STEM to model for girls that princesses can also be the heroines of their own superpower STEM adventures. [early chapter book, ages 5 and up]
Kitten Kingdom: Tabby and the Pup Prince by Mia Bell
This new series is The Princess in Black + Anthropomorphic Kitten Siblings. It’s a cute series featuring anthropomorphic animals. The royal kittens dress up in disguise as they solve mysteries and retrieve a valuable magical object from the evil King Gorgonzola (a rat, of course), while peace between the dog and cat kingdom is being negotiated. Mia Bell uses clever puns to riff off the animals in her names which adds to the fun. I can see this being popular with the set that also loves The Rainbow Fairies series. [early chapter book series, ages 6 and up]
The Infamous Ratsos: Project Fluffy by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Matt Myers
This is a really appealing series with animal characters that go through the same painful friendship issues as children do. In this case, Ralphie Ratso feels left out when his brother is enlisted by Chuck Wood, an athlete and the most popular kid in school, to get Fluffy Fabbitski’s attention. She’s only interested in her garden so Louis Ratso’s ideas fall flat. It turns out that it’s poetry from the first annual poetry competition that fixes everything. Use this book in April to celebrate Poetry Month![early chapter book, ages 5 and up]
Diary of an Ice Princess: Snow Place Like Home by Christina Soontornvat
I would describe this as Airbender + Disney Princess + Percy Jackson. Princess Lina is a “half-blood” with a Windtamer from the Boreas Greek wind god side of the family and a human father. Like her mother, she has special powers. Her grandfather is upset that she can’t control the winds yet. Her best friend, a groundling like her dad, wants her to attend boarding school with her. Will Princess Lina be able to control her powers to fit in? [early chapter book, ages 7 and up]
Juana & Lucas: Big Problemas by Juana Medina
Juana and her dog Lucas are back in another charming installment that describes their upper-middle-class life in Bogota, Columbia. Juana’s big problem begins when her mother starts to wear more perfume than usual and style her hair in a fancy way. Will her mother’s new boyfriend be a big problem for Juana and Lucas? Kids who have single mothers and have nuclear families can relate to Juana’s response to a new person thrust into her life. I love Juana’s personality and her views, especially in the lists that she makes to analyze people, are hilariously funny. She’s the new Ramona with an added bonus of learning about life in Columbia, South America! [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]
King & Kayla and the Case of Found Fred by Dori Hillestad Butler, illustrated by Nancy Meyers
Kayla and her dog King find a lost dog, Fred, at her grandmother’s house. Fred is not a stray; he has a human family, but how to get him back? Kayla and King are on the case to solve the mystery of where Fred came from. Can they return him to his family? [early chapter book, ages 7 and up]
Douglas by Randy Cecil
Douglas is a city mouse who needs to escape from a predatory cat. His route seems unlikely but it’s ultimately successful — through the pocket of a strange girl! Yes, the plot is quiet but effective. This book reminds me of a chapter book version of The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. Both have pencil drawings that feel like storyboards to a movie. Both have plots that are twisting, unusual, and strangely riveting. This is a book that will warm the heart of a reader! [chapter book, ages 6 and up]
The Pepper Party Picks the Perfect Pet by Jay Cooper
It’s another chapter book animal rescue story but this time, it’s with the wacky Pepper family. Annie wants to adopt a Chihuahua named Azzie but her parents opt to choose names from a hat. Her siblings have other ideas about the “perfect pet.” As the pets come home to the Pepper residence, they meet trouble and sibling sabotage. Will Annie ever get a turn to bring Azzie home? [early chapter book, ages 7 and up]
4 ARCs (Advanced Release Copy) Chapter Book GIVEAWAY
I’m giving away four ARCs (Advanced Release Copy) books. Please fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter.
p.s. More of my chapter book lists:
Chapter Book Series Starring Diverse Girl Characters
Great New Early Chapter Books Giveaway
Best Beginning Chapter Books for 1st and 2nd Grade
Best Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books
Adopt a Shelter Pet Day Early Chapter Books
Hamsters and Guinea Pigs in Early Chapter Books
11 New Diversity Early Chapter Books
Top 10: Best Beginning Chapter Book Series
Best Chapter Books for Newly Independent Readers
Scholastic Branches: Early Chapter Book Series
To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award longlist
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Judy Moody and Junie B Jones are two faves
Hello,
I have several chapter books that I would list here. I have read all the Sophie Washington series and I also love Jasmine Toguchi books.
Most of the books I love are featured on my YouTube Channel. Do check them out.
“What are your favorite chapter books for kids?” I don’t know if the “Infamous Ratsos” book is in the giveaway, but the “Infamous Ratsos” books have great covers!
What a great selection of chapter books, my daughter will love these!
These are some great books.i think my daughter would like Daighter of the Ice Princess best. Thank you for sharing. 💗💛💗💛💗💛
My students really love the Magic Treehouse series. I think they like the combination of fantasy and history so they are learning and being entertained while they read.
I loved the Babysitters Club books and my 9yo niece has just gotten into them. Ramona series, Nancy Drew, everything I’ve read so far from Jason Reynolds.
I love The Princess in Black and Magic Treehouse!
I love using the I Survived books because they’re a good way to get kids interested in historical fiction!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.
For even earlier chapter books, I love Fly Guy. My son really learned the term chapter from these books, and he’s only 3! We also loved the first Enginerds book, though we haven’t read the next one yet, and I love the Jasmine Toguchi series.
As a kid, my favorites were Magic Treehouse and Bailey School Kids.
Growing up I loved the baby sitters club books; now I enjoy sharing the Judy Moody books and the Bad Guys series.
I don’t have a favorite chapter book but I’d love to discover one.
I have tried several of these chapter book series for my granddaughter. She finally settled on Owl Diaries. For older kids The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is so popular with them. This is a great list.
The Penderwicks series, or the “Family Fletcher” books are my favorites.
I work in a school library and these are some of the favorites…Lulu books by Judith Viorst, Owl Diaries, Princess in Black, Wonder, Reign Rain, Wishtree, The One and Only Ivan and of course graphic novels.
Diary of an Ice Princess.
I think that the Zoe and Sasafrass series is somewhere else on your blog. And, that is a good chapter book. I’m always looking for chapter books with diverse characters. We found the “whatever after,” series and while the main characters are not very diverse, there are characters in the books that are. The History Pals series has two books in the series, but I don’t think that the author is making anymore of them. “Ben Franklin is in my bathroom,” and “Eleanor Roosevelt is in my Garage.” Sharon Draper’s “club house mysteries,” series and Planet Omar were good chapter books, but maybe they were already mentioned in your older kids section.
BTW., I appreciate all of the wonderful books that I have learned about from your blog.