Specifically formatted with emerging independent readers in mind, early chapter books help students make the transition from easy readers to longer chapter books with more complex vocabulary and sentence structure, lengthier texts broken into easy-to-digest chapters, and illustrations that add detail and help to hold interest. The offerings highlighted here provide a sampling of new series and stand-alone titles that are well-written, pleasingly illustrated, and packed with kid-appeal. Representing a variety of genres and styles, these engaging tales use action, humor, suspense, and relatable emotions to reel in newly confident readers and help shepherd them along the path to becoming lifelong book lovers.
Getting Started
Blending basic vocabulary, relatively brief texts, and abundant illustrations, these books make the perfect next step for kids who have recently mastered easy readers.
The two best pals—one a boy and one a beetle—introduced in Elise Broach and Kelly Murphy’s Masterpiece (2008) return as stars of their own early chapter book series, “The Masterpiece Adventures.” As The Miniature World of Marvin & James (both Holt, 2014; Gr 1-4) begins, James is getting ready for a vacation at the beach and Marvin is helping the boy to pack, worrying all the while about being left behind. How will the lonely beetle fill his time? Will James make new buddies? Will he miss Marvin? Though the insect manages to whittle away the hours with a daring dive into the depths of an electric pencil sharpener with his annoying cousin Elaine, his concerns never dissipate. Will James still be his best friend? Dynamic writing and vivacious sepia-hued illustrations depict the action while also conveying heartfelt emotions and insights about true friendship.
Yearning to accomplish great things like his porcine ancestors, Pigsticks is determined to travel “to the Ends of the Earth” and win glory and fame…but unwilling to carry his own gear. After an unsuccessful search for the perfect assistant (“strong, courageous, and good at making packed lunches”), the intrepid pig recruits neighbor Harold, a short-but-sturdy, sweets-loving hamster who happens to drop by with a package. Their expedition through jungle, across desert, and up mountainside is fraught with danger, excitement, and laugh-out-loud humor. Despite hardships, setbacks, and a horde of ravenous mountain goats, they persevere—the domineering Pigsticks motivated by dreams of success and the long-suffering Harold by the promise of a “large lemon drizzle cake”—until they reach their destination. Colorful and comical cartoon-style artwork, droll narrative, and masterful interplay between words and images make Alex Milway’s Pigsticks and Harold and the Incredible Journey (Candlewick, 2014; Gr 1-3) a delight.
Johnny Mutton, a baby sheep left on the doorstep of near-sighted Momma Mutton and lovingly adopted into the human world, made his debut in 2001. James Proimos’s The Complete Adventures of Johnny Mutton (HMH, 2014; Gr 1-4) collects 15 comic-book-style vignettes about this irresistibly silly and entirely winsome character. Simple text, color-blazed pen-and-ink cartoon artwork, and dialogue balloons depict a sheep-turned-boy who is not afraid to do things his own way—bringing his teacher a bag of marshmallows instead of an apple, dressing up like a “giant runny schnoz” in a classroom filled with witches and pirates at Halloween, and opting to swim water ballet rather than play basketball. Subtly nestled among the harebrained hijinks (and occasional potty joke) are themes that underscore the importance of individuality, remaining true to one’s self, and accepting others.
Awesome Animal Tales
First introduced in the “J. J. Tully” series (HarperCollins), the mischief-making Chicken Squad (Atheneum, 2014; Gr 1-3) returns to take center stage in Doreen Cronin’s new early chapter book series. J. J., a retired search-and-rescue canine now serving as watchdog, is napping, so when Tail, a timid squirrel, barrels into the coop blathering about seeing something “big and scary” in the yard, it’s up to the four plucky chicks to solve the mystery. Working together as a crime-cracking team, Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie interrogate Tail, launch an investigation, and humorously muddle matters (deducting that the object is a UFO, they initiate an all-out assault against the barbecue) until J. J. finally steps in to straighten things out. Portraying personality-packed pullets that are round-headed, wide-eyed, and only the slightest bit fuzzy, Kevin Cornell’s fluid black-and-white illustrations expand the text’s slapstick humor and entertaining escapades.
Shirley Hughes and Clara Vulliamy place Digby O’Day in the Fast Lane (Candlewick, 2014; Gr 1-3) when the amiable dog and his best friend, a pooch named Percy, enter an all-day road rally. Digby’s tried-and-true red convertible is looking shined up and spiffy, but will the canine comrades be able to beat Lou Ella, Digby’s flashy, horn-tooting, new-car-owning human neighbor and win the race? Filled with suspenseful twists and turns, clever stratagems, and a satisfying comeuppance, this series starter is told with simple sentences and comical cartoon illustrations touched in red and pink. It’s a story that blends thrilling adventure with old-fashioned charm.
Leroy Ninker Saddles Up (2014; Gr 1-4) for fun and friendship in the first volume of “Tales from Deckawoo Drive,” a spinoff series set in the world of Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen’s Mercy Watson (both Candlewick). Owner of a ten-gallon hat, lasso, and hardy “Yippie-i-oh,” Leroy, the diminutive concession-stand worker at the Bijou Drive-In Theater has almost everything he needs to be a real cowboy, except for one important element. It’s a match made in heaven when he meets Maybelline, a well-worn horse whose need for constant affection and sweet talking extracts the essence of Leroy’s kind nature and previously untapped “talent for poeticals” (“You are a pure flower of horsiness”). Their giggle-inducing adventures are described in engaging text and exuberant cartoons that brim with wit and warmhearted affection.
Superhero Sendups
Set in Fowladelphia, Cyndi Marko’s newly hatched “Kung Pow Chicken” series features second-grader Gordon Blue and his still-in-the-shell younger brother Benny, two seemingly ordinary fowls who were transformed into super-powered poultry after accidentally falling into a vat of toxic sludge at their Uncle Quack’s lab. Taking on the sobriquets of Kung Pow Chicken and Egg Drop, they get a chance to put their powers to the test in Let’s Get Cracking (Scholastic, 2014; Gr 1-4). The siblings are enjoying a school field trip to the Fowl Fall Festival when the students suddenly begin to shed their feathers, resulting in classmates covered in nothing but goosebumps (…er, “chickenbumps”?). Never fear, the dynamic duo traces these dastardly doings to a knitting-needle-wielding granny whose evil scheme involves selling sweaters to naked birds and making enough money to retire to Florida. Consisting of easy-to-absorb sentence groupings and accessible dialogue balloons, the simple text is bok-full of comical poultry wordplay and superhero references (“my birdy senses are tingling”), supported by uproarious and colorful artwork. Fledgling readers will flock to this one.
Timothy Roland’s new series kicks off with Monkey Me and the Golden Monkey (Scholastic, 2014; Gr 1-3). During a fieldtrip to the museum, Clyde, a boy with an overabundance of energy and a penchant for monkey business, manages to snarf down an experimental gamma-ray-blasted banana. The effects manifest themselves soon after, when Clyde suddenly finds himself transforming into a monkey whenever he gets “super excited” (quite often) and only his levelheaded twin sister, Claudia, knows the truth. It’s a bit overwhelming, but his boy-turned-primate abilities come in handy when a criminal threatens the school. Concise and simple sentences are intermixed with pen-and-ink cartoons that power the action and provide the characters with personality. Clyde’s monkey episodes are presented in comic-book format, keeping the transition clear and adding variety to the layout. A likable protagonist, consistently high energy level, and barrel-of-laughs scenario make Monkey Me a solid choice for reluctant readers.
Fantastic Adventures
It’s “Take Your Kid to Work Day” (or in this case, night) and eight-year-old Archie Morningstar can’t wait to ride along in his father’s taxi, but boy is he in for a surprise! The first in a new series, Wendy Mass and Michael Brawer’s Space Taxi: Archie Takes Flight (Little, Brown, 2014; Gr 2-4) describes the youngster’s inaugural journey and initiation into the secret family business as Dad’s beat-up sedan converts into a sleek space craft and they blast off for distant Delta Three to pick their first fare. Archie discovers that he has inherited the ability to read a 3-D map (making him the perfect copilot), tangles with a villainous member of B.U.R.P. (a mysterious criminal organization), and meets a talking cat (an Intergalactic Security Force deputy). Archie’s high-flying adventures are neatly grounded by his affectionate relationship with his parents. Scattered throughout the text, Elise Gravel’s zesty illustrations emphasize the out-of-this world humor. The appended science facts about gravity, wormholes, and exoplanets just might fuel further exploration.
Eliza Boom: My Explosive Diary (Aladdin, 2014; Gr 2-4) features a frizzle-haired young inventor who takes inspiration from her father, a scientist who concocts top-secret gadgets for spies. Aided by her canine best friend, Einstein, Eliza perseveres in her efforts to create contraptions, despite multiple mishaps that land her in trouble. When Dad’s “Mission Metallic Info-Ribbon” goes missing, she realizes that this is the very object that she had found in the yard, mistaken for regular ribbon, and given to class-bully Zoe Wakefield (who is wearing it as a hair bow). It takes a series of oddball gizmos and the help of a new friend for Eliza to retrieve the device, capture an enemy spy, and earn the title of assistant inventor. Emily Gale creates an inviting voice for Eliza through spirited first-person diary entries that describe the zany action as well as the youngster’s emotions. Depicting a girl with puffball pigtails, large round glasses, and endless enthusiasm, Joëlle Dreidemy’s energetic illustrations add to the madcap mood.
The first installment in “Jim Henson’s Enchanted Sisters” series (Bloomsbury, 2014; Gr 1-3) shimmers with fast-paced adventure, winsome magic, and effervescent élan. Each equipped with her own glittering scepter and glistening gem-emblazoned headband, the four Sparkles—Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer—live in Mother Nature’s realm and are responsible for turning the seasons (the Outworlders, or humans, are unaware of the sisters’ existence). In Autumn’s Secret Gift, Mother Nature gives the most cautious and dependable member of the quartet a birthday blanket intended for friend and asks her to keep it safe. When Autumn unintentionally loses the special present, which ends up in the hands of Sleet (one of four unwholesome and mischief-making boys called the Weeds), she must work together with her sisters and learn to leave her comfort zone in order to retrieve it. Elise Allen and Halle Stanford’s descriptive writing works with Paige Pooler’s graceful stylized illustrations to depict the action, accentuate magical moments (riding a rainbow or conjuring up a life-saving safety net), and convey a positive message about teamwork and responsibility. A good choice for readers who enjoy their tales touched with sparkle.
Real Kids, Real Situations
Karen English’s “Carver Chronicles” shares the same urban setting as her popular “Nikki and Deja” books (both Clarion) but places the focus on the boys of Carver Elementary. Dog Days (2013; Gr 1-4) introduces new student Gavin, who is anxious to settle in and reveal his cool skateboard-riding, soccer-playing identity to the rest of the school. He’s excited to finally have Richard come over, but a bit embarrassed when his big sister calls him “Gavmeister” and by the fact that he is not allowed to have “overly violent” video games. Venturing into forbidden territory in search of candy, the boys end up breaking Danielle’s cherished snow globe. Gavin must earn the money to replace it by walking his great-aunt Myrtle’s cantankerous canine, a poufy pink-bow-wearing Pomeranian (not only must he pick up Carlotta’s leavings, but he is of course spotted—and laughed at—by a group of fifth-grade boys). Incorporating lively dialogue, English’s accessible text portrays family interactions, classroom dynamics, and social situations with authenticity and appeal, and Laura Freeman’s buoyant spot illustrations add detail and humor.
Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, The Year of Billy Miller (Greenwillow, 2013; Gr 1-3) celebrates the ordinary ups and downs of a second-grader’s life with beautiful writing, breezy spot artwork, and an amazing awareness of a young child’s perceptions, dreams, and epiphanies. Four chronological sections—“Teacher,” “Father,” “Sister,” and “Mother”—each focus on an area of concern and portray Billy’s interactions with these multifaceted characters. Replete with small yet unforgettable incidents (an almost-ruined diorama, a failed attempt to stay up all night, squabbles and serene moments with little sister Sal, the difficult decision to call his father “Dad” rather than “Papa”), this book is funny, poignant, and irresistible.
In Patricia MacLachlan’s superbly written Fly Away (S & S/McElderry Bks., 2014; Gr 3-6), a girl describes her family’s annual trip via an old Volkswagen bus to North Dakota to help Aunt Frankie protect her home from rainy-season flooding. Lucy’s first-person narration is like a quiet whisper in the reader’s ear as she describes her music-loving family—a cow-adoring farmer father who warbles out opera; a mother who bops to Langhorne Slim; a younger sister who trills in a “high perfect voice;” and Teddy, the two-year-old brother who doesn’t talk yet but secretly sings in tuneful “la, la, la’s” for Lucy only. Though the observant young narrator has a talent with words and secretly aspires to become a poet, she can’t sing and sometimes feels left out. However, when Teddy goes missing during a deluge, Lucy must find her voice in order to help save him. A lovely and lyrical tale about family bonds and the power of words told with accessible yet eloquent and melodious language.
Eds. note: For additional beginning chapter books, be sure to see our list of series favorites for early readers. Most are in paperback, offering affordable options for classrooms needing multiple copies.