On Monday, I took one of my granddaughters for a birthday shopping spree. The deal was that half of the allotted money would be spent on books and the other half on toys. Shannon, my granddaughter is entering first grade in the Fall. She already loves to read and finished the first five books in the Mercy Watson series. Once in Barnes and Noble, we headed right back to the book series section. Luckily, the sixth book of the series was in stock, but I also pulled the first book of about ten series and we headed over to a little table to look them over and decide which ones would make the cut.

After looking at the cover and reading the back summary to Shannon, she quickly decided on ones that appealed to her. Already, this child has a sense of her own reading interests. By choosing the first in several series, Shannon will get a taste of each of them and follow up with the book series she enjoys the most.

There are so many delightful series for this age group. Even if your child is not yet reading, sharing these books together by reading them aloud, will provide all the benefits of book series discussed in the previous post and expose him or her to the delights of following the same character through many adventures. Set aside a block of time, take your child to a library or book store, let him/her sort through numerous books and take home the ones that hold strong appeal. You will build anticipation and warm memories as you share the fun of choosing a just-right book. Here are some ideas to get you started…

The Mercy Watson Series by Kate DiCamillo

Truthfully, I had never heard of this series by the renowned author Kate DiCamillo, until I saw it sitting on the table at my daughter’s home. Of course, I then heard about how Shannon loved it! Mercy Watson, is the endearing main character and each chapter book recounts one of her delightful adventures. They even have a fan club. Check out the Mercy Watson site at http://www.mercywatson.com/

Ballpark Mysteries by David A. Kelly

David Kelly has penned an engaging series, especially appealing to baseball enthusiasts. Each mystery is set in a different ball park. Readers can visit the ball park and solve a mystery at the same time. A winning combination!

Nancy Clancy, Supersleuth by Jane O’Connor

If the little ladies in your life love “Fancy Nancy”, they will be thrilled with this series. In this series, Fancy Nancy has matured a bit, but still is as glamourous as ever.  Equipped with a fancy magnifying glass and pink trench coat, Nancy readily solves the mysteries that come up in these easy-to-read chapter books.

Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows

These two girls are opposites, but when they join together the fun never ends. Young girls will enjoy their wacky adventures and learn about friendship and acceptance at the same time.

The Hardy Boys Secret Files by Franklin Dixon

Frank and Joe are still around!  Boys who like adventure, mystery, sports and fun (and who doesn’t) will enjoy meeting these classic heroes in this series of chapter books for young readers.

Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

If your youngster has not already discovered this series, the popularity of the movie may be just the opening you need to introduce him to this unique superhero and jumpstart a reading journey.

Of course, this list could go on and on.  Don’t forget about the tried and true Junie B. Jones, Cam Jansen and Amelia Bedelia books, among the array of wonderful books series available. Please post your child’s favorites and add to this starting list of book series. Happy Reading!