1
Hooking Your Child on a Series Improves Motivation & Interest to Read
Books in a series are very supportive for developing readers. Series books allow children to become acquainted with characters who appear regularly. Series books repeat a format (length, type font, story structure, and packaging) that children will find comfortable. Whenever children meet familiar characters again in a series, they immediately realize that they already know something about the book; motivation and confidence are increased; they have the immediate satisfaction of applying prior knowledge to a new book. Readers become instantly more interested in a book if it has a setting, problem, or character they already know. In addition, it is very easy to find the next book for your child to read as most series have many choices.
Use the free Scholastic Book Wizard app to read a summary of each series. http://www.scholastic.com/bookwizardmobile/
*Parents of young children who read at a high DRA level should check to be sure that the series is age-appropriate for their child (not too scary).
Recommended Series by DRA Level
DRA 4-6: 1. Puppy Mudge by Cynthia Rylant
DRA 8-10:
1. Gossie and Friends by Olivier Dunrea 2. Dear Dragon by Margaret Hillert 3. Biscuit by Alyssa Capucilli (DRA 10) 4. Pete the Cat (I Can Read Series) by James Dean (DRA 10) 5. Digger and Daisy by Judy Young (DRA 10)
DRA 12-14:
1. Beastieville by Kirsten Hall 2
2. First Grade Friends by Betty Lewin and Grace Maccarone 3. Many titles by Harriet Ziefert 4. Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems (select titles) 5. Eloise Ready to Read by various authors 6. Tadpoles Fairytale Twists by various authors (DRA 12) 7. Robin Hill School Ready-to-Read by Margaret McNamara (DRA 12)
DRA 14-16:
1. Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff (DRA 14, select titles) 2. Little Critter by Mercer Mayer (DRA 14, select titles) 3. Katie Woo by Fran Manushkin (DRA 14, select titles) 4. Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems (DRA 14, select titles) 5. Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold 6. Dragon Tales by Dav Pilkey (DRA 16) 7. Arthur Step into Reading by Marc Brown (DRA 16) DRA 18:
1. Fox by James or Edward Marshall 2. Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant 3. Mr. Putter and Tabby by Cynthia Rylant 4. Poppleton by Cynthia Rylant 5. Cowgirl Kate by Erica Silverman 6. Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor 7. Iris and Walter by Elissa Haden Guest 8. Young Cam Jansen by David Adler 9. Katie Woo (select titles) by Fran Manushkin 10. My First Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
DRA 20:
1. Commander Toad by Jane Yolen 2. Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel 3. Arthur by Lillian Hoban 4. Andy Shane by Jennifer Richard Jacobson 5. Houndsley and Catina by James Howe 3
6. Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo 7. Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat 8. Zelda and Ivy by Laura Kvasnosky 9. High-Rise Private Eyes by Cynthia Rylant DRA 24:
1. Cam Jansen by David Adler 2. Pee Wee Scouts by Judy Delton 3. Horrible Harry by Suzy Kline 4. Pinky and Rex by James Howe 5. Ricky Ricotta by Dav Pilkey (graphic novel) 6. Oliver and Amanda by Jean Van Leeuwen 7. Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish 8. The Princess in Black by Hale, Shannon & Dean 9. Mouse and Mole by Wong Herbert Yee 10. George and Martha by James Marshall 11. Bunnicula and Friends by James Howe 12. Milo & Jazz Mysteries by Lewis Montgomery 13. Go Girl! by Thalia Kalkipsakis 14. Ready Freddy by Abby Klein 15. Rainbow Magic by Daisy Meadows (DRA 24-28)
DRA 28:
1. DC Super Heroes by various authors (DRA 24-28) 2. Stink by McDonald, Megan 3. Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne 4. Calendar Club Mysteries by Nancy Star 5. Ivy & Bean (select titles) by Annie Barrows 6. Katie Kazoo Switcheroo by Nancy Krulik 7. Marvin Redpost by Louis Sachar 8. Riverside Kids by Johanna Hurwitz 9. Nancy Drew Notebooks by Carolyn Keene 10. Pixie Tricks by Tracey West 11. Judy Moody by Megan McDonald 4
12. Cobble Street Cousins by Cynthia Rylant 13. Bailey School Kids by Debbie Dadey and Marcia T. Jones 14. The Little’s collection by John Peterson 15. Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park 16. Owl Diaries by Rebecca Elliott 17. Bink And Gollie by Kate DiCamillo 18. Many Sport stories by Matt Christopher (select titles, high interest for boys)
DRA 30:
1. Puppy Place by Ellen Miles (realistic fiction, dogs) 2. Catwings by Ursula Le Guin (fantasy, animals) 3. Ruby Lu by Lenore Look (realistic fiction) 4. A-Z Mysteries by Ron Roy (mystery) 5. George Brown Class Clown by Nancy E. Krulik (humor, high interest for boys) 6. Melvin Beederman Superhero by Greg Trine (graphic novel, fantasy, high interest for boys) 7. Jigsaw Jones by James Preller (mystery) 8. Zack Files by Dan Greenburg (fantasy, humor, high interest for boys) 9. Calendar Mysteries by Ron Roy (mystery) 10. Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist by Jim Benton (humor) 11. Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon (humor, high interest for boys) 12. Magic Tree House Merlin Missions by Mary Pope Osborne (historical, fantasy) 13. Stella Batts by Courtney Sheinmel (realistic fiction) 14. Ballpark Mysteries by David Kelly (mystery) 15. Gooney Bird by Lois Lowry (school stories, high interest for girls) 16. Nikki & Deja by Karen English (realistic fiction, high interest for girls)
DRA 34: 1. Amber Brown by Paula Danziger, realistic fiction (DRA 30-34) 2. Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon (graphic novel, humor) (DRA 30-34) 3. Clementine by Sara Pennypacker (select titles, realistic fiction, high interest for girls) 5
4. Geronimo Stilton by Geronimo Stilton (humor) 5. My Weird School by Dan Gutman (humor) 6. Ramona Quimby by Beverly Cleary (realistic fiction) 7. Mallory by Laurie Friedman (school stories, high interest for girls) 8. Secrets of Droon by Tony Abbott (fantasy) 9. The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann Martin (realistic fiction, high interest for girls) 10. Jake Drake by Andrew Clements (realistic fiction, school stories) 11. Andrew Lost by J.C. Greenburg (science fiction) 12. Ellray Jakes by Sally Warner (realistic fiction, high interest for boys) 13. Meg Mackintosh Mysteries by Lucinda Landon (mystery) 14. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner (mystery)
DRA 38:
1. Dragon Slayers Academy by Kate McMullan (fantasy, humor) 2. Encyclopedia Brown by Donald Sobol (mystery) 3. Jake Maddox by Jake Maddox (sport stories) 4. The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy (fantasy, school stories) 5. Alvin Ho by Lenore Look (Humor, high interest for boys) 6. Bad Kitty Chapter Books by Nick Bruel (humor, animals) 7. Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieszka (fantasy, time travel) 8. Wayside School by Louis Sachar (humor, school stories) DRA 40:
1. Many titles by Roald Dahl, fantasy, humor (DRDA 38-40) 2. Here’s Hank by Henry Winkler, humor (DRA 38-40) 3. Ghosthunters by Cornelia Funke (fantasy) 4. Fudge by Judy Blume (humor) 5. Edge Chronicles by Chris Riddell & Paul Stewart (fantasy) 6. Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry (realistic fiction, high interest for girls) 7. The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes by Ann Mazer (high interest for girls) 8. Winning Season by Rich Wallace (sport stories, high interest for boys) 9. Wild Wicked Wonderful by Virginia Loh-hagan (NF- animals) 10. Hank Zipzer by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver (humor, high interest boys) 6
11. Many titles by Andrew Clements: Frindle, No Talking, The School Story, The Laundry News, Lunch Money and more (realistic fiction, school stories) 12. I Survived… series by Lauren Tarshis (historical fiction, survival) 13. The Sisters 8 by Lisa Weber (fantasy, mystery) 14. Little House by Laura Ingalls Wilder (historical fiction, high interest girls) 15. Timmy Failure by Stephan Pastis (humor, high interest boys) 16. Chet Gecko by Bruce Hale (Mystery, high interest for boys) 17. Shredderman by Wendelin Vandraanen (mystery) 18. Lunch Lady by Jarrett Krosoczka (graphic novel, humor, high interest boys) 19. Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler (fantasy, mermaid, high interest for girls) (DRA 40-50)
DRA 50:
1. Various sport books for boys by Mike Lupica 2. Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket (adventure, humor, Mystery) 3. Books 1-4 in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (fantasy) 4. Nailed It! by Virginia Loh-hagan (NF-extreme sports) 5. Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger 6. Baseball Card Adventures by Dan Gutman (baseball, high interest boys) 7. Sammy Keyes by Wendelin Vandraanen (Mystery) 8. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (fantasy) 9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (humor, high interest boys) 10. Joey Pigza by Jack Gantos (realistic fiction) 11. Pandora by Carolyn Hennesy (fantasy, humor, mythology, high interest for girls) 12. Frank Einstein by Jon Scieszka (humor, science) 13. The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley (fantasy, fairy tales retold, mystery)
DRA 60:
1. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan (fantasy, mythology) 2. The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan (fantasy, mythology) 7
3. Books 5-8 in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (fantasy, more scary and dark than books 1-4) 4. City of Ember Jean Duprau (Science Fiction)