If you have a newly independent reader at home and you're looking to nurture their reading skills, you'll find many brilliant chapter book series out there that are crafted especially for them. Designed to ignite the imaginations of young minds with tales of adventure, friendship and discovery, these books feature engaging plots, relatable characters, and age-appropriate challenges, but they are still presented in a format that is very appealing with shorter chapters, larger text and lots of illustrations. This ensures an enriching reading experience for children transitioning to more advanced literature, without overwhelming them. There are lots to choose from but here are a few of our favourites, all of which we feel really hit the mark for their target audience:
The Kitty Series by Paula Harrison: These illustrated books join Kitty and her cat crew on the rooftops for a series of enchanting adventures by the light of the moon, where Kitty will discover that to be a superhero she must learn to be courageous too. The first in the series is Kitty And The Moonlight Rescue.
The Invincibles by Caryl Hart: With full colour illustrations by Sarah Warburton, these laugh-out-loud books follow the mishaps and adventures of troublesome twosome Nell and Freddie.
Kate On The Case by Hannah Peck: The first in a delightful series of adventures about reporter-in-training Kate and her mouse accomplice Rupert, with vibrant colour illustrations.
Mr Penguin by Alex T Smith: Known for his delightful illustrations and engaging storytelling, Alex T Smith brings to life the quirky character of Mr. Penguin, a daring and debonair penguin with a taste for mystery-solving. The first title is Mr Penguin and The Lost Treasure.
Amelia Fang by Laura Ellen Anderson: This enchanting and funny series whisks readers to the world of Nocturnia, where darkness reigns supreme, glitter is terrifying, and unicorns are the stuff of nightmares! Book number one is Amelia Fang And The Barbaric Ball.
Hotel Flamingo by Alex Milway: This series follows the escapades of young Anna who inherits a dilapidated hotel from her Great Aunt, and is determined to restore it to its former glory. But this is no ordinary hotel - all of her staff and guests are animals!
Indigo Wilde And The Creatures of Jellybean Crescent by Pippa Curnick: Delivering magic and mayhem with gorgeous illlustrations, the colourful world of Indigo Wilde and the magical creatures who live at Jellybean Crescent is vividly brought to life in this funny series of four books.
Nell And The Cave Bear by Martin Brown: This book and its sequel deliver a heart-warming story set long ago that is beautifully and simply told, with a delightfully gentle humour, and exquisite illustrations.
Toto The Ninja Cat by Dermot O'Leary: By day, Toto and her brother Silver seem to be ordinary cats, but by night, they love to have adventures! Young readers will love these hilarious tales and their black and white illustrations. The first in the series is Toto The Ninja Cat And The Great Snake Escape.
Willow Wildthing by Gill Lewis: Beginning with Willow Wildthing And The Swamp Monster, this enticing series of four books is set in The Wilderness, where magic and nature collide. Here Willow meets the Wildthings, a group of children who have taken on the characteristics of the wild creatures they are named after.
The Jasmine Green Series by Helen Peters: Beginning with A Piglet Called Truffle, this lovely series will appeal to readers who enjoy stories that blend adventure, friendship, animals and a touch of countryside charm.
Shifty McGifty by Tracey Corderoy: This is an action-packed, fully illustrated series with short stories about two hapless robber dogs who swapped their life of crime for baking and solving mysteries!
Jasper And Scruff by Nicola Colton: A fun series of laugh-out-loud tales of friendship with lively colour illustrations, just perfect for new readers.
Rabbit and Bear by Julian Gough: Gorgeously illustrated by Jim Field and with a classic feel, this is a brilliantly funny series featuring a rabbit and a bear who discover that things are always better when they're shared with a friend. Ideal for readers moving on from picture books, the first in the series is Rabbit's Bad Habits.
The only question now, is which series to try first!
