Reading Lists

Beginning Chapter Books: When Easy Readers are Too Easy

• Adler, David A. - The "Cam Jansen" Mystery Series - With the use of his photographic memory, Cam Jansen solves many exciting mysteries involoving stolen diamonds, dinosaur bones and even a U.F.O. (mystery, in the Series Section)
• Auch, Mary Jane - I was a Third Grade Science Project - While trying to hypnotize his dog for the third grade science fair, Brian accidentally makes his best friend Josh think he's a cat. (realistic)
• Bauer, Marion Dane - Alison's Puppy - All Alison wants is a puppy for her birthday. (realistic)
• Bauer, Marion Dane - Alison's Wings - Young Alison dreams of having her own wings tries to find a way to fly. (realistic)
• Berenstain, Stan & Jan - "Berenstain Bears" Series - Join the adventures of the Berenstain Bears as they learn life lessons. (realistic)
• Blume, Judy - The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo - Freddy, the middle child of the Dissel family, wants to do something special that no one else in his family has done before (realistic)
• Brisson, Pat - Hot Fudge Hero - In each of the three episodes which involve either an unfriendly neighbor, his sister, or his mom, Bertie is being rewarded with his favorite, a hot fudge sundae. (realistic)
• Brown, Marc Tolon - Arthur Chapter Books - Join Arthur and friends in many new adventures. (realistic, in the Series Section)
• Bulla, Clyde Robert - Chalk Box Kid - Nine year old Gregory's house does not have room for a garden but he creates a surprisingly different garden in an unusual place. (realistic)
• Byars, Betty - The Seven Treasure Hunts - Two boys make up a series of treasure hunts for each other, with disastrous and hilarious results. (realistic)
• Byars, Betty - Tornado - As they wait out a tornado in their storm cellar, a family listens to their farmhand tell stories about the dog that was blown into his life by another tornado when he was a boy.
• Christopher, Matt - Sports Series - Join them for many different sports adventures. (realistic, in the Series Section)
• Clifford, Eth - Flatfoot Fox Series - Flatfoot Fox, "the smartest detective in the world" delights young readers as he solves various mysteries. (mystery)
• Cone, Molly - Mishmash - Pete's mother won't let him keep Mishmash, a dog who likes to sleep on beds and sit at the table for meals, so Pete gives him to Miss Patch, his favorite teacher. (realistic)
• Conford, Ellen - Jenny Archer Series - Jenny Archer lives an interesting life and shares with eht reader her jobs, her rescues and many humorous adventures. (realistic)
• Dadey, Debbie - "Bailey School Kids" Series - The kids from Bailey School entertain young readers with their vivid imagination. (humorous, in the Series Section)
• Danziger, Paula - "Amber Brown" Series - Join Amber Brown to see what mischief she can cause next. (humorous, in the Series Section)
• Delton, Judy - "Pee Wee Scouts" Series - Join the Pee Wee Scouts for some wacky adventures. (humorous, in Series Section)
• Giff, Patricia Reilly - Dance with Rosie - Rosie tries to make up with her former best friends and get into ballet class after the sign-up deadline. (realistic)
• Herman, Charlotte - Max Malone and the Great Cereal Rip-Off - Tired of being cheated by cereal companies, Max decides to fight back after no receiving a free glow-in-the-dark sticker in his box of Choco-flash. (realistic)
• Howe, James - "Pinky and Rex" Series - As inseparable best friends, Rex and Pinky share many adventures as well as a special friendship. (realistic, in the Series Section)
• Hurwitz, Johanna - Make room for Elisa - Join the adventures of this funny five year old. (humorous)
• Hurwitz, Johanna - Superduper Teddy - Join the adventures of this funny five year old. (humorous)
• Karr, Katherine - The Lighthouse Mermaid - Kate, who lives in a lighthouse and often dreams that she is a mermaid, has a chance to rescue two real mermaids one stormy night. (fantasy)
• Keene, Carolyn - "Nancy Drew Notebooks" Series - Join a young Nancy Drew as she starts off her detective work in these adventures. (mystery, in Series Section)
• Kline, Suzy - "Herbie Jones" Series - Herbie's experiences during the third grade and "first" love. (realistic)
• Kline, Suzy - "Horrible Harry" Series - Doug discovers that though Harry's best friend is Miss Mackle's second grade class isn't always easy, as Harry likes to do horrible things, it is often a lot of fun. (realistic)
• Kline, Suzy - Mary Marony and the Chocolate Surprise - Join Mary and discover what the surprise is! (realistic)
• Koller, Jackie French - "Dragon" Series - Darek tries to protect his baby dinsosaur from angry villagers and the Circle of Elders. (fantasy)
• Krailing, Tessa - The "Petsitters Club" Series - Animals. (animals, in Series Section)
• Levy, Elizabeth - A Mammoth Mix-up - Brian and his younger sister Penny become involved in a mystery at the science museum where they are working on a woolly mammoth display for a science fair. (mystery)
• McDonald, Betsy - "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle" Series - The funny adventures of a little old lady who is unforgettable. (humorous)
• Osborne, Mary Pope - "Magic Tree House" Series - (realistic, in Series Section)
• Park Barbara - "Junie B. Jones" Series - Readers can follow the adventures of the "world's funnies kindergartner." (humorous)
• Pearson, Susan - Eagle-Eye Ernie Comes to Town - A new kid in school named Ernie solves the case of the lunch bag thief using her powers of deduction and her "eagle-eye". (mystery)
• Peterson, John - The "Littles" Series - Stories of a family who look like families who know, except no one in the family is more than six inches tall. (fantasy, in the Series Section)
• Rosner, Ruth - I Hate My Best Friend - Annie and Nina are super best friends and do everything together until Nina's cousin Irina arrives from Russion to live with the family. (realistic)
• Sachar, Louis - Marvin Redpost: Kidnapped at Birth - Join Marvin Redpost for a wacky adventure. (humorous)
• Sharmat, Marjorie - "Kids on the Bus" Series - Meet all the kids on the school bus and share their zany adventures in this wonderful series. (humorous, in the Series Section)
• Sharmat, Marjorie - "Nate the Great" Series - Follow the adventures of the "greatest detective." (mystery, in the Series Section)
• Stevenson, James - The Mud Flat Mystery - When a large box is delivered to Duncan while he is away, the other animal inhabitants of Mud Flat are consumed with curiosity about what might be inside. (mystery)
• Tamar, Erika - Soccer Mania! - Nine-year-old Pete and his friends, who enjoy playing pick-up soccer, get registered as an official team and discover the negative aspects of competition. (sports)
• Teitelbaum, Michael - "Clue Jr." Series - Each title offers a series of cases for the reader to solve, based on the best selling Parker Brothers game! (mystery, in the Series Section)
• Wilder, Laura Ingalls - Dance at Granpa's - A young pioneer girl and her family attend a wintertime party at her granparents' house in the big woods of Wisconsin. (historical)