My top 5 chapter books for kids were easy to name- although I have to say right up front that I’m predjudiced at the creator of the DaVinchy Chapter Book Series. In reality, it would be better to break out top 5 lists for early chapter books, 2nd grade chapter books and chapter books for 3rd and 4th graders. But for this list, I’m just going to keep it personal and cover the gamut.
5. Mouse Soup, Mouse Tales, Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel
My first exposure to these books was reading aloud. At the time, I remember thinking that they were too simple – ridiculously simple stories. But my kids loved them. So we kept them around and read them from time to time. With each reading they grew on me – Mouse Soup, especially. Then, when my kids began reading on their own, these little books really came alive for us. They were easy to read. The pictures and words worked well together. The characters were already like old friends. Even when we outgrew them, occassionaly we would go back just to smile at the stories for old time’s sake.
4. Ramona by Beverly Cleary
This was a favorite of mine growing up. Ramona was the second “full-length” chapter book I ever read. I loved the whole series and re-read it a few times in first grade. Interestingly, my kids were not big fans of reading this. But they love, love, loved the Stockard Channing books-on-tape versions of these books and would listen to them on car trips, even to the point of everyone piling in the car to go to the convenience store to get milk. Nuff said!
3. (tie) Magic School Bus, Magic Tree House
My kids were young when both of these were just starting up. My daughter was too old, that is – but my sons were the right age. For an adult, they are a bit formulaic – but they rock the party for the age group for the kids who like them. We were always bigger fans of the picture book Magic School Bus version – but the chapter books were ok too. There’s an educational slant to the Magic School Bus series, which was an added plus. Although since, I’ve read some reviews where science minded parents carp about the pseudo-science – I don’t hold chapter books to the same standard as college text books (which by the way can be just as error-filled or pseudo science peddling!).
2. The Box Car Kids by Gertrude Chandler Warner
For me, as a parent, this is a pure sentimental favorite. The writing in this series is so simple and pure and good it makes me weep. The characters, except maybe Violet, are well-rounded and interesting. And the situations are spot-on in dramatic intenstity for the age range. I don’t know, maybe kids who are overstimulated by video games might find this too tame. But the kind of old-time purity of these original books (not the ones written after GCW died) could almost make me cry with joy.
1. The DaVinchy Series by Chris Shaver and Fran Panza
Hey – is this fair? Can he vote for himself? Sure he can – it’s his blog! I love the DaVinchy Series because it’s everything I always wanted in a chapter book series. It’s got action and adventure. It has strong characters. It has magical powers and jet packs! It has scary cats and a bad mouse king. And it’s a long series – it will be 51 books before it comes to it’s exciting conclusion. The pictures make the books come alive for kids. They are imagination stimulators for all kids. They help the kids get clues to the words on the page they are trying to decipher. They give the struggling readers a reason to want to keep turning pages. Plus they are cliff hangers – which excite the imagination and keep kids guessing what will happen.
Honorable Mention: Junie B. Jones- I need to get these out of the local library and read them. I’m told they are spectacular. Captain Underpants – these books are a rocking rollicking good read – kids love em!