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When my Miss 5 was about around 4-1/2, we started trying chapter books, in addition to reading picture books. I wasn’t sure if she’d have the attention span for them, but from the start, she’s been riveted. Sometimes she’d be listening so intently that I’d think she’d zoned out, but when I asked her what I’d just read, she could tell me nearly word for word. A year or so later, chapter books have become a big part of our reading aloud routine (and, with almost a year of kindergarten under her belt, she’s even attempting some on her own). She has a preference for reading books in a series, and many of the series we’ve been reading have such wonderfully bright, brave, curious little girls as heroines. I love for her to spend time with girls like this!
If you have an early reader, her are a few series with fabulously feisty heroines that we recommend.
Ramona Quimby
by Beverly Cleary
It was a parent on the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook group mentioning that she’d been reading the classic Ramona Quimby series with her 4 year old that prompted me to give chapter books a try for the first time. I remembered wild little Ramona from my own childhood, and I wasn’t sure if they’d be too dated, but it turns out that they’ve aged beautifully. A few of the details may be a little old fashioned, but Ramona’s antics remain universally funny. The first book is told from her long-suffering sister Beezus’s perspective, but the subsequent books take you into Ramona’s mind, and it really appealed to Miss 4/5, for whom it all made good sense, even if she’s never gotten into quite the trouble Ramona does! I don’t think any author has articulated children’s thoughts better than Beverly Cleary.
These books will be too challenging for very early readers to read on their own, but are perfect for read aloud. (Published in Australia by Harper Collins)
Billie B Brown
by Sally Rippin
Billie is a school girl, a big sister, a soccer lover, and a devoted friend to her pals, especially her best friend Jack. This 20-book series features Billie dealing with a lot of very relatable scenarios – things like being told she can’t join the soccer team because she’s a girl or having nightmares after watching a scary movie with older kids. Billie’s conflicts are real things that early primary children are trying to navigate everyday. Sometimes Billie is very brave, and sometimes she tries to be braver than she is). Sometimes she makes the wrong choices and has to work out how to fix things. In the end, Billie always does the right thing by her friends, and is true to herself. I love the Billie could be my kid or any one of her friends.
These books are quite short, and can be read in one sitting. Young readers from about Year 1 will likely be able to read these to themselves. (Hardie Grant Publishing)
The Princess in Black
Shannon and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
On the complete opposite end of the “normal kid” spectrum from Billie is The Princess in Black. Princess Magnolia is a pink dress wearing, tea sipping regular princess with a unicorn for a pet. But, when the alarm sounds, she slips off to become the monster-fighting Princess in Black superhero (and her unicorn turns into a horse). Her mission is to send the endless parade of goat-eating monsters back underground, where they live. As the series goes on, she gets help from a goatherd turned Goat Boy and a fellow princess turned Princess in Blankets, none of who know each other’s real identities. My favorite thing about this series is the amazing illustrations – every monster is different and hilarious, and there are so many clever details. It’s also admirable how duty-bound and brave the Princess in Black is: as much as she’s ready to have a rest or do normal princess things, she never ignores the call to save the day.
At this writing, there are six books in this series. They are fairly short. We read them in one or two sittings. A confident young reader around age 6 or 7 could read these on their own. (Candlewick Press)
Tiggy and the Magic Paintbrush
by Zanni Louise, illustrated by Gillian Flint
Tiggy is a little girl with a secret: she keeps a magic paintbrush in her sock, and it comes in handy when she’s feeling a little shy or unsure. We read and re-read the first two books in the Tiggy series (the second two books have recently been released), and they were been particularly loved at the start of the year when Miss 5 went to “big school” for the first time. Her confidence shook, at times, as she adjusted to this new part of her life, and Tiggy’s worries and insecurities made her feel that her challenges were normal. Tiggy’s paintbrush (read: her imagination) helps her paint pictures and create scenes that make her feel braver or that she fits in more. It’s a great message about a sweet, imaginative little lady, and the illustrations – many in color – make these books a nice bridge between picture and chapter books.
These are small and simple reads that will be easy for learning readers to transition to from read-aloud. I especially recommend them for school starters. (Hardie Grant Publishing)
Clementine Rose
by Jacqueline Harvey
As a baby, Clementine Rose appeared mysteriously in the village of Penberthy Floss in the a basket of bread rolls. We don’t know how she got there, but she immediately become the adored daughter of the kind-hearted Lady Clarissa, owner of a perpetually in disrepair mansion-turned-bed-and-breakfast, Penberthy House. Living with them are devoted butler Digby Pertwhistle, cranky Aunt Violet, and Clementine’s pet teacup pig, Lavender. In each episode, Clementine has an adventure at home or beyond. The series isn’t specifically set it in a historical period, but it has an old-fashioned feeling, in the nicest way. There are few, if any, mentions of technology, and little Clementine always wear beautiful, homemade dresses. The stories are gentle, but lively, with quite a few funny lines. Clemmie, as she’s called, is a curious little thing who sometimes inadvertently causes trouble, but her heart is always in the right place.
We’ve read the first five of the 13 part series (part 14 is set to be released soon), and they are such endearing stories. These are full-length books, and early readers won’t be able to read these alone until they are more experienced. I find them much more suitable for reading aloud. Miss 5 never fails to request, “just one more chapter?”. (Random House)
Lemonade Jones
by Davina Bell, illustrated by Karen Blair
Lemonade Jones is a new series that debuted with the first two stories in one book in August this year. In terms of “feisty” kids, Lemonade Jones is right up there with Ramona Quimby in her willfulness and sass. But, if your name is Lemonade, you can’t be average, hey? All of the great character names is one of the especially fun things in this series, which is full of humor. (Miss 5 and I legitimately had a 5 minute giggle fit over one of the illustrations). In the first story, we meet Lemonade starting Year 1 with a lot of insecurities that she’s not sure how to manage. The second story sees Lemonade getting her expectations a little too high for her birthday party, and coming up with a marvelous solution. She’s definitely not a dull kid to hang out with!
These stories are fairly short, but a little more difficult to read than Billie B. Brown or Tiggy. The content will be fine for about age 5+, but kids may need to be a bit older to read it without help. We’re looking forward to seeing what Lemonade Jones will get up to next. (Allen & Unwin)
If you have a kid ready to try chapter books, series are a great way to keep the enthusiasm going, and they’re sure to have fun with these feisty girls.
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