adapted from original image by Simon Cocks
As parents we all know how important summer reading is for our kids. The challenge is finding books that our kids will read. My personal challenge is making sure there enough interesting books for Sophia to read. She flies through books during the summer. I’m always looking for chapter book series for Sophia to read because if she likes the first one, there’s more of the series! I’ve mentioned before the importance of exposing our children to books that show diverse characters (without being stereotypical). Finding diverse chapter book series for elementary students can be difficult.
I searched Book Expo America and my local library’s stacks to find these diverse chapter book series. We haven’t read them all, but hopefully they give you and your children a starting point. Age recommendations are from the publishers, but if you’re unsure that your child is ready for the subject matter, ask your local librarian.
In no particular order (book titles are affiliate links):
EllRay Jakes series by Sally Warner (recommended for ages 6-8)
Katie Woo series by Fran Manushkin (recommended for ages 5-7)
Zapato Power series (featuring Freddie Ramos) by Jacqueline Jules (recommended for ages 6-8)
Keena Ford series by Melissa Thompson (recommended for ages 6-8)
Spirit Animal series by various authors (recommended for ages 8-12)
Girls of Many Lands series (recommended for ages 10 and up) Many of these are out of print but used copies are very inexpensive.
The Ever Afters series by Shelby Bach (recommended for ages 8-12). Not to be confused with the Ever After High series.
Technically not a series but Lisa Yee has 3 companions books: Stanford Wong Flunks Big-time, Millicent Min, Girl Genius and So Totally Emily Ebers with diverse characters (recommended for ages 8-12).
Willimena Rules! series by Valerie Wilson Wesley (recommended for ages 7-10). Also out of print but my library had it and plenty of used copies on Amazon.
Better Nate than Ever and Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federle (recommended for ages 10-14)
Ruby Lu series by Lenore Look (recommended for ages 6-10)
Ruby and the Booker Boys series by Derrick Barnes (recommended for ages 7-10)
Calvin Coconut series by Graham Salisbury (recommended for ages 8-12)
The Royal Diary series (recommended for ages 9-12)
Dear America series about boys (recommended for ages 7-10)
Dear America series about girls (recommended for ages 7-10)
Lulu series by Hilary McKay and Priscilla Lamont (recommended for ages 7-10)
Pacy Lin series by Grace Lin (recommended for ages 8-12)
Know of other diverse children’s chapter book series? Leave them in the comments!
Great list! Thanks for putting it together. I'm always looking for new books for my daughter – she goes through them so fast, usually at least three a week!
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Same with my daughter! That's why I compiled this list. Partly for her and partly for my readers!
Thank you, Kim, we are in the exact same boat and this list helps tremendously! I feel good that at least 5 of these series she’s already read, as I’m always wondering if I’m doing a good job of keeping her balanced. It’s tough with such limited options but this definitely helps. I keep encouraging her to write her own and get published bc we need diversity without stereotypes but she won’t let anyone read the books she’s written. I’m sure they’re good. Oh well.
Kim, I have no doubt you are doing an amazing job with your girls!
We love, love, love Katie Woo!! Great list!
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Thank you so much for including my Katie Woo series
You're welcome! We don't find series featuring Asian American girls very often. Thank YOU for writing them.
I recommend the Sugar Plum Ballerinas series by Whoopi Goldberg as well as the Amy Hodgepodge series by the Wayans family. These are perfect for the 3-5th grade.
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Taye, I've seen those. I was trying to get a good balance of books for boys and girls. It seems that there are more African American series geared towards girls than boys.
I know when my niece was younger we had such a hard time getting her to read. She was into the Wimpy Kid Series … this is a great list for future reference.
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Thanks, Kim! My girl gobbles books up and am always looking for more. She likes to read about fifteen different books at one time, reading the ones that fit her mood in the moment. One of those current fifteen is the first book in The Spirit Animals. I'm going to look into the Girls of Many Lands series you suggested for her. Another series she adores, is Nanny Piggins by R.A. Spratt. She read the first two this last year and while the third one was released in the States a couple weeks ago, she's waiting for its arrival (as a print book) in the library. There are nine total, all released in Australia, where the author is from (they are now all available as e-books in the UK too). She giggles the whole time while reading them.
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