We’ve put together a list of our top chapter book series for kids. They’re wholesome, beautiful, and your family won’t be able to put them down!
My love for reading is clearly contagious. It seems as though we cannot have enough books to satisfy in our home. Most of my kids can be found on a given afternoon or evening curled up with a great book.
One way I’ve encouraged this love for reading is to get my kids hooked on a chapter book series. You get hooked on the first one and simply can’t wait to come back for more!
Reading a series is such a great way to connect ideas and pique further interests. Plus, it is easier to trust the content of subsequent books once we have read the first one.
I’ve done some of the leg work for you to hopefully save you a bit of time in searching for the best chapter book series. Here are our top 11 favorite series. I hope your kids love them!
Our Favorite Wholesome Chapter Book Series for Kids
1. Little House on the Prairie and Little Britches
I doubt the Little House series needs much explanation, but if you happen to have forgotten about it…don’t miss this opportunity to teach your children about what life was like in early America. The family values and references to God are a refreshing and welcome part of this series. Little Britches is a similar series, but perhaps with a more masculine spin. Both would make excellent family read-alouds for almost any age, which is why they are number one on our favorite Christian books for kids list.
2. All-of-a-Kind-Family
Written in the 1950s, this series is a rare find. Rich vocabulary and wholesome values are just a few of the reasons why this series is sought after. The family’s charm and adventures will captivate your heart!
3. Grandma’s Attic
In these stories, a young girl delights in the stories her grandmother tells. It’s a wonderful treasury of faith, adventure, and timeless life lessons. They are great for middle elementary-aged kids.
4. Imagination Station
Written by the folks from Adventures in Odyssey, Imagination Station promises young readers (ages 7-12) adventure and mystery. This series is much like the popular Magic Tree House series, minus the magic and wizardry. There are more than 9 volumes of excitement.
5. Moody Family Series
If you are looking for a series that makes life beautiful, the Moody Family series will not disappoint. So far, Sarah Maxwell has written 7 books detailing the pleasures of the good life…following a simple homeschooling family as they help others, learn to love God, and enjoy time as a family. This series makes a great family read-aloud or a trustworthy independent selection!
6. Cul-de-Sac Kids
Perfect for your new chapter book reader, the Cul-de-Sac Kids enchant with tales of friendship, teamwork, and faith as they explore the neighborhood. These books are short, making them perfect for building confidence.
7. Rod and Staff Chapter Books
I fell in love with Rod and Staff books at my very first homeschool convention. With books on every level, they are perfect for read-alouds or independent reading. The books share stories of simple families living lives that honor Christ. Farming, homemaking, and missions are just a few of the topics covered. My 8-year-old cannot get enough of these books, so I had to include them even though they aren’t exactly a series.
8. Sugar Creek Gang
Promising adventure and excitement, the Sugar Creek Gang has been captivating children for more than 50 years! These chapter books are relatively short, but packed with fun.
9. Sisters in Time
Another great historical fiction series told from a child’s point of view. Sisters in Time has a clearly Christian perspective as the characters rely on God for protection, grace, and provision during some of history’s most difficult times. Perfect for family read-alouds.
10. Christian Heroes Then and Now
Last, but possibly my favorite is Christian Heroes Then and Now. With over 25 volumes, there is a story for every time period and region. From your living room, you can relive the stories of the heroes of our faith as they share the gospel with the world. If you like missionary stories, here’s a list of our favorite missionary books!
11. The Kingdom Series
I may have saved the best for last. This is a chapter book series that our entire family has fallen in love with. It’s a complete allegory of the Bible set in medieval times. There are knights, sword fights, warriors, and ladies.
But even better than that, the lessons in this series as well as the other three chapter book series written by Chuck Black are inspiring and faith-building! Check out the Kingdom Series here.
Your turn –> What are your favorite chapter book series for kids? Inquiring minds want to know!
Through practical tools & Bible-based resources, Kim Sorgius is dedicated to helping your family GROW in faith so you can be Not Consumed by life’s struggles. Author of popular kid’s devotional Bible studies and practical homeschooling tools, Kim has a master’s degree in education and curriculum design coupled with over 2 decades of experience working with kids and teens. Above all, her most treasured job is mother and homeschool teacher of four amazing kiddos.
Jodi says
Hi Kim,
We are using your reading bingo cards this summer, and have been really enjoying the challenge of reading outside of our normal preference. Thank-you for creating and sharing those. One square says a book about music. Do you or any of your readers have suggestions? My initial thoughts are biographies of hymn writers, but I’m sure that there are other options, too.
Blessings,
Jodi
Mariyn says
Thank You Kim for this list of books for children. I enjoyed All Of A Kind Family.
Marilyn
Marion says
Kim there are many books on this list that appeal to me. We have The Little House On The Prairie books and have read them. The Grandma Attic books are also in our library. I will look into some of the others. Thank You for the list.
HAPPY and SAFE 4th OF JULY
Marion
Marsha says
Some of these are my favorites too, but you’ve give me some good new ones to try as well! Have you read the Green Ember Series? Love them! My all time childhood favorite was the Anne of Green Gables series.
Jessica says
Great list, love the majority of these books- they are favorites in our home. (Would like to note, as my kids are Dyslexic and so much of their ‘age appropriate reading’ is by audiobook- Little House Series, All of a Kind Family series, quite a few of the Sugar Creek Gang series and many of the Christian Heroes series, the 1st 4 Grandmas Attic and the first couple Imagination Station books are available by audiobook through libraries, Audible, etc…) The others, we are not yet familiar with but will look for. A few others for future lists (from a very picky mom) – Elsie Dinsmore (author lived through the time period of the books, making them very historically accurate.), Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Pollyanna & Pollyanna grows up, Paddington (even my 13 or old still enjoys Paddington. There is one book that has hypnotist, so you may want to pre-read that one), Bad Kitty (beware the Vet one as it portrays Kitty ‘at the pearly gates, so another to pre-read). Trailblazer Books by Dave and Neta Jackson, Cooper Kids by Frank Peretti (a little scary, though), Daughters of the Faith Series, Rush Revere series, Happy Little Family Series, Misty of Chincoteague series, Mrs Piggle Wiggle (the 1st book mentions a little about magic and her husband being a pirate, but beyond that brief mention, they are really not about anything like that- but if you are hesitant, pre-read.), Dr Doolittle. We also squeeze in some old classics here and there- Swiss Family Robinson, Robinson Carusoe, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 101 Dalmatians, Around the World in 80 Days, etc. I might add, most of my entire list has a least some of the series available in Audiobooks…
Alex says
Hi Kim,
Thanks for the help in identifying and examining healthy literature for children. Based on your article I’m going to looking into Kingdom Series, and blow the dust off or our Little House on the prairie series sitting on our book shelf. Another series we like is “The Tuttle Twins” by Connor Boyack. They are a good series in between picture books and Chapter Books and teach great principles.