Summer is all about sprinklers and ice cream and bikes and berries from the garden.  It’s about fireworks and barbecues and sunscreen.  But for our family, it’s mostly about reading.

Summer reading is upon us.  We spend our summers searching for fantastic books to sweep us away into other worlds, lives and adventures.  We read every chance we get.  And the books that always seem to be our favorites are books that come in a series.  After one book, we’re just not ready to let go of the characters.  We want to know what happens next.  We want to join them on new and greater adventures than the one before.

If you are looking for books for your child {or yourself} look no further than my Five Favorite Kids’ Book Series.  There is something here for everyone, and every one of these series has captivated me in a different way.  They are sure to captivate you as well.

5.   Clementine

Clementine is a refreshing take on the story of a girl who gets in trouble. She is a third grader who routinely finds herself in the principal’s office.  It is not, however, because she is sneaky, underhanded or in any way mean.  She is always trying to help people, but her help often turns into a fiasco.

What I love about Clementine is that it’s a story about a girl who finds mischief without the desire to cause mischief.  She is helpful, considerate and kind.  She knows her mind and speaks it, but she is respectful all the while.

And I just love that she is her own person…with curly hair and blue jeans and sneakers.  The author celebrates all that makes Clementine unique, while still keeping her from being rude, snotty or trouble-making.  My favorite part in the first book is when Clementine recognizes just how cool it is that her mom is an artist.  Creativity abounds in this series.

 

4.  American Girl

It’s true that The American Girl Series has become a mega-monster corporation that tries teach our little girls the way of American Consumerism.  Dolls, magazines, stores, matching outfits, crafts, hair salons…the list goes on and on.  It pushes so hard that sometimes we forget that the whole thing started with a bunch of books.  And good ones, at that.

American Girl books focus on fictional girls from different time periods and locations in American History.  Each girl has her own book series that follows her on her journey of growing up.  One takes place on the prairie as people move west, another in the desert southwest.  One takes place during the depression, and another during the civil war.  We meet girls of many varied backgrounds, nationalities and social classes.

The best thing about this series, in my opinion, is that it teaches our girls about history in a way that they can relate to.  They may not understand all the details of civil war battles and slave trade, but they understand what it means to miss your daddy and run to your mamma for safety and want to know how to read.  They can enter the story of our country’s history through the stories of these girls.  And, hopefully, they can begin to realize that even though all of our stories are so different, we can all connect and understand each other in some way.

Ellie’s favorite series so far:

Marie-Grace – A girl who has just moved to New Orleans {in 1853} and longs to sing, though she is very shy.

Kirsten – A Swedish immigrant girl who moves to the plains of Minnesota with her family in 1854.

Addy – A slave girl who runs to freedom with her mother in 1864 during the Civil War.

Samantha – An orphan who lives with her wealthy grandmother in 1904 and becomes friends with a servant.

Josefina – In 1824 Josefina, a girl who loves nature, struggles to deal with her mama’s death.

Ellie loves these books and, though she knows the dolls exist because they are pictured in the back of the books, she has never asked for one.  I have never mentioned them and we don’t act as though they are anything special or necessary.  We do, however, talk a lot about the books, the characters and the times in which they lived.

 

3.  The Magic Tree House

The magic Tree House Series were the first books Payton fell in love with.  He loved reading about the adventures of Jack and Annie, a brother and sister that travel through time in a magic tree house. They travel to far off places and learn of other times, cultures and historical events.

This series is fantastic for kids who are just starting chapter books.  They are engaging, easy to read and teach fantastic lessons. Many of the books also have research guides that teach the facts about the subject matter.

Jack and Annie are considerate of one another and do everything together, much like best friends would.  They are respectful of one another and help one another out. They are the model brother and sister who work as a team and love well.

As we read these books we often talked about Payton and Ellie going on adventures together.  And sometimes we’d peek into their room at bedtime reading time and see Payton reading one of the books out loud to Ellie.

 

2.  Harry Potter

The Harry Potter series reawakened me to kid lit.  I absolutely love them.  They are detailed and colorful and so very funny.  And they hold all the fun and adventure a kids book should have, along with amazing and imaginative details of Harry’s magical world.

And, in case you are wondering: No, these books aren’t the devil’s scheme to capture your children.  If your kids read them, they will be just fine.  Better even.  Their imaginations will be entertained and their creativity will be encouraged.  They will read about friendship, courage, integrity, honor, valor and when it’s necessary to stand up and fight for what’s right.  They will also laugh a lot.

I’ve read each of these books more than once.  Some more than four times.  They get better every time I pick them up.

 

 

1.  The Wingfeather Saga

Far off lands, secret jewels and the toothy cows of Skree…

Andrew Peterson’s series about the life and adventures of the Igiby family is wholly captivating.  From the moment you open your eyes on the shores of the Dark Sea of Darkness you are swept up in an epic tale of  heroism, courage, harrowing danger and side-splitting humor.

I have never laughed harder reading a book.  My kids and I found ourselves doubled over in giggles at some of the quirks of Podo, the ex-pirate grandpa.

The idea of family runs deep in these books, and I pray that some day I will have the wisdom of Nia, the Igiby children’s mother.  She is brave and steadfast and always reminds them to “Remember who you are.”

But the overwhelming theme of these books is one of our hearts being called home.  Sometimes we have to fight with honor and slay the enemy to get there, but we are destined to find our way to the place we have always belonged.

 

Other Great Series:

The Kingdom Keepers Series – By Ridley Pearson {Disney World Mystery series}

The Mysterious Benedict Society Series – By Trenton Lee Stewart {Orphans, puzzle solving and saving the world with friends}

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series – By Ann Brashares {For girls who wear jeans and love their friends}

Judy Moody – By Megan McDonald {She is very moody but she loves to do fun & crazy things}

Fancy Nancy – By Jane O’Connor – {Nancy’s lavish and embellished style – those are fancy words for “fancy” – is exquisite!}

Ramona, Henry Huggins, Ralph S. Mouse – By Beverly Cleary {Friends, family, kid adventures, mice, motorcycles and PORTLAND}

Ivy And Bean – By Annie Barrows {Two girls who were destined to be friends}

Wildwood {soon to be a series} – By Colin Meloy {PORTLAND TOO!  Oh and talking coyotes, the Impassable Wilderness and other crazy stuff.  You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.  You better just read it.}

Who Was – A Biography Series {Who Was George Washington?  Who Was Martin Luther King Jr.?  Who Was Helen Keller?  You get the picture…}

 

Do you have any favorite series to add to the list?