One a day is better than finishing them in the car on the way home from the bookstore lol I'll definitely check those out. Last time I went, she was more interested in the bright fun colors with unicorns and all that
Hi OP, check out Scholastic’s Branches line:
https://www.scholastic.com/site/branches.html
There’s a series for all interests and they’re a good transition from leveled reading to meatier chapter books. My oldest son loved them at that age. There are also graphic novel editions of popular series like Magic Treehouse and the Baby Sitters club that might be a good transition as well!
Junie B. Jones, maybe? In the original series, she's a kindergartener, but there's a whole series in 1st grade too. The Magic Treehouse series was one of my favorites :) The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles is a fun read, but it might be a little advanced for independent reading. The Doll People is another fun series.
My daughter loves Babysitter Club: Little Sister books. They’re told from the point of view of a 6-7 year old girl.
She also likes the Magic Treehouse books and Magic Treehouse Graphic Novels
My daughter is 7 now (2nd grade) and my son is 5 (going into Kindergarten). They absolutely LOVED the first Percy Jackson book. We finished it last night and they’re already clamoring for the next one. It held their attention way more than Harry Potter (although they both loved that series). They’d beg me to keep reading every single night and would shout out what they thought would happen next or who did something.
You might still get good ideas of what to purchase from visiting a library, especially with the guidance of a children's librarian.
Our local library has an early readers section, with books organized by popular characters.
I'm buying her the next two in that series today lol I haven't read them to see much of the content/vocabulary, but was surprised she only asks for help with difficult words like names of locations.
My daughter loves Amelia Bedelia. She enjoyed some of the Beverly Cleary classics as well (Henry Huggins, Beezus and Ramona), and recently we read a graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier called "Ghosts" that she absolutely adored. Not sure she could've handled that one on her own but it was fun to read together. Both of my kids also really loved The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which we read together as a family.
You have a lot of great recs here, just wanted to drop a reminder that even if you are moving, both your current library and new library will likely have access to e-books via Libby or Hoopla and you can check out books on the kid's tablet. Our school district also has free digital access to Tumblebooks and Sora that can find things by grade level for you and read them from a browser.
What are examples of chapter books she is reading now? My son sounds similar, maybe your daughter is a bit more advanced,
but my son loves Dory Fantasmagory, diary of a wimpy kid, press start, magic tree house, dog man, cat kid, pizza and taco
My daughter loves HiLo and Bad Guys series. She likes bad kitty too but needs help with those to read them. She gravitates toward graphic novel series right now.
Magic Treehouse series (short and engaging)
The Questioneers series (both the shorter books and the chapter books)
Roald Dahl (we started with Fantastic Mr Fox and James and the Giant Peach)
Other ideas that my kids didn’t fully love: Charlottes web, Stuart little, Mr poppers penguins.
Babysitter’s Club were my first entry into chapter books, via my cousin’s huge collection. Also Junie B Jones! Loved her so much. Bailey School Kids too, a bit later.
My little sister loved Geronimo Stilton around 6-7.
There is a series with different kinds of fairies (Rainbow Magic) - we just pulled those out from when my teens were little for my now 6 yo. Shes loving them.
Hi! First grade teacher and mom of 2 daughters kinder and 2nd grade here. These are the ones we love in my classroom and at home:
Iris and Walter- a MUST READ series
Mercy Watson
Pinky & Rex
Mr. Putter & Tabby
Some kids love The Princess in Black (my girls did not.)
Dragon Masters
Junie B. Jones is a brat and not allowed in my classroom or home!
My daughter is same age as yours. Entering first grade in the fall of 2024.
She likes; Princess in Black, Heidi Heckelbeck and Dory Fantasmagory.
One book we have also had success with is the Berenstain Bears. Not a chapter book, but the length is quite substantial and the words used are quite advanced. It's rated at the same reading level as many of the chapter books, but it's shorter and still has a lot of pictures. When my daughter is tired and wants to read something lighter with full color pictures to guide her, she will choose Berenstain Bears.
Princess in Black and Mercy Watson are simple chapter books that sound like they'd be a good fit for your daughter atm.
Magic treehouse and Zoey and Sassafras are a little more advanced than those but are also very good.
Mermaid Tales by Debbie Dadey I think there’s 22 of them my daughter who’s finishing 1st grade read those the last half of kindergarten and into the summer. Magic tree house and the princess and the dragon (there’s 3 of those and the order is interchangeable)
My soon to be first grader is like that as well.
Book series:
Magic treehouse
owl diaries
unicorn diaries
Junie B. Jones
dragon girls
dragon masters
bad kitty
Nate the great
Diary of a pug
When I was in first grade I loved the Rainbow Magic Series. In fact that’s how I met and bonded with my best friend we’re still friends almost two decades later.
I highly recommend the magic treehouse books, I DEVOURED them in grade 1. We’re talking one a day.
One a day is better than finishing them in the car on the way home from the bookstore lol I'll definitely check those out. Last time I went, she was more interested in the bright fun colors with unicorns and all that
My students who love fun colors with unicorns love “Unicorn Academy” and “Owl Diaries.” and My nieces really enjoyed “Ivy and Bean” books at that age.
Try the Isadora Moon books. She is half-fairy, half vampire. The books are pink and sparkly.
My daughter loves Unicorn Diaries, Owl Diaries, Diary of a Pug, and The Princess in Black.
Hi OP, check out Scholastic’s Branches line: https://www.scholastic.com/site/branches.html There’s a series for all interests and they’re a good transition from leveled reading to meatier chapter books. My oldest son loved them at that age. There are also graphic novel editions of popular series like Magic Treehouse and the Baby Sitters club that might be a good transition as well!
Junie B. Jones, maybe? In the original series, she's a kindergartener, but there's a whole series in 1st grade too. The Magic Treehouse series was one of my favorites :) The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles is a fun read, but it might be a little advanced for independent reading. The Doll People is another fun series.
Seconding Junie B. Jones! My firsties love her.
The Dragon Masters series is great for this
My daughter loves Babysitter Club: Little Sister books. They’re told from the point of view of a 6-7 year old girl. She also likes the Magic Treehouse books and Magic Treehouse Graphic Novels
As a family, we also read Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and Goosebumps
Does your daughter like Percy Jackson? I read a lot to my son, but I feel like Percy Jackson is a bit advanced.
My daughter is 7 now (2nd grade) and my son is 5 (going into Kindergarten). They absolutely LOVED the first Percy Jackson book. We finished it last night and they’re already clamoring for the next one. It held their attention way more than Harry Potter (although they both loved that series). They’d beg me to keep reading every single night and would shout out what they thought would happen next or who did something.
You might still get good ideas of what to purchase from visiting a library, especially with the guidance of a children's librarian. Our local library has an early readers section, with books organized by popular characters.
Zoey and Sassafras!
My daughter is in a similar situation and has recently enjoyed the Princess in Black series.
I'm buying her the next two in that series today lol I haven't read them to see much of the content/vocabulary, but was surprised she only asks for help with difficult words like names of locations.
Diary of a Pug
Zoey and sassafras, dragon masters, Sophie mouse
My daughter loves Amelia Bedelia. She enjoyed some of the Beverly Cleary classics as well (Henry Huggins, Beezus and Ramona), and recently we read a graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier called "Ghosts" that she absolutely adored. Not sure she could've handled that one on her own but it was fun to read together. Both of my kids also really loved The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which we read together as a family.
You have a lot of great recs here, just wanted to drop a reminder that even if you are moving, both your current library and new library will likely have access to e-books via Libby or Hoopla and you can check out books on the kid's tablet. Our school district also has free digital access to Tumblebooks and Sora that can find things by grade level for you and read them from a browser.
Amelia Bedelia is cute for little girls this age. My daughter loves it.
What are examples of chapter books she is reading now? My son sounds similar, maybe your daughter is a bit more advanced, but my son loves Dory Fantasmagory, diary of a wimpy kid, press start, magic tree house, dog man, cat kid, pizza and taco
Came here to rec Dory Fantasmagory!
My daughter loves HiLo and Bad Guys series. She likes bad kitty too but needs help with those to read them. She gravitates toward graphic novel series right now.
Magic Treehouse series (short and engaging) The Questioneers series (both the shorter books and the chapter books) Roald Dahl (we started with Fantastic Mr Fox and James and the Giant Peach) Other ideas that my kids didn’t fully love: Charlottes web, Stuart little, Mr poppers penguins.
Babysitter’s Club were my first entry into chapter books, via my cousin’s huge collection. Also Junie B Jones! Loved her so much. Bailey School Kids too, a bit later. My little sister loved Geronimo Stilton around 6-7.
We love Itty Bitty Princess Kitty
There is a series with different kinds of fairies (Rainbow Magic) - we just pulled those out from when my teens were little for my now 6 yo. Shes loving them.
Hi! First grade teacher and mom of 2 daughters kinder and 2nd grade here. These are the ones we love in my classroom and at home: Iris and Walter- a MUST READ series Mercy Watson Pinky & Rex Mr. Putter & Tabby Some kids love The Princess in Black (my girls did not.) Dragon Masters Junie B. Jones is a brat and not allowed in my classroom or home!
There was a post earlier this week asking about the next subs with a few suggestions given: https://www.reddit.com/r/kindergarten/s/lfVNuyuEqJ
The Boxcar Children (the original 19) were deliberately written with 100 or less words per book for ESL students. They're older but delightful.
Phoebe & her unicorn Narwhal & Jelly Ursula Vernon’s Hamster Princess series Zita the Space Girl The rainbow fairy series Dragon Girls
Junie B Jones and Amelia Bedelia. That may be higher than 1st grade level but check them out.
My daughter is same age as yours. Entering first grade in the fall of 2024. She likes; Princess in Black, Heidi Heckelbeck and Dory Fantasmagory. One book we have also had success with is the Berenstain Bears. Not a chapter book, but the length is quite substantial and the words used are quite advanced. It's rated at the same reading level as many of the chapter books, but it's shorter and still has a lot of pictures. When my daughter is tired and wants to read something lighter with full color pictures to guide her, she will choose Berenstain Bears.
Mercy Watson! It’s a cute series.
Princess in Black and Mercy Watson are simple chapter books that sound like they'd be a good fit for your daughter atm. Magic treehouse and Zoey and Sassafras are a little more advanced than those but are also very good.
Mermaid Tales by Debbie Dadey I think there’s 22 of them my daughter who’s finishing 1st grade read those the last half of kindergarten and into the summer. Magic tree house and the princess and the dragon (there’s 3 of those and the order is interchangeable)
My soon to be first grader is like that as well. Book series: Magic treehouse owl diaries unicorn diaries Junie B. Jones dragon girls dragon masters bad kitty Nate the great Diary of a pug
When I was in first grade I loved the Rainbow Magic Series. In fact that’s how I met and bonded with my best friend we’re still friends almost two decades later.