After the Easy Readers

Beginning Chapter Books

 

All of these books can be found in the JUVENILE FICTION section of our libraries.  They are arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name.  Some also can be located in the PAPERBACK shelves.  Ask a Librarian for help in locating the book you are looking for!  We all wish you many years of reading pleasure!

 

Adler, David.  Cam Jansen and the birthday mystery.  58 pages.  (Cam Jansen series)
When Cam’s grandparents are robbed on their way to her parents’ surprise birthday party, Cam uses her photographic memory to solve the mystery.  With over 30 books in the series, this girl detective keeps very busy!

Allard, Harry.  Bumps in the night.  48 pages.  (Yearling First Choice Chapter Book)
When he discovers his house is haunted, Dudley Stork enlists the help of his friends to find out what is causing the spooky noises.

Brisson, Pat.  Bertie’s picture day.  69 pages.
Bertie tries to get spiffy for his class picture but several disastrous events result in him looking “interesting” instead.  Another good book about Bertie is Hot fudge hero.

Brisson, Pat.  Little sister, big sister.  36 pages.
Hester and her younger sister play Queen and her maid, pretend to be mermaids, eat chocolate and experience thunderstorms.  There is even a recipe for Thunder Cookies!

Calmenson, Stephanie.  Rockin’ reptiles.  79 pages.  (Gator Girls series)
Because the new girl on the block has only one ticket for the most exciting concert ever, two best friends must decide which of them gets to go.

Caseley, Judith.  Jorah’s journal.  59 pages.
In her new journal, Jorah recalls her feelings about having to move, going to a new school, celebrating her birthday, learning the meaning of her name and finding a new friend.

Chall, Marsha Wilson.  Mattie.  46 pages.
Mattie’s adventures include selling her little brother, finding the perfect Valentines Day gift for an obnoxious classmate and cutting her brother’s hair!

Charbonnet, Gabrielle.  Snakes are nothing to sneeze at.  70 pages.
Although he’s not furry and her best friend thinks he’s yucky, Annabel loves her pet snake.

Choi, Sook Nyul.  The best older sister.  45 pages.  (Redfeather Book)
Sunhi is not very happy by the arrival of a baby brother, but with the help of her wise grandmother, she learns to appreciate her new role as big sister.

Christopher, Matt.  Man out at first.  60 pages.  (Springboard Book)
After a fast moving ball hits him, Turtleneck Jones loses his confidence on the baseball diamond and sees his position at first base given to another player.  This is just one of the many, many sports book written by Matt Christopher.  Look in both fiction and paperback sections to find his books!

Clarke, Judith.  Teddy B. Zoot.  58 pages.  (Redfeather Book)
A kindhearted teddy bear journeys to his owner’s elementary school in the middle of the night to retrieve his math homework.

Clements, Andrew.  Jake Drake, bully buster.  73 pages.
It is up to Jake Drake to take matters into his own hands when Link Baxter, Super Bully moves into the neighborhood.

Clifford, Eth.  Flatfoot Fox and the case of the missing schoolhouse.  47 pages.
Flatfoot Fox and his faithful friend, Secretary Bird, help Principal Porcupine solve the mystery of the missing school.  There are several Flatfoot Fox books to read.

Cole, Joanna.  Gator girls.  59 pages.  (Gator Girls series)
This is the first in the Gator Girls series and it is a fun book to read!  When Alice the Alligator learns that she will be going to camp without her best friend, Amy, the two girls try to get a whole summer’s worth of activities into just a few days.

Conford, Ellen.  Annabel the actress starring in just a little extra.  63 pages.
When she learns that a famous director is making a movie in her hometown, ten-year-old Annabel is determined to get a part.  You can also read another book about this girl actress.

Cooper, Ilene.  Lucy on the loose.  75 pages.  (Road to Reading, Mile 5)
When his beagle, Lucy, runs off chasing a big orange cat, Bobby must overcome his shyness in order to find them again.  You should also read Absolutely Lucy.

Cresswell, Helen.  Almost goodbye.  62 pages. (Speedsters)
While collecting things to sell for the school’s White Elephant Sale, two friends are given a lamp with unexpected magical qualities. 

DeClements, Barthe.  Spoiled rotten.  56 pages.  (Hyperion Chapters)
Scott helps his best friend, Andy, learn how to follow the rules in second grade so that he will not get into trouble.

Duffey, Betsy.  The Camp Knock-Knock mystery.  46 pages.  (Yearling First Choice)
If Willie would change into clean clothes while at summer camp, he might find the joke book which Crow has hidden from him.

Duffey, Betsy.  Virtual Cody.  83 pages. 
Cody and his third grade classmates are having fun reporting on the origin of their names until Cody finds out that his parents named him after a dog!  There are other fun books to read about Cody.

Duncan, Lois.  Wonder Kid meets the Evil Lunch Snatcher.  76 pages.  (Springboard)
Terrorized by an evil lunch snatcher at his new school, Brian devises, with the help of a fellow comic book fan, a plan involving a new superhero called Wonder Kid.

Edwards, Michelle.  Pa Lia’s first day. 50 pages.  (Jackson Friends)
On the first day of second grade at her new school, Pa Lia discovers that things are not as bad as she had feared.

Elliott, David.  The Cool Crazy Crickets to the rescue.  55 pages.
The members of the CCC decide to earn some money but they have differences of opinion about how they should spend it.  Read more about the CCC in another book.

Etra, Jonathan.  Aliens for breakfast.  62 pages (Stepping Stone)
Finding an intergalactic special agent in his cereal box, Richard joins the extraterrestrial in a fight to save earth from the Drones, one of whom is masquerading as a student in Richard’s class.  Also read Aliens for lunch.

Galbraith, Kathryn.  Roommates.  42 pages.
When Mama announces a new baby is on the way, requiring a separate room, two sisters become roommates.

Greer, Gery.  Let me off this spaceship.  54 pages.
When creatures from outer space kidnap Tod and Billy, they try to make as much trouble on board ship as they can so that the spaceship captain will take them back to earth.

Gregory, Valiska.  Happy Burpday, Maggie McDougal.  59 pages.  (Springboard
Having no money and seeing her best friend’s birthday approaching, Maggie creates a package of homemade and recycled items, hoping Bonkers will not be disappointed when he realizes his present is secondhand.

Griffith, Helen.  Grandaddy and Janetta together.  79 pages.  
Three stories about Janetta and her grandfather who lives on a farm are included in this warm, family story.  

Haas, Jessie.  Runaway Radish.  56 pages.
When Radish the pony grows too big for the girls who own him, he goes to live at a horse camp where there are always new children for him to train.  The author also has a wonderful series about a mare named Beware.  Horse lovers will love her books!

Hanel, Wolfram.  Lila’s little dinosaur.  60 pages.
When her father takes her to the museum, Lila, who likes dinosaurs more than anything else, finds a little live dinosaur who becomes so fond of her that he follows her home.

Hanel, Wolfram.  Rescue at sea.  60 pages.
Nine-year-old Paul wants a dog and he proves himself worthy when he courageously rescues a dog stranded in a fishing boat during a storm.

Herman, Charlotte.  Max Malone and the great cereal rip-off.  60 pages.  (Redfeather)
Tired of being cheated by the cereal companies, Max decides to fight back after not receiving a free glow-in-the dark sticker in his box of Choco-Fish.

Herman, Charlotte.  The missing fossil mystery.  56 pages.  (Hyperion Chapters)
When Liza’s older brother Jesse refuses to let her take his fossil to school for second grade show and share, she takes the trilobite anyway and loses it in the classroom.

Hesse, Karen.  Lavender.  40 pages.  (Redfeather)
When Codie’s Aunt has a baby, Codie has lots of worries: Will the baby and her aunt be all right, Will the quilt be done on time, and Will her aunt still have time for her?

Hest, Amy.  Pajama party.  40 pages.
Casey, Jenny, and Kate have a pajama party complete with sleeping bags, chocolate chip cookies and scary stories.  The adventures continue in Nannies for hire and Party on ice.

Hooks, William.  Pioneer cat.  62 pages.  (Stepping Stone)
When a young pioneer girl smuggles a cat aboard the wagon train taking her family from Missouri to Oregon, it turns out to be the best thing she could have done.

Hughes, Dean.  Brad and Butter play ball.  78 pages.  (Stepping Stone)
Eight year old Brad tries to follow his father’s advice so he can be a good baseball player, but his best friend, Warren a.k.a. Butter, is the one who helps him with his game.

Hurwitz, Johanna.  Elisa in the middle.  86 pages.
Five-year-old Elisa has an older brother and a new baby brother but her elderly neighbor says the middle is the best, just like the filling in a sandwich.  One of many good books about Elisa.

Jacobs, Shannon K.  Song of the giraffe.  54 pages.  (Springboard)
Hoping for the respect of her tribe and inspired by a dream, Kisana braves a dangerous journey to find the fruit of the baobab tree and a long-lost spring.

Jules, Jacqueline.  The grey striped shirt: How Grandmother and Grandfather survived the Holocaust.  63 pages.
            When Frannie finds a grey striped shirt in the closet, she asks questions that lead her grandparents to tell her about their experiences in the Holocaust.

Keller, Holly.  I am Angela.  60 pages.
            Whether at camp, at the zoo, walking a neighbor’s dog or working on a class project, Angela’s love of nature is evident.

King-Smith, Dick.  Jenius the amazing guinea pig.  52 pages.  (Hyperion Chapters)
            Eight-year-old Judy tries to convince her parents and classmates that her brilliant guinea pig can do all the tricks she says he can.

King-Smith, Dick.  Lady Lollipop.  120 pages/
            A quick-witted swineherd and a pig named Lollipop are royally rewarded after they reform a spoiled princess.

Kline, Suzy.  Horrible Harry and the Drop of Doom.  57 pages.
             On the last day of second grade, Song Lee’s party at the local amusement park forces Harry to face his fear of elevators when he is expected to ride the Drop of Doom.  Everyone loves the Horrible Harry books about Harry and his friends, Song Lee, Mary Maroney and Marvin.

Koller, Jackie French.  The dragonling.  60 pages.  (Springboard)
            Finding a baby dragon accidentally left alive after his older brother’s dragon quest, Darek risks death and the anger of his people in trying to return it to the Valley of the Dragons.

Krensky, Stephen.  Louise takes charge.  80 pages.
            Louise enlists the aid of everyone in her class and together they outwit Jasper the bully.

Krull, Kathleen.  Alex Fitzgerald’s cure for nightmares.  61 pages.  (Springboard)
            When nine-year-old Alex moves to weird California to live with her father for a year, she is plagued by terrible nightmares and fears her new friends will learn her babyish secret.

Larson, Kirby.  Second grade pig pals.  87 pages.
            Second grader Quinn tries to earn a gold star on the bulletin board for National Pig Day and regain her friendship with a new student following a mix-up.

Levinson, Marilyn.  The fourth grade four.  57 pages.  (Redfeather)
            Afraid that his friends will tease him for wearing eyeglasses, Alex refuses to wear them except at home.

Levy, Elizabeth.  Big trouble in little Twinsville.  89 pages.
            Sometimes Eve feels overwhelmed by her two younger twin sisters, but things really get out of hand when the family decides to attend a festival for twins at the Twinsville resort.

Levy, Elizabeth.  Third grade bullies.  57 pages.  (Hyperion Chapter)
            Being short and having moved four times in the last three years makes Sally defensive; so although she tries to help a classmate stand up to two bullies, she gets off to a bad start at her new school.

Macdonald, Maryann.  Princess Josie’s pets.  55 pages.  (Hyperion Chapter)
            Princess Josie wants a puppy for her eighth birthday but first she must prove to the King and Queen that she can be responsible for its care.

McDonald, Megan.  Judy Moody.  160 pages.
            Third grader Judy Moody is in a first day of school bad mood until she gets an assignment to create a collage all about herself and begins creating her masterpiece.  This funny book is followed by Judy Moody gets famous.

McGinnis, Lila Sprague.  The 24-hour genie.  68 pages.  (Redfeather)
            Fourth grader Andrew thinks he has it made when he finds a genie that can grant him his every wish until he realizes that each wish only lasts for 24 hours.

Marshall, James.  Rats on the roof.  79 pages.
            Seven stories about animals including a frog with magnificent legs, a hungry brontosaurus, and a mouse who gets married.  Other stories are included in the book, Rats on the range.

Marzollo, Jean.  Pizza pie slugger.  62 pages.  (Stepping Stone)
            Billy, the former champion slugger of his third grade baseball team, is bothered by his very young stepsister’s presence at games and feels she is jinxing him into a batting slump.

Marzollo, Jean.  Red ribbon Rosie.  60 pages.  (Stepping Stone)
            Rosie’s decision to cheat in order to win a race with her best friend, Sally, has disastrous results until her older sister helps her learn an important lesson about winning races and keeping friends.

O’Connor, Jim.  The ghost in tent 19.  62 pages.  (Stepping Stone)
            A mysterious ghost leads the four boys of Tent 19 on the trail of buried pirate treasure.

 Orr, Wendy.  Ark in the park.  78 pages.  
            When her parents take her to visit a very special pet store in the park across from her apartment, both Sophie and Mr. and Mrs. Noah, the pet store owners, have their secret wishes fulfilled.

Park, Barbara.  Harvey and Rosie and Ralph.  62 pages.  (Speedsters)
            A magic spell turns Harvey’s dog, Rosie, into a girl just long enough to help his soccer team pull out of the slump.

Peters, Julie Anne.  The stinky sneakers contest.  57 pages.  (Springboard)
            Earl and Damian jeopardize their friendship when they compete in a contest to see who has the smelliest sneakers.

Pfeffer, Susan Beth.  Sara Kate superkid.  58 pages.  (Redfeather)
            Sara Kate is a normal eight year old until one day she discovers she has superpowers and can throw a basketball farther than anyone else on earth!

Pinkwater, Daniel.  The magic pretzel.  78 pages  (The Werewolf Club)
            Fourth grader Norman Gnormal, who behaves a lot like a dog, finds his true friends when the principal signs him up for the Werewolf Club at school.

Quackenbush, Robert.  Lost in the Amazon: a Miss Mallard mystery.  32 pages.
            When a brilliant scientist is abducted from a hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Miss Mallard, the famous ducktective, embarks on a dangerous search that takes her deep into the Amazon.  One of a series of ducktective stories.

Regan, Dian Curtis.  The friendship of Milly and Tug.  61 pages.  (Redfeather)
            Milly, the cat, and her friend Tug, the mouse, challenge each other to a spelling contest, argue about who is a better actor, and have other adventures.

Regan, Dian Curtis.  The peppermint race.  74 pages.  (Redfeather)
            Tony hopes to win the first pick of the prizes in his school fundraiser but he discovers that selling candy is not as easy as he had thought, especially when another fourth grader also wants to win.

Rogers, Jean.  Raymond’s best summer.  80 pages.
            Raymond’s boring summer becomes exciting as he learns how to swim and helps the police catch a gang of thieves burglarizing the neighborhood.

Roop, Peter.  Ahyoka and the talking leaves.  60 pages.
            Ahyoka helps her father, Sequoyah, in his quest to create a system of writing for their people.  Based on a true story about real Native Americans.

Rylant, Cynthia.  In Aunt Lucy’s kitchen.  53 pages.  (Cobble Street Cousins)
            While staying with their aunt for a year, three nine year old cousins keep busy baking and selling cookies, putting on a poetry performance, and trying to encourage a romance between their aunt and one of their former customers.

 Sachs, Marilyn.  JoJo and Winnie: sister stories.  70 pages.
            JoJo suffers the trials of having a younger sister.

Saunders, Susan.  Tyrone goes to school.  62 pages.
            When a boy takes his dog to obedience school, he finds out something about his own learning ability.

Scheffler, Ursel.  The man with the black glove.  61 pages.
            Martin finds a wallet filled with money but no clue to the owner except for a dry cleaning ticket so he and his friend set out to find the owner, and in the process, help the police nab a real robber, the man with the black glove!

Sharmat, Marjorie Weinman.  Genghis Kahn: a dog star is born.  71 pages.  (Stepping Stone)
            Fred Shed and his parents accompany their dog Duz to Hollywood where his new career as a movie star is almost ended before it begins when Duz is kidnapped.

Spinelli, Jerry.  The bathwater gang.  59 pages.  (Springboard)
            Bertie’s all-girl gang becomes involved in a harmless, but heartfelt, war with an all-boy gang until Bertie’s grandmother finds a perfect solution.

Stanley, George Edward.  Snake Camp.  43 pages.  (Road to Reading, Mile 4)
            When Stevie Marsh leaves for his stay at Camp Viper, he thinks it is a camp to learn about “Viper” computer software!

Tashjian, Janet.  Marty Frye, private eye.  78 pages.  (Redfeather)
            Marty Frye, a seven year old who like to read poetry and talk in rhyme, solves three mysteries for a classmate, a toy store owner, and his younger sister.

Thomas, Jane Resh.  Scaredy dog.  44 pages.  (Hyperion Chapters)
            With patience and love, Erin helps the dog she has chosen from the Humane Society grow from a frightened puppy into a happy pet.

Van Laan, Nancy.  Moose tales.  48 pages.  
            Moose takes a walk, takes a nap under a tree that Beaver is gnawing and finally joins all his friends in making an almost perfect snow creature with antlers.

Weiss, Ellen.  The adventures of Ratman.  62 pages.  (Stepping Stone)
            With the help of a rat costume, Tod Watson is transformed from an ordinary eight year old into a superhero named Ratman.

Whelan, Gloria.  Next spring an oriole.  60 pages.  (Stepping Stone)
            In 1837, ten year old Libby and her parents journey by covered wagon to the Michigan frontier where they make themselves a new home near friendly Indians and other pioneers.

Wilder, Laura Ingalls.  Laura and Mr. Edwards.  73 pages.  (Little House Chapter Books)
            Adapted from the original Little House series in an easier reading format.  When Laura and her family move from Wisconsin to Kansas, they make friends with a helpful neighbor who comes to their aid later when they settle in the Dakota Territory.  You will find other titles about Laura and her family by Roger McBride and Maria Wilkes as well.

Willner-Pardo, Gina.  Spider Storch’s desperate deal.  69 pages.
            Third grader Spider Storch tries to keep his friends from finding out that he has to be the ring bearer at a wedding where the horrible Mary Grace Brennerman will be a flower girl.  One of six books about Spider.

Wright, Betty Ren.  The ghost of Popcorn Hill.  81 pages.
            Martin and Peter get a mischievous new dog and two lonely ghosts.

Wyeth, Sharon Dennis.  Ginger Brown: too many houses.  69 pages.  (Stepping Stone)
            When her parents get a divorce, six-year-old Ginger lives for a while with each set of grandparents and begins to understand her mixed background and her new family situation.

Zoehfeld, Kathleen Weidner.  Fossil fever.  43 pages.  (Road to Reading, Mile 4)
            Jeff must learn patience when he accompanies his uncle on an expedition to hunt for dinosaur fossils in the Sahara Desert.