The 50 Best Chapter Book Series for 5 and 6 Year Olds

I love chapter books, that moment when a child is ready for something just a bit longer than a picture book. It's such an important part of a child’s reading journey and things like chapter length, illustrations and font size are as important as the story itself (which makes buying online rather tricky). I'm delighted to be sharing the top 50 chapter book series our young readers are really enjoying. Whether your 5- or 6-year-old is a fully independent reader, a visual reader or loves being read to, here are our top-reviewed and favourite books for this stage. We've got funny books, magical books, mysteries and adventures, as well as graphic novels and non-fiction. All with fantastic stories, gorgeous illustrations and the perfect length to keep your child engaged. 

 Top New Recommendations:

BEST ANIMAL STORIES FOR 5 AND 6 YEAR OLDS

Claude by Alex T. Smith (Hachette)

Hotel Flamingo by Alex Milway (Bonnier)

Rabbit and Bear by Julian Gough and Jim Field (Hachette)

Holly Webb Animal Stories by Holly Webb (Little Tiger)

A Farms for City Children by Michael Morpurgo and Guy Parker-Rees (HarperCollins)

Genie and Teeny by Steven Lenton (Harper)

Zoe’s Rescue Zoo by Amelia Cobb - (Nosy Crow)

BEST ADVENTURE BOOK SERIES FOR 5 AND 6 YEAR OLDS

Mr Penguin by Alex T. Smith (Hachette)

Little Gems by Various Authors (Barrington Stoke)

The Story Shop by Tracey Corderoy and Tony Neil (Little Tiger)

The Questioneers by Andrea Beatty and David Roberts (Abrams)

Tiny the Secret Adventurer by Aisha Bushby and Kubra Teber (Usborne)

Too Small Tola by Atinuke and Onyinye Iwu (Walker)

Lizzie and Lucky by Megan Rix(Puffin)

Space Detectives by Mark Powers and Dapo Adeola (Bloomsbury)

Best Magical Book Series for 5 and 6 year olds

Rainbow Magic by Daisy Meadows (Hachette)

Sticker Dolly Stories by Zanna Davidson and Heather Burns (Usborne)

Mermaid School by Lucy Courtenay and Sheena Dempsey (Andersen)

Isadora Moon by Harriet Muncaster (OUP)

The Naughtiest Unicorn by Pip Bird (Harper)

Aziza’s Secret Fairy Door by Lola Morayo and Cory Reid (Macmillan)

Fairy Unicorns by Zanna Davidson and Nuno Alexandrew Vieira (Usborne)

Kitty’s Magic by Ella Moonheart (Bloomsbury)

BEST fun and funny BOOK SERIES FOR 5 AND 6 YEAR OLDS

Billy and the Mini Monsters by Zanna Davidson and Melanie Williamson (Usborne)

Dave Pigeon by Swapna Haddw and Sheena Dempsey (Faber)

There’s a Dragon in… by Tom Nicoll and Sarah Horne (Little Tiger)

Wigglesbottom Primary by Pamela Butchart and Becka Moor (Nosy Crow)

Rosen and Ross by Michael Rosen and Tony Ross (Andersen)

Izzy the inventor by Zanna Davidson and Elissa Elwick (Usborne)

The Dragonsitter Series by Josh Lacey and Garry Parsons (Andersen)

BEST graphic novel SERIES FOR 5 AND 6 YEAR OLDS

Bumble and Snug by Mark Bradley (Hachette)

Narhwal and Jelly by Ben Clanton (Harper)

Press Start! By Thomas Flintham (Nosy Crow)

Peanut Butter and Crackers by Paige Braddock (Nosy Crow)

Max and Chaffy by Jamie Smart (David Fickling)

Princess in Black by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale and LeUyen Pham (Walker)

BEST NON-FICTION SERIES FOR 5 AND 6 YEAR OLDS

Fantastically Great Women by Kate Pankhurst (Bloomsbury)

Little People, Big Dreams by Various authors (Frances Lincoln)

Little Leaders by Vashti Harrison (PRH)

How to Be a… (Nosy Crow)

Step Inside Science by Sarah Hull and Teresa Bellon (Usborne)

Protect the Planet by Jess French (Dorling Kindersley)

Draw with Rob by Rob Biddulph (Harper)