6 of the Best Chapter Book Series to Binge Over Holiday Break

Zoey and Sassafrass series, by Asia Citro and illustrated by Marion Lindsay
Are your kids obsessed with animals both real and magical? Have they devoured every Calpurnia Tate and Unicorn Magic book? Then you’ll want to hand them the entire Zoey and Sassafrass series by Asia Citro. With illustrations from Marion Lindsay, the Zoey and Sassafrass books follow a little girl and her cat as they find injured magical creatures—from dragons to merhorses–and help nurse them back to health. It’s both fun and sweet—a delight for animal lovers looking for something new to read.

Catstronauts series, by Drew Brockington
If your kid is on their ninth reread of the Dog Man books, I have good news: they’re about to have a new obsession! Drew Brockington’s Catstronauts series is a graphic novel chapter book series about cats that go to space. It’s a complete alternate universe to the one we live in now, complete with a cat Neil Armstrong, and will have kids both giggling and drawing their own Catstronaut.

Princess Pulverizer series by Nancy Krulik
The next step up from Shannon Hale’s Princess in Black? Why, Princess Pulverizer, of course! The series—which follows illustrations from Ben Balistreri—follows Serena, who would prefer to hang up her crown in favor of a suit of armor. The series follows Serena—aka Princess Pulverizer—as she goes on quests to learn what it means to be a knight, discovering what it really takes to be a hero.

Sam Wu series, by Katie and Kevin Tsang and illustrated by Nathan Reed
Sam Wu is not afraid of anything. Really. Truly. He’s not afraid. This funny, big-hearted series follows Sam’s adventures as he tries to prove to his friends and family that he’s not the scaredy-cat they think he is—even though he really, really is. With the third book coming out early next year, this winter break is the perfect time to binge the first two back-to-back.

The Secrets of Droon series, by Tony Abbott
Want to know what’s great about backlist? It means that there are so many books to read. Tony Abbot’s The Secrets of Droon series was one of my favorites growing up, and it’s a sign of how well they hold up that they’re still (gloriously!) in print. A group of kids stumble down the basement stairs of their new home and discover a new world waiting for them on the other side—one with magic, and one that needs their help. Much like the Magic Tree House books, the Secrets of Droon series contains adventures in over twenty books, meaning that your magic-loving kid will be occupied for quite some time.

Yasmin series, by Saadia Faruqi and illustrated by Hatem Aly
Meet Yasmin! This spirited second-grader thinks outside of the box, using creativity to solve all the problems that come in her path—even if some of those problems are ones she accidentally created. These chapter books are perfect for younger readers just getting into bigger series, with Yamin’s bright personality brought to life with colorful illustrations by Hatem Aly.