So Many SERIES Out There!

I spent a large part of the summer checking out series books, especially the dearth that are now available for beginning chapter book kiddos. Here's a sampling of some that I've either discovered or rediscovered (and I'll be adding more as I get the chance):

Cam Jansen Series
by David Adler
Illustrated by Susanna Natti
(new cover art by Joy Allen)
For: 6-10 year olds
(Reading Levels 2.2-2.7, 480-500 Lexile, Level L, DRA 28)

Cam Jansen is a fifth grader with a photographic memory. She and her best friend Eric solve mystery after mystery using her talented mind.

1. Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds
2. Mystery of the U.F.O.
3. Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones
4. Mystery of the Television Dog
5. Mystery of the Gold Coins
6. Mystery of the Babe Ruth Baseball, 1982
7. Mystery of the Circul Clown
8. Mystery of the Monster Movie
9. Mystery of the Carnival Prize
10. Mysteryof teh Monkey House
11. Mystery of the Stolen Corn Popper
12. Mystery of Flight 54
13. Mystery of the Haunted House
14. The Chocolate Fudge Mystery
15. Triceratops Pops Mystery
16. The Ghostly Mystery
17. Scary Snake Mystery
18. Catnapping Mystery
19. Barking Treasure Mystery
20. Birthday Mystery
21. School Play Mystery
22. First Day of School Mystery
23. Tennis Trophy Mystery
24. Snowy Day Mystery
25. Valentine Day Mystery
26. Secret Service Mystery
27. Mystery Writer Mystery
28. The Green School Mystery
Specials: (3 Stories in One Book):
The Summer Camp Mysteries
Sports Day Mysteries

Ivy and Bean Series
by Annie Barrows
Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
For: 6-9 year olds
(Reading Levels 2.7 - 3.2, Lexiles 510-580, Levels M & N)

These books are about two 7 year-olds: Bean is messy and lively and loves playing tricks. Ivy looks neat and bookish and boring. W r o n g! In these fast-paced, humorous stories, Ivy and Bean, fast friends, get themselves into such situations! Laugh-out-loud funny, very clever, and very real. No a bit boring or simplistic, either in writing style or plot. It doesn't talk down to kids at all. Totally delightful.

1. Ivy + Bean
2. Ivy + Bean and the Ghost That Had to Go
3. Ivy + Bean Break the Fossil Record
4. Ivy + BeanTake Care of the Babysitter
5. Ivy + Bean: Bound to be Bad
6. Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance

Judy Moody Series
by Megan McDonald
Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Candlewick
Reading Levels Around 3rd for most

Judy Moody. Sure, I've heard of her for years. Many entering-fifth-grade-ers have been reading these books. I never had. No I have. JUDY MOODY IS A KICK! She is real, clever, imaginative, has lofty goals, smart, and is a fantastic friend (and sister!). She is also very, very funny. First class, top-notch writing, situations, artwork. Megan McDonald has a new fan. I want to read them all.
And, check out the Judy Moody website!!

1-Judy Moody (Was in a mood. Not a good mood. A bad mood.) 2000
2-Judy Moody Gets Famous, 2001
3-Judy Moody Saves the World, 2002
4-Judy Moody Predicts the Future, 2003
5-Judy Moody, M.D., The Doctor Is In, 2004
6-Judy Moody Declares Independence, 2005
7-Judy Moody Around the World in 8 1/2 Days, 2006

Judy Moody and Stink: The Holly Joliday
The Judy Moody Mood Journal
Judy Moody's Double-Rare Way-Not-Boring Book of Fun Stuff to Do

Junie B. Jones Series
by Barbara Park
Illustrated by Denise Brunkus
Stepping Stone Books, Random House
for: ages 6-9 (Junie is in K and 1, see below)

Holy Cow, there looks like a LOT of stories in this series. The edition I read for my first book (#1, read 17 years after they were firstr published) had a page of stickers in the back. And the story was very, very funny!

Kindergarten:
1. Junie B. Jones & the Stupid Smelly Bus, 1992
2. Junie B. Jones & a Little Monkey Business
3. Junie B. Jones & Her Big Fat Mouth
4. Junie B. Jones & Some Sneeky Peeky Spying
5. Junie B. Jones & the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake
6. Junie B. Jones & That Meanie Jim's Birthday
7. Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warrn
8. Junie B. Jones Has a Monster Under Her Bed
9. Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook
10. Junie B. Jones Is a Party Animal
11. Junie B. Jones Is a Beauty Shop Guy
12. Junie B. Jones Smells Something Fishy
13. Junie B. Jones Is (almost) a Flower Girl
14. Junie B. Jones & the Mushy Gushy Valentine
15. Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in her Pocket
16. Junie B. Jones Is Captain Field Day
17. Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl

First Grade
18. Junie B, First Grader (at last!)
19. Junie B, First Grader: Boss of Lunch
20. Junie B, First Grader: Toothless Wonder
21. Junie B, First Grader: Cheater Pants
22. Junie B, First Grader: One-Man Band
23. Junie B, First Grader: Shipwrecked
24. Junie B, First Grader: BOO...and I Mean It!
25. Junie B, First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (Ps So Does May)
26. Junie B, First Grader: Aloha-ha-ha
27. Junie B, First Grader: Dumb Bunny

Mercy Watson Series
by Kate Di Camillo
Illustrated by Chris VanDusen
Candlewick
(Reading Levels 1.9 - 2.3, Lexiles 380-390 Levels K+)

Now here's a series where a clever, funny story and very clever, comical illustrations work together perfectly. Just perfectly. Such characters! Such humor. Great fun.Mercy Watson, a pig, a plain old non-talking, food-loving pig, lives with Mr. and Mrs. Watson in her own room with her own bed. She loves to eat and sleep and ... well, that's about it, I guess. But what an adventure she unwittingly gets herself into.

1. Mercy Watson to the Rescue (2005)
2. Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (2006)
3. Mercy Watson Fights Crime (2006)
4. Mercy Watson, Princess in Disguise (2007)
5. Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig (2008)

My Weird School Series
by Dan Gutman
Illustrated aby Jim Paillot
Harper Trophy
Ages 7-10

A. J. hates school. He is in the second grade at Ella Mentry School. But he sure runs into some interesting people there! Funny and charming.

1-Miss Daisy is Crazy! (the teacher) 2004, 86 pgs.
2-Mr. Klutz in Nuts (the principal)
3-Mrs. Roopy is Loopy (librarian)
4-Ms. Hannah is Bananas! (art teacher)
5-Miss Small is Off the Wall! (gym teacher)
6-Mr. Hynde is Out of His Mind! (music teacher)
7- Mrs. Cooney is Loony! (school nurse)
8 - Ms. LaGrange is Strange! (lunch lady)
9-Miss Lazar is Bizarre (custodian)
10-Mr. Docker is off His Rocker! (science teacher)
11-Mrs. Kormel is Not Normal! (bus driver)
12-Ms. Todd is Odd! (substitute teacher)
13-Mrs. Patty is Batty! (Halloween)
14-Miss Holly is Too Jolly! (Christmas)
15-Mr. Macky is Wacky (social studies teacher?)
16-Ms. Coco is Loco (gifted & talented/poetry teacher) 2007, 102 pgs.
17-Miss Suki is Kooky! (famous author of endangered animals)
18-Mrs. Yonkers is Bonkers! (computer)
19-Dr. Carbles is Losing His Marbles! (president of the Board of Ed.)
20-Mrs. Louie is Screwy! (crossing guard)
21-Ms. Krup Cracks Me Up! (museum docent)

......and ON TO THIRD GRADE ! ! ..........

1-Mrs. Dole is Out of Control (PTA president)
2-Mrs. Sunny is Funny (summer lifeguard)
3-Mr. Granite is from Another Planet (3rd grade teacher)
4-Coach Hyatt is a Riot (female Pee Wee footbal coach
5-Officer Spense Makes No Sense! (security guard)
6-Mrs. Jafee is Daffy! (vice principal)
7-Dr. Brad Has Gone Mad!
8-Miss Laney is Zany! (to be realeased 1-26-10)

Stink Series
by Megan McDonald
Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Candlewick
(Reading Levels 2.5 - 3.0, Lexiles 480-580, Levels L, M, N)

These books have references to poetry, figurative language, research....and they're REALLY well written. James Moody ("Stink") is Judy Moody's younger brother. She figures prominently in the book. "You're only as short as you feel." How can you beat that? The illustrations are the same as Judy Moody. Black and white and fun.

1. Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid, 2005
2. Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker, 2006
3. Stink and the World's Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers, 2007
4. Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express, 2008

"WHO WAS" Biography Series
Who Was Abraham Lincoln?
Who Was Albert Einstein? 2002 (Brallier/Parker)
Who Was Amelia Earhart?
Who Was Anne Frank?
Who Was Annie Oakley?
Who Is Barack Obama?
Who Were the Beatles?
Who Was Ben Franklin?
Who Was Charles Darwin?
Who Was Daniel Boone?
Who Was Eleanor Roosevelt?
Who Was Elvis Presley?
Who Was Ferdinand Magellan?
Who Was George Washington?
Who Was Harriet Tubman?
Who Was Harry Houdini?
Who Was Helen Keller?
Who Was John F. Kennedy?
Who Was Johnny Appleseed?
Who Was King Tut?
Who Was Leonardo daVinci?
Who Was Louis Armstrong?
Who Was Marco Polo?
Who Is Maria Tallchief?
Who Was Mark Twain?
Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?
Who is Neil Armstrong?
Who Was Queen Elizabeth?
Who Was Ronald Reagan?
Who Was Sacagawea?
Who Was Thomas Jefferson?
Who Was Walt Disney?
Who Was William Shakespeare?
Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?

Zigzag Kids Series
by Patricia Reilly Giff
Illustrated by Alasdair Bright
Wendy Lamb Books, Random House

This looks like Giff's trying to update the Polk Street Kids series with a group of young elementary students (K up) who go to an afternoon program at the Zelda A. Zigzag School in these more contemporary times. Barack Obama as our president is mentioned....

1 - Number One Kid
2 - Big Whopper (about Destiny) 2010