Series Books

If you find yourself buying books because of the numbers on the spines, you've probably succumbed to the series book fever. It can be difficult to find reading suitable for younger readers, and when we discover the Boxcar Children, Trixie Belden, or the Hardy Boys it's hard to let go. And why not? A collection of 150 titles featuring the same characters and with no trace of inappropriate subject matter is pretty alluring.

The problem with a lot of series books, however, is that they aren't very well written. After the first five books or so, it's hard for any writer (or collective authors, as is most often the case) to avoid derivative storylines, recycled dialogue, or repetitive descriptions. They usually do manage to keep the content clean, however, and that's what makes a lot of series popular.

We're certainly not suggesting you should avoid books like the Nancy Drew mysteries or Dear America novels altogether. They are fun for kids, and all the series we carry are wholesome and generally free of the typical bratty kids and questionable morals of so much contemporary fiction. (The Mandie books do feature a rather disobedient heroine, but these would be the exception.) When you find a whole collection of books that you can be perfectly comfortable handing your kids, it's natural and right to take advantage of it.

We would caution that you don't let these kinds of titles form all (or even most) of your kids' reading material. The great classics aren't series books, and plenty of them are just as wholesome while maintaining a much higher quality of expression. If your kids already read plenty of great literature and just need a break, series books are a good place to look.

A word of clarification: there are plenty of excellent literary series available (for instance, The Chronicles of Narnia, Margaret Peterson Haddix's Shadow Children, C.S. Forester's Hornblower books, etc.) that we haven't included here; they're offered in our Literature Packages section. For our purposes, series books are any series including more than 8 titles, and open-ended. If the series is contained, it doesn't qualify; if each book has a number and the series is constantly growing (or grew until the author died or retired), it's a series book.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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1,506 Items found Print
Abandoned on the Wild Frontier
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Abandoned on the Wild Frontier
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Absent Author (A to Z Mysteries)
A to Z Mysteries #01
by Ron Roy
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
in A to Z Mysteries (Location: SER-AZ)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Across the Wide & Lonesome Prairie
Dear America
by Kristiana Gregory
from Scholastic Inc.
Fictional historical journal for 3rd-6th grade
in Dear America Books (Location: SER-DEAR)
Addy Learns a Lesson
by Connie Porter
from American Girl
for 4th-6th grade
in American Girl (Location: SER-AMGIRL)
Addy Learns a Lesson
by Connie Porter
from American Girl
for 4th-6th grade
in American Girl (Location: SER-AMGIRL)
Addy's Surprise
from Pleasant Company Publications, Inc.
in American Girl (Location: SER-AMGIRL)
African Adventures
by Dick Anderson
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Adventures Series (Location: SER-ADV)
AIO Imagination Station Book #01
by Marianne Hering & Paul McCusker
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #02
by Marianne Hering & Paul McCusker
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #03
by Marianne Hering & Paul McCusker
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #04
by Marianne Hering & Paul McCusker
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #05
by Brock Eastman & Marianne Hering
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #06
by Marianne Hering & Marshal Younger
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #07
by Marianne Hering & Marshal Younger
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #08
by Marianne Hering & Wayne Thomas Batson
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #09
by Marianne Hering, Marshal Younger
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #10
by Marianne Hering, Wayne Thomas Batson
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #11
by Marianne Hering, Wayne Thomas Batson
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #12
by Marianne Hering, Nancy I. Sanders
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #13
by Marianne Hering, Nancy I. Sanders
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #14
by Marianne Hering, Nancy I. Sanders
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #15
by Marianne Hering, Nancy I. Sanders
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #16
by Marianne Hering, Paul McCusker
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #17
by Marianne Hering
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #18
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #19
by Marianne Hering
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
AIO Imagination Station Book #20
by Marianne Hering
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
AIO Imagination Station Book #21
by Marianne Hering
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
AIO Imagination Station Book #22
by Marianne Hering & Sheila Seifert
from Focus on the Family
for 1st-3rd grade
in Imagination Station (Location: SER-AIO)
$5.99
Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators #07
by Robert Arthur, illustrated by Harry Kane
from Random House
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Series (Location: VIN-SER)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
All the Stars in the Sky
by Megan McDonald
from Scholastic Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Dear America Books (Location: SER-DEAR)
Almost Home
Daughters of the Faith
by Wendy G. Lawton
from Moody Press
Historical Fiction for 3rd-6th grade
in Daughters of the Faith (Location: SER-DAU)
$7.99 $5.00 (4 in stock)
Amazon Adventures
by Banner Horace
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Adventures Series (Location: SER-ADV)
Ambushed in Jaguar Swamp
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Ambushed in Jaguar Swamp
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
American Adventure #01
American Adventure
by Colleen L. Reece
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #02
American Adventure
by Colleen L. Reece
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #03
American Adventure
by Loree Lough
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #04
American Adventure
by Loree Lough
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #05
American Adventure
by JoAnn A. Grote
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #07
American Adventure
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #08
American Adventure
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #10
American Adventure
by Susan Martins Miller
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #37
American Adventure
by JoAnn A. Grote
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #39
American Adventure
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #40
American Adventure
by Bonnie Hinman
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #41
American Adventure
by JoAnn A. Grote
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #42
American Adventure
by JoAnn A. Grote
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #43
American Adventure
by Susan Martins Miller
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #44
American Adventure
by Susan Martins Miller
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #45
American Adventure
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #46
American Adventure
by Norma Jean Lutz
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #47
American Adventure
by Bonnie Harvey, Bonnie Hinman
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
American Adventure #48
American Adventure
by Veda Boyd Jones
from Barbour Publishing
for 3rd-5th grade
in American Adventure (Location: SER-AA)
Anacaona
Royal Diaries
by Edwidge Danticat
from Scholastic Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Royal Diaries (Location: SER-ROYAL)
Anastasia
Royal Diaries
by Carolyn Meyer
from Scholastic Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Royal Diaries (Location: SER-ROYAL)
Andie's Moon
Historical House: 1969
by Linda Newbery
from Educational Development Corporation
for 3rd-6th grade
in Series Books (Location: SER-MISC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Arazan's Wolves
Royal Ranger #6
by John A. Flanagan
from Viking Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$18.99
Assassins in the Cathedral
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Assassins in the Cathedral
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Attack in the Rye Grass
Trailblazer Series
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Attack in the Rye Grass
Trailblazer Series
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Bald Bandit (A to Z Mysteries)
by Ron Roy
BRAILLE from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
in A to Z Mysteries (Location: SER-AZ)
Bandit of Ashley Downs
TrailBlazer Book
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Bandit of Ashley Downs
TrailBlazer Book
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Battle for Skandia
Ranger's Apprentice #04
by John A. Flanagan
Reprint from Puffin Books
for 4th-8th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.99
Battle for Skandia
Ranger's Apprentice #04
by John A. Flanagan
Reprint from Philomel Books
for 4th-8th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
Bellmaker
Redwall #7
by Brian Jacques
from ACE Publishing
Fantasy for 4th-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.99
Bellmaker
by Brian Jacques
from Philomel Books
for 3rd-7th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Bellmaker
Redwall #7
by Brian Jacques
from Firebird Press
Fantasy for 4th-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$10.99
Best in Children's Books #01
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #02
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #03
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #04
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #05
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #06
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #07
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #08
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #09
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #10
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best In Children's Books #10A
by Eric Knight, et. al.
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
$5.00 (2 in stock)
Best in Children's Books #11
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #12
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #13
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #14
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #15
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #16
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #17
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #18
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #18
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #19
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #19A
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #20
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #21
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #22
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #23
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #24
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #25
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Best in Children's Books #26
from Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Best In Children's Books (Location: VIN-ANTH)
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