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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68 Items found Print
Active Filters: 2nd grade (Ages 7-8), Used Books & Materials
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)
$5.94 $3.20 (1 in stock)
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)
$5.09 $2.80 (1 in stock)
Bobbsey Twins #02
by Laura Lee Hope
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 1st-4th grade
in Bobbsey Twins (Location: VIN-SER)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Bobbsey Twins #25 (brown)
by Laura Lee Hope
from World Distributors (Manchester)
for 1st-4th grade
in Bobbsey Twins (Location: VIN-SER)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Bobbsey Twins at the Seashore
by Laura Lee Hope, illustrated by Janet Laura Scott
from Whitman Publishing Company
for 1st-3rd grade
in Bobbsey Twins (Location: VIN-SER)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Bobbsey Twins in the Country
by Laura Lee Hope
Undated from Grosset & Dunlap
for 1st-4th grade
in Bobbsey Twins (Location: VIN-SER)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Boxcar Children #01
by Gertrude Chandler Warner
from Albert Whitman & Company
Orphan Stories for 2nd-4th grade
in Boxcar Children (Location: SER-BOX)
$6.79 $2.80 (1 in stock)
Boxcar Children #04
by Gertrude Chandler Warner
from Albert Whitman & Company
for 2nd-4th grade
in Boxcar Children (Location: SER-BOX)
$6.79 $3.60 (1 in stock)
Boxcar Children #07
by Gertrude Chandler Warner
from Albert Whitman & Company
for 2nd-4th grade
in Boxcar Children (Location: SER-BOX)
$6.79 $2.40 (1 in stock)
Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue at Sky Top
Bunny Brown
by Laura Lee Hope, illustrated by Walter S. Rogers
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 1st-5th grade
in Bobbsey Twins (Location: VIN-SER)
$5.20 (1 in stock)
Felicity's Surprise
American Girls Felicity #3
by Valerie Tripp
First Edition from Pleasant Company Publications, Inc.
for 2nd-5th grade
in American Girl (Location: SER-AMGIRL)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Goose's Gold (A to Z Mysteries)
by Ron Roy
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
in A to Z Mysteries (Location: SER-AZ)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Hank the Cowdog #01
Hank the Cowdog #1
by John R. Erickson
from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94 $3.60 (1 in stock)
Happy Hollisters at Sea Gull Beach
Happy Hollisters #3
by Jerry West
from Doubleday & Company
for 2nd-5th grade
in Happy Hollisters (Location: VIN-SER)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Kaya and Lone Dog
American Girl: Kaya #4
by Janet Shaw
from American Girl
for 2nd-5th grade
in American Girl (Location: SER-AMGIRL)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Kaya's Hero
American Girl
by Janet Shaw
from American Girl
for 2nd-5th grade
in American Girl (Location: SER-AMGIRL)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Magic School Bus and the Electric Field Trip
by Bruce Degen, Joanna Cole
1st edition from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Magic School Bus (Location: SER-MSB)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Magic School Bus at the Waterworks
Magic School Bus
by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Magic School Bus (Location: SER-MSB)
$7.64 $3.20 (1 in stock)
Magic School Bus Explores the Senses
by Joanna Cole
Other Printing from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-6th grade
in Magic School Bus (Location: SER-MSB)
$7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane
Magic School Bus
by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Magic School Bus (Location: SER-MSB)
$7.64 $3.20 (1 in stock)
Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body
Magic School Bus
by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Magic School Bus (Location: SER-MSB)
$7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System
Magic School Bus
by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Magic School Bus (Location: SER-MSB)
$7.64 $3.60 (2 in stock)
Magic Tree House #01
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #02
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-4th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #04
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Magic Tree House #07
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Magic Tree House #08 - Research Guide
Magic Tree House Research Guides
by Will Osborne & Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.40 (2 in stock)
Magic Tree House #12 - Research Guide
by Mary Pope Osborne, Natalie Pope Boyce
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #14
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #15
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$1.50 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #16 - Research Guide / Fact Tracker
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #17
by Mary Pope Osborne
First Edition from Scholastic Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #17 - Research Guide
by Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca
illustrated edition from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #18
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-4th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #18
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House
for 2nd-4th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.00 (2 in stock)
Magic Tree House #20
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.50 (2 in stock)
Magic Tree House #24
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-4th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$1.60 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #27
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.40 (2 in stock)
Magic Tree House #30 (Merlin Mission #02)
by Mary Pope Osborne
1st edition from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #31 (Merlin Mission #03)
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #32 (Merlin Mission #04)
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #33 (Merlin Mission #05)
by Mary Pope Osborne
1st edition from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #33 (Merlin Mission #05)
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Scholastic Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$1.50 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #34 (Merlin Mission #06)
by Mary Pope Osborne
1st edition from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #36 (Merlin Mission #08)
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 2nd-4th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #37 (Merlin Mission #09)
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #37 (Merlin Mission #09)
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-4th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #38 (Merlin Mission #10)
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #40 (Merlin Mission #12)
by Mary Pope Osborne
1st edition from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #42 (Merlin Mission #14)
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 2nd-4th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #43 (Merlin Mission #15)
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-6th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #44 (Merlin Mission #16)
Magic Tree House
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #44 (Merlin Mission #16) - Fact Tracker
Magic Tree House
by Mary Pope Osborne & Natalie Pope Boyce
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #46 (Merlin Mission #18)
Magic Tree House
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #47 (Merlin Mission #19)
Magic Tree House Merlin Missions
by Mary Pope Osborne, illustrated by Sal Murdocca
from Random House
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #51 (Merlin Mission #23)
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House
for 2nd-4th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Magic Tree House #54 (Merlin Mission #26)
by Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House
for 2nd-4th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Meet Kaya
American Girl
by Janet Shaw
1st edition from American Girl
for 2nd-5th grade
in American Girl (Location: SER-AMGIRL)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Molly's Surprise
American Girl - Molly #3
by Valerie Tripp
from Pleasant Company Publications, Inc.
for 2nd-5th grade
in American Girl (Location: SER-AMGIRL)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Red Rag Riddle
by Grace Whitehart
from School of Tomorrow
for 1st-4th grade
in Clearance: Fiction (Location: ZCLE-FIC)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Samantha Saves the Day
American Girl
by Susan S. Adler
from American Girl
for 2nd-5th grade
in American Girl (Location: SER-AMGIRL)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Samantha's Surprise #03
American Girl
by Susan S. Adler
from American Girl
for 2nd-5th grade
in American Girl (Location: SER-AMGIRL)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Third Grade Detectives #10
by George E. Stanley
Repackage ed. from Aladdin Paperbacks
for 2nd-4th grade
in Series Books (Location: SER-MISC)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Third-Grade Detectives #4
by George E. Stanley
from Aladdin Paperbacks
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Series Books (Location: SER-MISC)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Underground Railroad: An Interactive History Adventure
by Allison Lassieur
1st edition from Capstone Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Series Books (Location: SER-MISC)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Very Funny, Elizabeth
American Girls
by Valerie Tripp
from American Girl
for 2nd-5th grade
in American Girl (Location: SER-AMGIRL)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Violet Mackerel's Brilliant Plot
Violet Mackerel
by Anna Bradford, Illustrated by Elanna Allen
from Simon and Schuster
for 1st-4th grade
in Series Books (Location: SER-MISC)
$5.09 $2.80 (1 in stock)
Violet Mackerel's Possible Friend
Violet Mackerel
by Anna Bradford, Illustrated by Elanna Allen
from Simon and Schuster
for 1st-4th grade
in Series Books (Location: SER-MISC)
$3.00 (1 in stock)