For many young emerging readers, the longer and more complicated classics are not the best starting point to develop the love of reading. The following books have been much-loved by my girls as they began moving away from the “Frog and Toad” easy readers to slightly more complex plots.

Sophie Mouse – Poppy Green

Princess in Black – Shannon Hale

Jenny and the Cat Club – Ester Averill

Mercy Watson Series – Kate DiCamilllo

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa series by Erica Silverman

Billy and Blaze series by CW Anderson, 

The Lighthouse Family

Itty Bitty Princess Kitty

The Annie & Snowball by Cynthia Rylant

Cobblestreet Cousins – Cynthia Rylant

King and Kayla – Dori Hillistad Butler

Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books

Anna Hibiscus – Atinuke

Speckles goes to School – Grace Berquist