Beginning Chapter Books List

 This is a list of my favorite Beginning chapter book series for children reading on grades levels of 2-3. I’ve included the title, the author, a brief description, the Lexile levels, and the AR levels to help you find a series that will be perfect for your child. Most of these books can be found in your public library, but if you’d rather purchase one of these early chapter book series, I’ve included Amazon links. I’ve also divided the list by lower and higher levels. if these books are a little too easy for your young reader, please check out MY CHAPTER BOOK LIST.

Lower Reading level beginning chapter books

Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant. AR 2.2 – 3.0, Lexile 340 – 500. Henry and his huge dog, Mudge, share many fun times as they explore the world.

Mr. Putter and Tabby by Cynthia Rylant. AR 1.9 – 3.3, Lexile 340 – 600. Mr. Putter and his cat, Tabby, have lots of adventures while being good neighbors in their hometown.

High Rise Private Eyes by Cynthia Rylant. AR 2.3 – 2.6; Lexile 150 – 350. Jack Jones (a dog), and Bunny Brown (a rabbit) are detectives and very best friends who have never found a mystery too hard to solve.

Poppleton by Cynthia Rylant. AR 2.0 – 2.7, Lexile 250 – 360. Poppleton is a pig who has many adventures.

Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel. AR 2.5 – 3.0; Lexile 300 – 400. Frog and Toad are best friends and are always there for one another.

Billie B. Brown by Sally Rippin. AR 2.3 – 2.9,  Lexile 370 – 490. Billie B. Brown is a girl and her best friend Jack lives next door. This early chapter book series describes their quirky adventures from her point of view.

Hey Jack by Sally Rippin. AR 2.5 – 2.8, Lexile 370 – 460. The Billie B. series describes her quirky adventures from her point of view. Hey Jack gives her next door neighbor a chance to be heard.

Katie Woo by Fran Manushkin. AR 1.9 – 2.8, Lexile 280 – 420. Katie is a sassy, spunky, curious and funny Chinese American girl who is great at getting into trouble. The character was inspired by the great niece of the author.

Princess Posey by Stephanie Greene. AR 2.4 – 3.0, Lexile 300 – 410. Posey always wears her pink tutu, but now she’s starting first grade and she has to go without it, even though her tutu gives her all of her courage. What will happen when she goes to school without it?

Max and Zoe by Sally Rippin. AR 1.7 – 2.4. Lexile 270 – 430. These books feature Max and his best friend Zoe as they explore different places and meet new people.

Fancy Nancy Chapter Books by Jane O’Connor. AR 2.1 – 2.9, Lexile 350 – 540. These books are beginning chapter books for fans of Fancy Nancy picture books.

Oliver Pig by Jean Van Leeuwen. AR 2.3 – 2.5. Lexile 200 – 350. Tales of Oliver and Amanda Pig.

Nate the Great by Marjorie Sharmat. AR 2.0 – 3.2, Lexile 130 – 400. Nate is a great detective, and he along with his trusty dog, Sludge and his friend, Annie, solve lots of mysteries, even when his nemesis, Rosamond gets in the way.

Junie B. by Barbara Park. AR 2.0 – 2.9. Lexile 330 – 420. Junie B. is a sassy and hilarious girl, with horrible grammar who gets into lots of predicaments.

Higher reading Level beginning chapter books 

Cobble Street Cousins by Cynthia Rylant. AR 3.5 – 3.7, Lexile 460 – 650. These stories about cousins who are are sharing a bedroom for the summer in their aunt’s attic, are delightful and heart warming and include some very special illustrations by Wendy Anderson Halperin.

Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows, AR 3.1 – 3.9; Lexile 440 – 520. Ivy and Bean are two spunky characters, who never meant to like each other, but are now best friends.

Andy Shane series by Jennifer Jacobson. AR 3.3 – 3.7, Lexile 540 – 610. Andy Shane doesn’t want to be in school, and he’s reminded of it during every activity when Delores Starbuckle tattles on something about Andy.

Stink by Megan McDonald. AR 3.2 – 3.8 , Lexile 410 – 640. Stink and his friends are in second grade and have lots of fun and adventures together.

Jigsaw Jones by James Preller. AR 3.0 – 3.2. Lexile 350 – 450. Second grader, Jigsaw Jones loves to solve puzzles and mysteries.

Magic Tree House Mysteries by Mary Pope Osborne, AR 3.0 – 3.9, Lexile 250 – 500. Jack and his little sister, Annie, are ordinary kids who just happen to have a magic tree house in their backyard that will magically flies them around the world and to different time periods in history.

Marvin Redpost by Louis Sachar. AR 2.7 – 3.4, Lexile 290 – 430. These hilarious books are by the award winning author, Louis Sachar, and feature Marvin, who has a wild imagination.

National Geographic Readers by various authors. AR 1.9 – 4.2, Lexile 220 – 650. Nonfiction. These books cover nonfiction topics from volcanoes to weird sea creatures and include amazing photographs.

Star Wars Chapter Books by various authors. AR 2.0 – 3.0, Lexile 340 – 470. Fantasy. These beginning chapter books are full of adventures featuring all of the characters from the movies.

Lego Chapter Books  by various authors. AR 1.3 – 3.7, Lexile 230 – 460. Fantasy; These books feature many of the Lego characters, as well as characters from Star Wars.

Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo. AR 2.6 – 3.2, Lexile 380 – 450. Mercy is the Watson family’s pet pig. These stories are full of adventure, fantasy and humor by the award winning author, Kate DiCamillo. A real treat!

Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner. AR 3.0 – 4.0, Lexile 300 – 640.  The Alden children are orphans who want to stay together and end up living in a boxcar. In the process, they discover their grandfather. Mysteries.

Sophie Series by Laura Bergen. AR 2.8 – 3.1, Lexile 340 – 410. Sophie is on a campaign to find the perfect name for herself. Will it be Sophie, the Awesome, Sophie, the Chatterbox or Sophie something else? Each book explores new possibilities!

The Critter Club by Callie Barkley.  AR 3.0 – 3.5, Lexile 420 – 490. Illustrated mysteries which always involve a pet.

Amelia Bedelia by Herman Parish. AR 2.2 – 3.9, Lexile  340 – 690. Hilarious stories, which are full of fun idioms. Most of the books contain an explanation of the idioms, which is so helpful.