Are your kids reading well on their own, and have moved beyond easy reader chapter books? They need longer chapter books, but aren’t ready for 300 page books with no illustrations. Many children at this stage are mainly interested in chapter book series. Series have built in cues that give kids an idea of what to expect. In this post you’ll find my favorite diverse chapter book series for independent readers. These books are long enough that kids will (usually) take more than one day to read them.
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Multicultural chapter book series for independent readers
I’ve listed these book series for independent readers in order of increasing difficulty. However, if your child is a newly independent reader and wants to try for the last series in this post, go for it! Passion can overcome obstacles like longer vocabulary words.
Series: Jo Jo Makoons by Dawn Quigley and Tara Audibert | Featured Title: The Used-To-Be Best Friend
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It’s not easy to write a book series for independent readers that’s funny, charming, and teaches children about Ojibwe culture all at the same time. But Dawn Quigley has done it, with basic Ojibwe vocabulary and pronunciation hints. Jo Jo Makoons is a confident, quirky kid I would love to meet!
Jo Jos’ best friend is her cat Mimi, and her school best friend is Fern. She tends to see the world in a unique way that other kids don’t understand. Maybe that’s why it’s so hard for her to make friends, which is a real problem since it seems like Fern doesn’t want to be best friends anymore. Maybe she’ll just sneak Mimi into school instead? As you might imagine, hijinks ensue. (Ojibwe author. Recommended for ages 7 – 9.)
Series: Definitely Dominguita by Terry Catasús Jennings and Fátima Anaya | Featured title: Knight of the Cape
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Before Dominguita’s abuela had to move away, they read adventurous classics like Don Quixote together. Now that she lives far away, Dominguita reads them to feel close to her. But when she (accidentally) tells Ernie Bublassi, the bully of her grade, that she wants to be a knight herself, he makes fun of her to the whole class. Girls can’t be knights, he claims!
Dominguita, with the help of her older brother, sets out on a mission to prove him wrong. With stories of her adventures (plus plenty of selfies since Ernie isn’t a big reader), she will document her journey to knighthood. (Cuban-American author. Recommended for ages 7 – 10.)
Series: Miami Jackson by Patricia & Fredrick McKissack | Featured Title: Miami Jackson Gets It Straight
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Husband and wife team Pat and Fred McKissack were inspired to write the Miami Jackson book series for independent readers by memories of their own three boys growing up.
In Miami Jackson Gets It Straight, Miami and his best friend String can’t wait for school to end and summer camp to start. But first Miami has to make it through 5 more days with his arch enemy at school: Destinee Tate. Slim thinks Miami should give her a chance (and that Miami’s just jealous that Destinee came in first in the spelling bee.)
Destinee is also class president while Miami is vice-president. When she entrusts Miami with the important job of picking a going away present for their teacher, he knows he has to pick a gift that will impress the girls in the class. But just when he’s found the perfect gift, disaster strikes! (Black author. Recommended for ages 7 – 10.)
Series: Azaleah Lane by Nikki Shannon Smith and Gloria Felix | Featured Title: The Scientific Life of Azaleah Lane
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When third grader Azaleah Lane gets chosen to the school’s STEM lab monitor for the week, it might be the most exciting week of her life. Plus, her class is going to build Rube Goldberg machines in the lab.
Things in the lab start off well, with Azaleah getting to do what she wanted most: snuggle Harry the hamster. But the day goes south when Harry escapes his cage, and bossy Terrance won’t let anyone else share their ideas for how to make their group’s Rube Goldberg machine. Will Azaleah be able to use her scientific reasoning and detective skills to solve these problems? (Black author. Recommended for ages 7 – 10.)
Related Post: The best diverse easy reader chapter book series
Series: Alvin Ho by Lenore Look and LeUyen Pham | Featured Title: Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things
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In the Alvin Ho series, kids meet a child who lives with an anxiety disorder and selective mutism. The introduction to these disability issues is done is a light-hearted and often hilarious way. While a good part of the plot deals with the frightening aspects of school for Alvin, some my favorite sections are about his family, especially his annoying little sister and his father. Alvin’s father is a “gentleman” who uses Shakespearean phrases to substitute for curse words. (His father relies on these when Alvin accidentally damages his precious “Firecracker Man” toy.)
With his PDK (Personal Disaster Kit) in hand, Alvin figures out creative and even wacky ways to confront his fears about school, girls, and vampires. Note about this series: I do NOT recommend book 3: Allergic to Birthday Parties…because of stereotypical content about Native Americans. (Chinese-American author. Recommended for ages 7 – 10.)
Related Post: 15 diverse chapter books that are perfect for summer reading
Series: Jasmine Toguchi by Debbi Michiko Florence and Elizabeth Vukovic | Featured Title: Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen
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Jasmine Toguchi has a problem that younger siblings everywhere can identify with: she never gets to be the first to do anything! Just once, she’d like to do something that her older sister Sophie hasn’t already done.
Soon, Jasmine’s entire family will be arriving at her house, including her Obaachan (grandma) who’s coming all the way from Japan, for the New Year celebration. Sophie is old enough to help the women of the family roll the special mochi dessert. But Jasmine can’t join in until she’s 10 years old, and that’s 2 years from now.
Suddenly, Jasmine realizes that she could do something that her sister has never done: help the men of the family pound the rice for the mochi. But how can she convince her father that’s she’s old enough and strong enough to join them? Japanese-American author. Recommended for ages 7 – 10)
Related Post: 13 Diverse Children’s Books about Dragons
Series: Ruby and the Booker Boys by Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley Newton | Featured Title: Brand New School, Brave New Ruby
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This is a particularly good book for children who are making the transition to a new school. Ruby’s old school closed, so now she’ll be joining her three big brothers at their school. She’s determined to “make a name for herself” on the first day of third grade. But the biggest problem seems to be that her brothers are all already famous at the school.
When her brothers keep stealing her thunder, Ruby’s best friend Teresa helps her remember that she has her own special talent. That talent just might help her share her signature “Ruby Booker flavor” with her new school.
I love the way Barnes writes about this close knit, loving family, who also sometimes get on each others’ nerves. (Black author. Recommended for ages 7 – 10.)
Related Post: 10 multicultural back to school books
Series: Zapato Power by Jacqueline Jules and Miguel Benitez | Featured Title: Freddie Ramos Takes Off
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Ever since Freddie’s mom graduated from community college and got a better job, things have been looking up for their family. One day, Freddie arrives home from school to find a cool pair of purple sneakers waiting for him. But who are they from? The box only includes an unsigned note that reads “Zapato power for Freddie Ramos.”
Freddie wishes he could be a hero with his new super fast shoes. After all, his soldier dad had been a hero. But soon he realizes the shoes give him smaller ways to be a hero to other kids.
I should warn parents that a side effect of reading this book series for independent readers is that your child might run around the house shouting “zapato power!” (if they’re anything like our kiddo.) (White author. Recommended for ages 7 – 9)
Related Post: 17 engaging picture books starring Latine characters
Series: Lola Levine by Monica Brown and Angela Dominguez | Featured Title: Lola Levine, Drama Queen
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Every Monica Brown picture book I’ve read was a hit in our house, so I was excited to learn she’s written a chapter book series for independent readers.
Lola has heard her mother talk about how dramatic her Bubbe is. Since Lola is a lot like her grandma, she’s sure that she’ll do well in her drama class auditions. But when Lola gets stage fright, she misses her chance to be cast as the star. How can she enjoy being in the play when she doesn’t even have any lines?
There were so many things we loved about this book. Lola has the kind of personality that sometimes gets into trouble, with both adults and other kids. But we’re able to see why she does the things she does. Her loving family helps her solve problems creatively, and Brown skillfully weaves in both Lola’s Latina and Jewish heritages throughout the book. (Peruvian-American author. Recommended for ages 7 – 10.)
Related Post: 18 picture books featuring strong, feisty girls
2 responses to “9 diverse chapter book series for independent readers”
My son really likes the Alvin Ho series. Check it out if you haven’t already!
I hadn’t heard of this one Kendra. Thanks for the recommendation!