If your child falls in love with a book, the best thing you can do is hand them the rest of the series. Once a kid finds a world or a character they want to keep returning to, reading stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like a habit.
We’ve pulled together a big list of series for readers aged 6 all the way through to 16, mixing Australian favourites with international bestsellers, old classics with newer hits. Whether your child is just starting chapter books or is ready for their first taste of YA, there’s something here for them.
Jump to the section that fits your reader:
- Early readers (ages 6 to 8)
- Middle grade (ages 8 to 11)
- Upper middle grade and fantasy (ages 9 to 12)
- Teen and YA (ages 12 and up)
Good to know: Before you commit to buying a full set, it’s worth checking your local library or bookstore first to see if the first book is on the shelf. Most libraries let you reserve titles online, and starting with just one book is the easiest way to find out if a series is the right fit before your child is asking for book five.
Early Readers (Ages 6 to 8)
These series are perfect for kids who are building reading confidence. Short chapters, plenty of illustrations, and a bit of silliness go a long way here.
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
The book series behind the Dreamworks movies, following Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III as he tries to make it as a dragon trainer in the Viking land of Berk. Twelve books in total. Age 6+.
The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
A graphic novel series about a group of scary-looking animals trying (badly) to become good guys. Fast, funny, and a favourite with reluctant readers. Age 6+.
Treehouse Series by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton 🇦🇺
Starting with The 13-Storey Treehouse and now well past its thirteenth instalment, this illustrated series follows Andy and Terry’s increasingly ridiculous treehouse, complete with a shark tank and an anti-gravity chamber. Age 7+.
Tom Gates by Liz Pichon
Ten-year-old Tom is in a band, loves drawing, and has a lot of excuses for unfinished homework. Twenty books and counting. Age 7+.
Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
From the creator of Captain Underpants, a half-dog, half-man crime-fighting cop with plenty of slapstick humour. Twelve books. Age 7+.
WeirDo by Anh Do 🇦🇺
Follows the new kid at school with an unforgettable name and a seriously weird family. Twenty-three books deep. Age 7+.
Timmy Failure by Stephan Pastis
An illustrated series about a hopeless but confident kid detective who takes himself far too seriously. A good alternative for Wimpy Kid fans. Age 7+.
The Anti-Princess Club by Samantha Turnbull 🇦🇺
Set in Newcastle, this book follows four ten-year-old best friends as they push back against princess stereotypes, with the motto “we don’t need rescuing.” Five books. Age 7+.
Middle Grade (Ages 8 to 11)
Once kids are reading independently, this is where the real variety opens up: humour, mystery, fantasy, and everyday-life stories.
Fudge Series by Judy Blume
Told from the perspective of Peter Hatcher, dealing with his two-year-old brother Fudge and his know-it-all neighbour. Five books. Age 7+.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Twelve-year-old Greg Heffley’s attempts to survive middle school, told in diary form with plenty of doodles. Eighteen books. Age 8+.
Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell
Nikki Maxwell shares her life through doodles and diary entries, covering friendship drama and embarrassing family moments. Fourteen books. Age 8+.
Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
Honest, funny graphic novels about sibling relationships and growing up. Hugely popular, especially with girls. Age 8+.
Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables 🇦🇺
A funny series about an unconventional new teacher and his classroom of quirky students. Five books. Age 8+.
Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
A fantasy series about a girl who discovers she’s telepathic and gets pulled into a hidden magical world. A strong pick for kids who’ve finished Percy Jackson and want more. Nine books and growing. Age 9+.
The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer
Twins fall into a world where fairy tale characters are real, and have to navigate it to find their way home. Six books. Age 8+.
Friday Barnes by R.A. Spratt
An eleven-year-old girl detective solves mysteries at her boarding school. Age 8+.
The Girl, the Dog, and the Writer Series by Katrina Nannestad 🇦🇺
A novelist, a girl, and an Irish wolfhound travel through Europe solving mysteries along the way. Three books. Age 8+.
Ramona Series by Beverly Cleary
A classic about an imaginative, accident-prone little girl, following Ramona Quimby from preschool through primary school. Eight books. Age 8+.
Upper Middle Grade and Fantasy (Ages 9 to 12)
This is prime fantasy and adventure territory, where series tend to get longer and the world-building gets more ambitious.
Warriors by Erin Hunter
Four clans of wild cats navigate loss, loyalty, and survival. If your child gets through the first series, there are six more series waiting. Age 8+.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend 🇦🇺
Morrigan Crow is blamed for every local misfortune until she’s whisked away to compete for a place in a secret magical society. Age 8+.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
A brilliant entry point into Greek mythology, following a boy who discovers he’s a demigod. Five books, followed by Heroes of Olympus and Trials of Apollo if your reader wants to keep going. Age 8+.
Pegasus by Kate O’Hearn
A girl teams up with an Olympian pegasus and gets caught in a battle between Roman gods and mysterious soldiers. Six books. Age 8+.
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
Three siblings discover a guide to the hidden world of goblins, trolls, and elves. Eight books. Age 8+.
Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
A classic seven-book series that starts with four children stepping through a wardrobe into a magical land. Age 8+.
The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell
A young witch and a young warrior, raised to hate each other, find their worlds colliding. Four books. Age 9+.
Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland
Set in a dragon-ruled world at war, with each book told from a different dragon’s point of view. Sixteen books. Age 9+.
Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan
Fifteen-year-old Will is reluctantly recruited into the mysterious Ranger Corps. Thirteen books. Age 9+.
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
A twelve-year-old criminal mastermind goes searching for fairy gold. Ten books. Age 9+.
Alice-Miranda by Jacqueline Harvey
Twenty books following Alice-Miranda’s adventures at boarding school and beyond. Age 9+.
Tuesday McGillycuddy Series by Angela Banks 🇦🇺
When her writer mother disappears, Tuesday sets off on a magical journey to find her. Three books. Age 9+.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
A classic about a hot-tempered, red-haired orphan finding her place in a new family and town. Eight books. Age 9+.
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Still the series most kids measure every other fantasy series against. The early books suit younger readers, but the tone darkens as the series goes on. Age 10+.
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
Best friends are kidnapped and sent to train as fairytale heroes and villains. Seven books. Age 10+.
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Three orphans try to outwit the scheming Count Olaf across thirteen darkly funny books. Age 9+.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
A science fiction classic dealing with time travel and big ideas, still holding up more than fifty years on. Age 10+.
Teen and YA (Ages 12 and Up)
This is the section a lot of parents ask us for, once their kids age out of middle grade and want something with a bit more weight. These are some of the most-read series with teen readers right now.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
A heist fantasy duology following six dangerous outcasts pulling off an impossible job. Morally grey characters and sharp plotting. Age 13+.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
An assassin competes for her freedom in a deadly tournament, in a series packed with magic and political intrigue. Age 13+.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
A four-book fantasy series set in a brutal, Rome-inspired empire. Age 13+.
Legend by Marie Lu
A dystopian trilogy following two teenagers on opposite sides of a divided society. Age 12+.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
A boy wakes up with no memory in the middle of a deadly maze and has to work with other teens to survive it. Age 12+.
Divergent by Veronica Roth
A dystopian trilogy where a girl must choose which faction to belong to, and lives with the consequences. Age 12+.
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
A graphic novel series following two teenage boys as their friendship turns into something more. Gentle, warm, and a strong pick for reluctant readers thanks to the graphic novel format. Age 12+.
John Green Titles
Not a single series, but John Green is one of the most searched teen authors going, and worth a mention for older teen readers wanting something emotional and character-driven. Start with The Fault in Our Stars. Age 14+.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most kids start the series from around age 9 or 10. The first two or three books are gentle enough for younger readers, but the tone gets noticeably darker from book four onwards, so it’s worth reading along or checking in as your child gets further into the series.
Graphic novel and illustrated series tend to work best, since they lower the barrier to entry. Dog Man, The Bad Guys, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Sisters are all strong options, along with Heartstopper for older reluctant readers.
Keeper of the Lost Cities is one of the closest matches in tone and scale. For something a little older, An Ember in the Ashes or Six of Crows are good next steps once they’re ready for teen fantasy.
Yes. Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton, Samantha Turnbull, Anh Do, John Flanagan, Jessica Townsend, R.A. Spratt, Katrina Nannestad, Jacqueline Harvey, and Angela Banks are all Australian authors featured above.
Whichever series catches your child’s interest, check with your local library or bookstore before buying the whole set. Most series carry on for a long time, and it’s far easier to gauge whether a book has landed after borrowing the first one than after buying ten.
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