Hilde Cracks the Case series is great, same level as Dragon Masters, cool female protagonist

My 3rd grader is currently enjoying Judy Blume's the Pain and the Great One chapter books. The chapters alternate between the brother's and sister's perspective. I had her first read the picture book that the series is based on. The books are similar in length to Magic Treehouse. Lots of pictures. Only 4 books in the series though.

Anonymous wrote:We had trouble persuading my kid in K to read books other than Magic Treehouse — he was just rereading over and over. We gave him Tales from Deckawoo Drive for Christmas and that totally hooked his interest. He just finished that series and now we’re looking for something to follow.

12/04/2025 10:54 and 01/19/2026 14:23 here.

I think many of the books I’ve posted would appeal to him.

Time Warp Trio is very similar to Magic Treehouse, but slightly edgier. I think it’s aimed at boys that might be a little older than Magic Treehouse readers, if your son is particularly sensitive you might want to wait until he’s a little older.

I’m unfamiliar with the Deckawoo Drive books, but looking at the samples on Amazon, I think he’d probably really enjoy the McBroom and Flat Stanley series. I think some other good suggestions would be Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Frindle, Cinderellis and the Glass Hill by Gail Caron Levine, Beverly Cleary, and Where the Sidewalk Ends.

Many of the other suggestions could be good too, they just might be slightly intense and/or more dissimilar to his preferences so far.

We had trouble persuading my kid in K to read books other than Magic Treehouse — he was just rereading over and over. We gave him Tales from Deckawoo Drive for Christmas and that totally hooked his interest. He just finished that series and now we’re looking for something to follow.

Anonymous wrote:I posted an earlier list, but I forgot the Wayside School books by Louis Sachar and Frindle by Andrew Clements.

Frindle was one of the chapter books that finally got my youngest child reading.

I posted an earlier list, but I forgot the Wayside School books by Louis Sachar and Frindle by Andrew Clements.

13 Story Treehouse books

Junie b

Stella Batts is great- lots of pictures and fun stories about a third grade girl.