Summer is upon us and kids are gearing up for their summer of freedom from the confines of school. As a parent and home educator I worry about the inevitable “summer slide” where our kids can lose information during the lazy months of summer. One way we can combat this is by keeping our children engaged in summer reading.

Summer reading can help keep their minds engaged and in motion during these months of downtime from school. An easy way to get a list of books going is by finding a great series or author for your child to get involved in reading.

For this reason I am compiling a list of series, or authors with multiple books to help you in your quest for filling your child’s reading list. Grades 3-5 Series Books for Your Summer Reading List is the second of these posts. You can also check out K-2 Series Books Summer Reading List, Middle School Series Books for Your Summer Reading List, and High School Series Books for Your Summer Reading List.

Grades 3-5 Series Books for Your Summer Reading List

This list contains some educational and some just plain fun chapter books for the grades 3-5 set. While I have listed many books in each series, I have also left space for you to add books as there are many not listed as well.

1. Ramona Books

• Beezus and Ramona
• Ramona the Pest
• Ramona the Brave
• Ramona and Her Father
• Ramona Quimby, Age 8
• Ramona and Her Mother
• Ramona Forever
• Ramona’s World

2. Goosebumps

The number of Goosebumps books is overwhelming. Here are some of the series variations:

• Classic Goosebumps
• Goosebumps Most Wanted
• Goosebumps Hall of Horrors
• Goosebumps HorrorLand

3. Paddington

• Paddington
• Paddington at the Palace
• Paddington at the Zoo
• Paddington in the Garden
• Paddinton and the Marmalade Maze
• Paddington the Artist

4. Harry Potter

• Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone
• Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

5. 39 Clues

The base series of 39 Clues (The Clue Hunt) includes 11 books. Beyond that there are more stem off series to explore as well such as Cahills vs. Vespers, Unstoppable, and Doublecross. I have listed the first 11 – The Clue Hunt series.

• The Maze of Bones
• One False Note
• The Sword Thief
• Beyond the Grave
• The Black Circle
• In Too Deep
• The Viper’s Nest
• The Emperor’s Code
• Storm Warning
• Into the Gauntlet
• Vespers Rising

6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• Rodrick Rules
• The Last Straw
• Dogs Days
• The Ugly Truth
• Cabin Fever
• The Third Wheel
• Hard Luck
• The Long Haul
• Old School (Coming Nov. 2015)

7. Doll People

This 4 book series is by Ann M. Martin who also authors The Baby Sitter’s Club books. My daughter and I just loved these books. The illustrations by Brian Selznik are just stunning as well.

• The Doll People
• The Meanest Doll in the World
• The Runaway Dolls
• The Doll People Set Sail

8. Katie Kazoo Switcheroo

There are at least 35 books plus special editions in this series.

• Camp Rules!
• Whose Afraid of Fourth Grade?
• Anyone But Me
• I Hate Rules!
• Get Lost!
• Three Cheers for…Who?
• Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
• Out to Lunch
• On Your Mark, Get Set, Laugh!

9. Encyclopedia Brown

• Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective
• And the Case of the Soccer Scheme
• Solves Them All
• And His Best Cases Ever
• And the Case of the Secret UFOs
• And the Case of the Secret Pitch
• And the Case of the Carnival Crime
• Keeps the Peace
• And the Case of the Midnight Visitor
• Saves the Day
• Tracks Them Down
• Finds the Clues
• Lends a Hand

10. Magic Tree House

One of the things I love about this series is that it is fun and educational. They even offer nonfiction companion books to go along with their books.

• Dinosaurs Before Dark
• The Knight At Dawn
• Mummies in the Morning
• Pirates Past Noon
• Nights of the Ninjas
• Afternoon on the Amazon
• Sunset of the Sabertooth
• Midnight on the Moon
• Dolphins at Daybreak
• Ghost Town at Sundown
• Lions at Lunchtime
• Polar Bears Past Bedtime
• Vacation Under the Volcano
• Day of the Dragon King
• Viking Ships at Sunrise
• Hour of the Olympics

11. Little House

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder is a long loved classic series, both through the books as well as the long airing tv show.

• Little House in the Big Woods
• Little House on the Prairie
• Farmer Boy
• On the Banks of Plum Creek
• By the Shores of Silver Lake
• The Long Winter
• Little Town on the Prairie
• These Happy Golden Years
• The First Four Years

12. I Survived

Each book in this series tells a terrifying and thrilling story from history, through the eyes of a boy who lived to tell the tale.

• The Great Chicago Fire, 1871
• True Stories: Five Epic Disasters
• The Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79
• The Nazi Invasion, 1944
• The Japanese Tsunami, 2011
• The Battle of Gettysburg, 1863
• The Attacks of September 11, 2001
• The Sinking of the Titanic, 1912
• The Shark Attacks of 1916
• Hurricane Katrina, 2005
• The Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941
• The San Francisco Earthquake, 1906

13. The Boxcar Children

• The Boxcar Children
• Surprise Island
• The Yellow House Mystery
• Mountain Top Mystery
• The Gymnastics Mystery
• The Candy Factory Mystery
• The Lighthouse Mystery
• Mystery Ranch
• The Mystery of the Soccer Snitch
• Bicycle Mystery
• Mystery in the Sand
• The Haunted Cabin Mystery
• The Bus Station Mystery
• The Pizza Mystery

FREE Printable Grades 3-5 Series Summer Reading List

To help you head to the library, bookstore, or purchase online, as well as to keep track of what your child has read already, I have created a free printable of these Grades 3-5 Series books.

Click here to download your Grades 3-5 Series Books Summer Reading List FREE Printable

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