List Fun: Favorite Series for Beginning Readers

Some series are so beloved they are recognized by Cybils in some form every single year! Every eligible book published to date in the series listed below has been nominated for Cybils in the Easy Readers/Early Chapter Books category.

–Katie Fitzgerald, Story Time Secrets
Easy Readers/Early Chapter Books category organizer


Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee

BinkandGollieThis series of easy readers in graphic format celebrates the friendship of two girls who are complete opposites Book 1, Bink and Gollie, was nominated in the early chapter book category in 2010. Book 2, Bink and Gollie Two for One was an easy reader finalist in 2012, and Book 3, Bink and Gollie: Best Friends Forever was nominated in easy readers in 2013.


Zapato Power by Jacqueline Jules

When Freddie Ramos receives a pair of mysterious shoes, he discovers that they give him super-fast zapato power! All 5 books in this series have received Cybils recognition in the Early Chapter Book category. The titles are as follows:

FreddieRamosFreddie Ramos Takes Off (2010 Winner)
Freddie Ramos Springs Into Action (2010 Nominee)
Freddie Ramos Zooms to the Rescue (2011 Nominee)
Freddie Ramos Makes a Splash (2012 Nominee)
Freddie Ramos Stomps the Snow (2014 Nominee)


Ling and Ting by Grace Lin

LingTingThe Ling and Ting books are stories about Chinese-American twins whose fondness for each other and kid-friendly senses of humor keep readers coming back for more and more. This year’s easy reader winner was the third book in the series, Ling & Ting Twice as Silly. Previous titles were Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! (nominated 2009) and Ling & Ting Share a Birthday (nominated 2013).


Lulu by Hilary McKay

This series imported from the UK follows the adventures of Lulu, a young animal lover who can never say no to a new pet. The Lulu books have been finalists multiple times. Here is the full list of titles:

LuluandtheDuckLulu and the Duck in the Park (2012 Nominee)
Lulu and the Dog from the Sea (2013 Finalist)
Lulu and the Cat in the Bag (2013 Nominee)
Lulu and the Rabbit Next Door (2014 Finalist)
Lulu and the Hedgehog in the Rain (2014 Nominee)
Lulu and the Hamster in the Night (2015 Finalist)


Princess Pink and the Land of Fake-Believe by Noah Z. Jones

MoldylocksOne of the many series in Scholastic’s popular Branches line is Princess Pink and the Land of Fake-Believe. Each book is a fractured fairy tale, starring such characters as Moldylocks and Little Red Quacking Hood. Books 1 and 2, Moldylocks and the Three Beards and Little Red Quacking Hood, were nominated in 2014, and book 3, The Three Little Pugs, was nominated in 2015.