What are good chapter books and chapter book series for 1st grade girls? I am a homeschool mom with a 6-year-old girl who loves to read. My goal when choosing books is to find books with wholesome content, valuable lessons, and stories she enjoys.
If you’re looking for a good chapter book series for 1st grade girls that both mom and daughter approve of, check out Unicorn Princesses, Owl Diaries, Lulu’s Animal Adventures, Lily to the Rescue, and Pathway Readers.
Check out the full list of 12 recommended chapter book series for elementary girls below.
1. Owl Diaries by Rebecca Elliott
Owl Diaries is a cute early chapter book series about friendship that young girls enjoy. These books have larger text and lots of colorful illustrations. There are at least 16 books in the Owl Diaries series.
The Books in This Series Are:
- Eva’s Treetop Festival
- Eva Sees a Ghost
- A Woodland Wedding
- Eva and the New Owl
- Warm Hearts Day
- Baxter is Missing
- The Wildwood Bakery
- Eva and the Lost Pony
- Eva’s Big Sleepover
- Eva and Baby Mo
- Trip to the Pumpkin Farm
- Eva’s Campfire Adventure
- Eva in the Spotlight
- Eva at the Beach
- Eva’s New Pet
- Get Well, Eva
You can order Owl Diaries as individual books, or in sets of 5, 8, or 15 books.
2. Pathway Reading Series, Grade 1
Pathway Reading Series for Grade 1 is a simple, wholesome 3-book series of readers and is a great first read for young girls getting into chapter books.
The Books in This Series Are:
- First Steps
- Days Go By
- More Days Go By
You can order each book individually or as a set of three.
3. Lulu by Hillary McKay
In Lulu’s Animal Adventures, Lulu and her friends work together to save animals in their neighborhood. This is another cute and fun chapter book series for girls starting to read chapter books.
The Books in This Series Are:
- Lulu and the Duck in the Park
- Lulu and the Dog from the Sea
- Lulu and the Cat in the Bag
- Lulu and the Rabbit Next Door
- Lulu and the Hedgehog in the Rain
- Lulu and the Hamster in the Night
You can read about Lulu’s sweet animal adventures by ordering individual books or the boxed set.
4. Unicorn Princesses by Emily Bliss
The original Unicorn Princesses Series includes eight books about eight unicorns who journey across the Rainbow Realm with Cressida Jenkens, a unicorn-obsessed girl whose wildest dreams come true when she is invited to an enchanted land ruled by unicorn princesses. The unicorns are fun, sparkly, and overcome friendship challenges (without the mean drama that is in many chapter books for girls). Two extra books (#9 and #10) were added later on.
The Books in This Series Are:
- Sunbeam’s Shine
- Flash’s Dance
- Bloom’s Ball
- Prism’s Paint
- Feather’s Flight
- Firefly’s Glow
- Moon’s Dance
- Breeze’s Blast
- The Moonbeams
- The Wing Spell
If your girl likes unicorns and princesses, check out this series.
5. Lily to the Rescue by Bruce Cameron
A 2020 National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) Winner! Lily to the Rescue is an adorable chapter book series from the New York Times bestselling author of A Dog’s Purpose. Puppy Tales features Lily, a rescue dog who rescues other animals.
The Books in This Series Are:
- Lily to the Rescue!
- Lily to the Rescue: Two Little Piggies
- Lily to the Rescue: the Not-So-Stinky Skunk
- Lily to the Rescue: Dog Dog Goose
- Lily to the Rescue: Lost Little Leopard
- Lily to the Rescue: The Misfit Donkey
- Lily to the Rescue: Foxes in a Fix
- Lily to the Rescue: The Three Bears (pre-order)
It appears the Lily to the Rescue books are not available in a boxed set, but each individual book is available on Amazon.
6. Fairy Animals of Misty Wood by Lily Small
Young girls love the magical world of Misty Wood, where every creature has glittery fairy wings and a special job to do to make their home beautiful. Join kittens, puppies, bunnies, hedgehogs, ponies, and more on their twelve fun Fairy Animal of Misty Wood adventures that will keep your reader engaged.
The Books in This Series Are:
- Chloe the Kitten
- Bella the Bunny
- Paddy the Puppy
- Mia the Mouse
- Poppy the Pony
- Haily the Hedgehog
- Sophie the Suirrel
- Daisy the Deer
- Kylie the Kitten
- Paige the Pony
- Penny the Puppy
- Bailey the Bunny
7. Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke
Anna Hibiscus books are about a young girl who lives in amazing Africa with her mother, father, twin baby brothers, and lots of extended family. The stories are engaging and teach children about another culture, great beginning chapter books to have in your home library.
The Books in This Series Are:
- Anna Hibiscus
- Hooray for Anna Hibiscus!
- Go Well, Anna Hibiscus
- You’re Amazing, Anna Hibiscus
- Welcome Home, Anna Hibiscus
- Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus
- Love from Anna Hibiscus
- Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus!
Enjoy the adventures with Anna in amazing Africa by ordering individual books or for a much lower price right now, order the entire 8-book collection.
8. Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne
Follow Jack, Annie, and the Magic Tree House filled with books that take them on exciting adventures around the world and throughout history. There are so many books in this series and many elementary girls and boys enjoy reading or hearing read aloud.
The First 28 Books in This Series Are:
- Dinasaurs Before Dark
- The Knight at Dawn
- Mummies in the Morning
- Pirates Past Noon
- Night of the Ninjas
- Afternoon on the Amazon
- Sunset of the Sabertooth
- Midnight ont he Moon
- Dolphines 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
- Tonight oon the Titanic
- Buffalo Before Breakfast
- Tigers at Twilight
- Dingoes at Dinnertime
- Civil War on Sunday
- Revolutionary War on Wednesday
- Twister on Tuesday
- Earthquake in the Early Morning
- Stage Fright on a Summer Night
- Good Morning, Gorillas
- Thanksgiving on Thursday
- High Tide in Hawaii
You can buy most Magic Tree House books individually, or there are many sets of three, or even the mega 28-pack collection.
9. Imagination Station by Paul McCusker, Marianne Hering, & Nancy Sanders
Similar to the Magic Tree House series but with a Christian perspective is the Imagination Station Series – Adventures in Odyssey. Cousins Patrick and Bath travel to various lands and times to learn about history in a fun fictional series full of action and adventure.
The First 15 Books in This Series Are:
- Voyage with the Vikings
- Attack at the Arena
- Peril in the Palace
- Revenge of the Red Knight
- Showdown with the Shepherd
- Problems in Plymouth
- Secret of the Prince’s Tomb
- Battle for Cannibal Island
- Excape to the Hiding Place
- Challenge on the Hill of Fire
- Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon
- Danger on a Silent Night
- The Redcoats are Coming
- Captured on the High Seas
- Surprise at Yorktown
You can find the Imagination Station chapter books as individual books, sets of three, or even 15-book collection.
10. Usborne Fairy Unicorns by Zanna Davidson
Another enchanted unicorn chapter book series is Usborne Fairy Unicorns. This series is good for more confident readers.
The Books in This Series Are:
- Star Spell
- Frost Fair
- Enchanted River
- Wind Charm
- Cloud Castle
- Magic Forest
You can read about Lulu’s sweet animal adventures by ordering individual books or the boxed set.
11. The American Girl Collection
The American Girl Collection is a classic historical fiction series for young girls. Each young girl has her own series with great lessons and adventures, such as Kit, Kirsten, Josefina, Kaya, Samantha, Addy, and Felicity. Depending on your first graders’ reading level, these may be read-aloud books until she is ready to read them on her own.
Some Characters in This Series Are:
- Kit
- Addy
- Samantha
- Josefina
- Kirsten
- Kaya
- Felicity
- Rebecca
- Molly
Take a nostalgic visit down memory lane by adding The American Girl Collection books to your library. (Be sure to verify if the books are new or used if that’s important to you.)
12. The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder is another classic adventure that is an excellent read-aloud series until your child’s reading level is more advanced. Join Laura, Ma, Pa, her sisters and lovable dog, Jack, on their adventures that began in 1871 in the Big Woods of Wisconsin.
The Books in This Series Are:
- Little House in the Big Woods
- Farmer Boy
- Little House on the Prairie
- 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
Add this classic box set collection to your library and get lost in the cherished adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
More Chapter Books Series for Young Readers
We haven’t read these yet but they are on our first grade reading list:
- Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant
- Milly Molly Mandy Collection by Joyce Lankester Brisley
- Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
- Frog and Toad Collection by Arnold Lobel
Check Out Elementary Homeschooling Tips
Homeschool Curriculum: What We’re Using for First Grade
Homeschool Resources for Beginners & Kindergarten
Tips for Elementary Homeschool on Road Trips
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