Once a child has confidently mastered the Easy Reader Fiction books, the next step in their literacy development is short chapter books.
The Stratford Library Children’s Department has a special Bridge Books collection designed to provide the perfect transition between beginning readers and longer middle grade fiction.
The goal in choosing Bridge Books is to find materials that capture a child’s interest and get them hooked on reading more challenging plots, while building their vocabulary and comprehension skills. These early chapter books, many of which include some illustrations, are often written in series and feature high-interest topics and characters. Once children find a series they enjoy, they will likely want to read all of the books in that series. That’s how to create enthusiastic readers!
Bridge Books generally attract readers in grades 2-3, but may also interest some 4th and 5th graders. They range from Guided Reading levels J-R and DRA 20-40.
Some of our popular Bridge Book series are:
Cam Jansen by David Adler
After Happily Ever After series by Tony Bradman
Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
Agent Amelia by Michael Broad
Eerie Elementary by Michael Chabert
The Magic School Bus by Joanna Cole
Heidi Heckelbeck by Wanda Coven
Mermaid Tails by Debbie Dadey
Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo
Owl Diaries by Rebecca Elliot
Press Start! by Thomas Flintham
Andrew Lost by Dan Greenburg
Dyamonde Daniel by Nikki Grimes
My Weird School by Dan Gutman
Princess in Black by Shannon Hale
Zapato Power by Jacqueline Jules
Ready, Freddy! by Abby Klein
Jake Maddox sports books
Judy Moody by Megan McDonald
Dragon Slayers’ Academy by Kate McMullan
Rainbow Fairies by Daisy Meadows
The Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot by Dav Pilkey
Galaxy Zack by Ray O’Ryan
Geronimo Stilton series
Black Lagoon Adventures by Thaler
Disney Never Girls by Kiki Thorpe
Mia Mayhem by Kara West
You Wouldn’t Want to… nonfiction series
These books are located on the bank of shelves to the right of the Fiction books. Look for the books with the bridge sticker.
Happy reading!