Why Book Series Work Like Magic for Reluctant Readers

How to Build Momentum, Confidence, and Routine—One Book at a Time

If your child’s been stuck in a reading rut or you’re tired of the constant hunt for another “just-right” book—you’re not alone. The good news? The solution might not be a better book. It might be a series. there are a few key reasons why some kids resist reading in the first place—this blog post breaks them down clearly.

For reluctant readers especially, book series can be the secret sauce that turns hesitation into momentum. In this post, we’ll explore why series work so well, how to ease into one without pressure, and what titles are worth testing with your reader.

Why Book Series Help Reluctant Readers Stick With Reading

1. Familiarity Fuels Engagement

Once your child knows the characters, pacing, and style of a series, there’s far less resistance to picking up the next book. They want to know what happens next and that natural curiosity becomes fuel.

2. Less Overwhelm, More Confidence for Your Reader

With a series, you’ve already got the next title lined up. No more endless scrolling or second-guessing at the library—it takes the pressure off both of you. And every book they finish builds confidence and helps them see themselves as a reader who completes things.

3. How Series Build a Reading Routine

Series create natural structure. Even if life gets chaotic, a familiar storyline helps anchor the reading rhythm in your home.

In our home, bedtime runs smoother when we’re knee-deep in a series.

JD and I are reading Heroes of Olympus right now, and the anticipation of “just one more chapter” keeps us coming back—even on the long days.

How to Ease into a Series

Start simple. Just suggest book one. If it clicks, let them roll right into the next. No pressure, no buildup, just a quiet invitation to continue.

Once you find a winner, try anchoring your reading routine around it. A casual “Want to read a chapter of Wild Robot before bed?” is often all it takes.

You can also gamify it. Set a mini-challenge: “Let’s read three books in two weeks.” Just make sure the goal is realistic based on the book length and your schedule. Heroes of Olympus for example is a pretty meaty series—to finish three books that quickly we’d have to be reading morning, noon, and night. And let’s face it, that’s not really in the cards for us right now.

Worried That Series Books Are Too Long? Try This…

Longer books can feel intimidating to some kids. Try pairing the physical book with an audiobook version. Or set aside time to read together, even if it’s just a few pages. 

Honestly, I didn’t know if JD and I would stick with Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Those books were thick, and our schedule isn’t always predictable. But we just started with a chapter a night—some nights he’d read, other nights I took the lead. And over time, it became our rhythm, and one chapter turned into two, sometimes three. I didn’t really expect to fall in love with the stories myself, I was just excited to share the time with him since his teacher was ahead of us reading them to the class—but I did. Eventually we got ahead of where they were in school, and now we’ve moved on to the Heroes of Olympus series and can’t get enough. Even big books can become bite-sized when the pressure is off.

Reading a series doesn’t mean your child has to power through alone. Some of our best reading moments come from passing the book back and forth—or even having me take over the reading completely some nights. It takes the pressure off for him and gets us both more invested because I’m right there with him night after night.

What to Do If Book One Doesn’t Hook Your Reader

Sometimes the first book just isn’t the spark, especially if your reader is still warming up to the idea of series reading. Try these tweaks:

• Try the graphic novel version of the same series (they’re becoming more and more common now!)
• Read it aloud or listen together as an audiobook to build momentum
• Switch series—but stick with the same genre or vibe they like in other media (e.g., fantasy, humor, mystery)

When Kids Can Read but Don’t Want To: How Series Can Help

If your child can read but doesn’t want to, you’re not failing—and they’re not broken.

Sometimes the resistance isn’t about reading ability, but the experience of reading. Series help remove that pressure. They let kids ease in, build confidence, and eventually enjoy the ride.

Binge-Worthy Series to Try by Grade Level

Here’s a peek at some standout series based on your child’s stage of reading. Not sure which one to try first? The Binge-Worthy Book List includes quick descriptions and grade-level guidance to help you choose the perfect fit—so you’re not left guessing at the library (or scrolling forever on Amazon).

Kindergarten-1st Grade Book Series

• Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems
• School of Monsters by Sally Rippin
• Billy B. Brown by Sally Rippin
• Hey Jack! by Sally Rippin
• Cat Ninja by Matthew Cody
• Dragon Masters by Tracey West

2nd-3rd Grade Book Series

• Magic Treehouse by Mary Pope Osborne
• I Survived by Lauren Tarshis
• The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
• Unicorn Academy by Julie Sykes
• Judy Moody by Megan McDonald

4th-6th Grade Book Series

• The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Heroes of Olympus (original or graphic novel versions and other series) by Rick Riordan
• The Babysitters Club (original or graphic novel) by Ann M. Martin
• Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
• Wings of Fire (original or graphic novel) by Tui T. Sutherland

How to Test a Book Series with Your Reader

Here’s your challenge:

Pick one series and give it a one-to-two week test run. Read book one and build it into your daily rhythm. If it clicks? Keep going. If not? Try another.

Reading series gives you a shortcut. A clear path. A built-in plan that builds momentum naturally—one book at a time.

Final Takeaway: Progress, Not Pressure

Helping your child become a reader isn’t about finding the perfect book every time. It’s about finding what sticks—and following that thread. 

Series make that easier, they reduce friction, build consistency, and they help your child identify as someone who reads… and keeps reading.

So next time you’re feeling stuck, don’t reinvent the wheel. Reach for book two.

Suggested Resources

• 🎧 Audible Free Trial
• 🎶 Yoto and Tonie Players – Screen-free audiobook player kids can control themselves
• 📱Libby and Hoopla – Free audiobooks and ebooks with a library card
• 📘 Epic! – Huge digital library for kids
• 👩‍👩‍👧 Engaging Reluctant Readers Tribe (Facebook Group)

FAQs

What if my child doesn’t finish the whole series?

That’s totally okay. The goal isn’t to power through, it’s to build positive reading experiences. If they enjoy book one and want to move on, great. If not, try something else. Even one good reading experience builds confidence and helps them grow as a reader.

My child can read—they just don’t want to. Is that normal?

Absolutely. Many reluctant readers don’t struggle with the skills of reading—they struggle with the experience of reading. Series can help ease that tension by removing the guesswork and letting them ease into stories they grow to love.

Should I let my child reread the same series over and over?

Yes! Rereading builds fluency, comprehension, and confidence. If they’re hooked on a series, that’s a win. The more they read—even if it’s the same stories—the more their brain gets to practice and play with language.

What if the first book doesn’t click?

Don’t worry—it happens. Try the graphic novel version (if there is one), listen to the audiobook together, or pivot to a new series with a similar genre or vibe. You’re not starting over, you’re experimenting to find the right fit.

Are audiobooks or graphic novels “cheating”?

Not at all. Audiobooks support listening comprehension and model fluent reading. Graphic novels combine text with visuals, making stories more accessible—especially for visual learners. Both are real reading.

How do I know what series are right for my child’s reading level?

Think about what they enjoy outside of books—humor, animals, adventure, fantasy—and match the topic or tone. You can also grab my Binge-Worthy Book List, which breaks down engaging series by grade level to make picking the right fit way easier.