Children need guidance in choosing good books to read and this article does just that, to provide pointers to some good children's book series. There are many good children’s books by all time favorite authors such as Roald Dahl, E. Nesbit, Diana Wynne Jones, Frances Hodgson Burnett, T.H. White and many more. The books by these authors have enthralled generations of readers belonging to different age groups. But when coming to series, these are books which are connected on the basis of a common central plot and make it more interesting if read in order. The recent Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling broke all records in entertaining and delighting children of all ages.
There are many children’s book series that need not be read in a sequence. These include Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five and Secret Seven, Boxcar Children and Nancy Drew series books among others. But, Lord of the Rings is a trilogy weaving a classic epic fantasy enjoyed by children and adults alike. Many Harry Potter fans are sure to enjoy this trilogy by J.R. R. Tolkien. The first volume titled,” The Fellowship of the Ring” published in 1954 came to be regarded as a classic of the science fiction and fantasy genre. The novels were made into a motion picture achieving popular, critical and commercial success.
J.K. Rowling has created the Harry Potter series consisting of seven fantasy novels. The books deal with the magical adventures of wizard Harry Potter, an adolescent student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The books have gained popularity and critical acclaim and resounding success all over the world. The title of the first novel released in 1997 is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005) and the last novel of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007).
Cornelia Funke is one of the brilliant writers of children’s books and may be rightly termed as the German counterpart of Britain’s popular J.K.Rowling. Cornelia Funke is a gifted writer of books belonging to the fantasy genre. After her successful novels Dragon Rider and The Thief Lord comes her popular Inkheart series in three volumes-Inkheart, Inkspell and Inkdeath followed by the recent work-Igraine the Brave. Cornelia Funke’s stories deal with bright children who often can battle with their circumstances through their intelligence and wit.
Many children’s book series by talented writers such as J.K. Rowling, Cornelia Funke and C.S. Lewis have been made into money-spinning British and American motion pictures featuring popular stars. Some popular children’s book series which are likely to catch the imagination of children include books by talented children’s writers such as The two book Crispin series by Avi, The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley, The Once and Future King by T.H. White, Percy Jackson series, The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, The Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula Le Guin, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis among others.