3 holiday reads for young readers transitioning to chapter books

I regularly receive books to review, and here are some of the chapter books I would suggest for children aged 5 and over transitioning from picture books to chapter books

Kitty an the Treetop Chase by Paula Harrison
In the chapter book series about a superhero in training called Kitty, Kitty turns into a cat at night, and with her feline powers she goes on nighttime adventures with her cat friends, the Cat Crew. The latest book in the series is Kitty and the Treetop Chase (Oxford University Press, £5.99), and sees Kitty on a mission to find missing dog Ludo. The books, which are just over 100 pages long, are recommended for children aged 5 and over and feature short chapters and sweet two-colour illustrations by Jenny Løvlie that will appeal to little pet lovers.

The Snake Who Came to Stay by Julia Donaldson
In the Little Gems book The Snake Who Came to Stay (Barrington Stoke, £6.99) by beloved children’s author Julia Donaldson, Polly persuades her mum to let her run a holiday home for pets, and when neighbours and friends go away for the holiday, Polly’s house is filled with a variety of pets, including the snake Doris, who causes trouble after one morning escaping from his cage. The sweet, compact chapter book with colourful illustrations and short chapters is, according to the publisher’s website, book band reading level 9. The Little Gems book series includes compact chapter books for young readers written by a multitude of well-known children’s authors, such as Julia Donaldson, Anne Fine and Michael Morpurgo.

Billy and the Mini Monsters: Monsters at the Seaside by Zanna Davidson
In schoolboy Billy’s sock drawer hides five colourful, miniature friends, who are always up for an adventure, creating havoc for Billy. In Billy and the Mini Monsters: Monsters at the Seaside (Usborne, £5.99), the little monsters join Billy and his family on a trip to the beach, and when one is taken by a seagull, Billy and his sister Ruby join forces with the rest of the monster crew to rescue their missing friend. The book is suitable for both boys and girls, and with plenty of colourful illustrations and comic strip panels by Melanie Williamson, it can be an ideal holiday read for children transitioning from picture books to chapter books.

Tags: Chapter books, Children's books, Holiday reads, Oxford University Press, Usborne