To the Moon!

Zac’s Moon Trip 
Book one in the Test Drive series 

by H.I. Larry 

Published: Hardie Grand Egmont 1 February 2009 

Your mission, should you choose to accept it is flying to the Moon! Kids will love taking  an adventure through space with Zac Powers on his first mission as a spy for secret agency GIB. As he learns the ropes to become a spy, he has a lot of gadgets to test drive. Each book in this series has Zac doing everything from flying a futuristic airship to save a dangerously dirty space station, to driving an icebreaking craft though freezing waters to stop ice caps from melting. As children work their way through HI Larry’s Test Drive series, their reading skills will grow along with Zac’s spying expertise, making them ready for the larger, wordier Classic Zac Power novels which are wordier with slightly more complex plots.   

Level: K-1; The following Zac Power series are suited for Y1-3.
Number in series: 16 

Tempts children to read other series by H.I. Larry:
Zac Power Classic 35 in series
Zac Power Mega Mission 6 in series
Zac Extreme Mission 6 in series
Spy Camp 8 in series
Each Zac Power book is a stand-alone story.

Kids say: “Zac Power Test Drive books got me reading in Kindy. I collected them all and remember dressing as Zac for book week that year. I think I read all the books available up to about Year 2.” James, 13 years old. 

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Can pigs really fly?

 

Today I Will Fly! 

First in Elephant and Piggie series 

by Mo Willems 

Published April 1st 2007 by Hyperion Books for Children 

Anyone with preschoolers who know exactly why you shouldn’t let a Pigeon drive a bus, is already a fan of Mo Willems. But instead of a Pigeon, this series follows the lives of Gerald the Elephant and Piggie the pig. In the first book Piggie is determined to fly, but Gerald knows better – pigs cannot fly! Or can they? These books are simple but engaging and filled with sweet life and friendship lessons. Short words pictured only in speech bubbles, easy vocabulary and fun coloured illustrations will have your kids coming back for more in this series.

Level YK-Y1 

Number in series: 28 

Tempts kids into reading other series by Mo Willems: 

Knuffle Bunny, 5 in series 

Pigeon, 9 in series (picture book) 

Your Pal Mo Willems Presents, 2 in series 

Cat the Cat, 4 in series

 

Around the World with Sparky

Be Careful What You Sniff For 

First in Magic Bone Series 

by Nancy E. Krulik, Sebastien Braun (Illustrations) 

Published May 16th 2013 by Grosset & Dunlap 

 

Sparky is an adorable, klutzy sheepdog pup, who can’t help but get in the way of his own paws. After getting into trouble (again) for damaging a children's toy, Sparky is sent for timeout in the yard. Like any good dog he digs, and he digs until he finds a bone. But this isn’t just any old bone – it’s a Magic Bone. Soon enough Sparky is off to London with the help of his bone where he has adventures with new friends, visits the sites and gets back home before he’s missed by his family! Kids love to follow Sparky and his escapades to new places – the second book sees him in Hawaii. before he visits Rome in book three. The black and white illustrations add to the joy of Sparky's journeys. One thing’s for sure – wherever the Magic Bone takes Sparky, there’s always a lot of fun, chaos and mischief! 

 

Level: Y1-Y2 

Books in series: 11 

Tempts kids into reading other series by Nancy E. Krulik:
George Brown, Class Clown, 25 in series 

Princess Pulverizer, 8 books in series 

How I Survived Middle School, 15 in series 

Project Droid, 7 in series  

Oh Mercy!

 

Mercy Watson to the Rescue 

First in Mercy Watson Series

by Kate DiCamillo, Chris Van Dusen (Illustrator) 

Published: August 23rd 2005 by Candlewick Press 

Mercy is a pig. A pig obsessed with buttered toast. And despite having her very own bed and bedroom, and being sung to sleep at night after a tuck-in, she likes to snuggle up with her owners Mr & Mrs Watson when she gets scared at night! Yep - they have a pig sleeping in their bed. Of course, this leads to a bed collapse and has Mercy dashing off to save the day. Mercy is delightful and the coloured illustrations are perfectly whimsical. Mercy Watson books could almost be deemed the perfect new-reader books. 

Level: YK-1
Series: 7 in series 

Tempts children to read other series by Kate DiCamillo 

Bink & Gollie, 4 in series 

Tales from Deckawoo Drive (spin-off from the Mercy Watson series) 5 in series 

Three Rancheros (Y5-7) 5 in series 

What the experts say,  “Mercy Watson, a disarmingly charming pig adopted by a loving human family, makes her debut in this new series of chapter books for beginning readers.” --School Library Journal via Amazon.com.au 

Who let the dogs out?

 

The Bad Guys: Episode 1 

First in the Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey 

Published July 1st 2015 by Scholastic Australia 

Young readers may be familiar with Aussie Author Aaron Blabey’s Pig the Pug picture books. That same sense of kooky humour has transferred into these early reader chapter books featuring The Bad Guys - Misters Wolf, Snake, Piranha and Shark – each with a criminal rap sheet as long as a lollypop. Mr Wolf is a typical mobster, but he encourages the gang to become Good Guys. This, of course, leads them on a series of zany adventures starting with this quest to release 200 dogs out off the Maximum Security City Dog Pound. The graphic novel style of this series makes it a very easy read and it's a great one for reluctant readers. 

Level: K-2 

Number in series: 12 

Tempts kids to read other series by Aaron Blabey:
Pig the Pug, picture books/early readers 

 

What kids say, “Mum don’t give away those books I might read them again!” James, aged 13 and still loves The Bad Guys despite reading them in Y2. 

It’s a Weir, Weir World

 

Weir Do 

Book one in the Weir Do series 

by Anh Do, Jules Faber (Illustrator) 

Published October 1st 2013 by Scholastic Australia

Meet the Do family… They’re, kind of...well, they named their son Weir knowing their last name was Do. But his name is the least of Weir Do’s problems. Being the new kid at school is a major hurdle, add to that burning a hole in his undies on the first day, visits from his nutty Grandma Do, and the daily antics of his zany family, and you have a series that will leave kids and adults rolling with laughter. As Weir says in this first book, he was, "stuck with the worst name since Mrs. Face called her son Butt". Thank goodness he meets Henry and Bella, who’s interactions add to the hilarity of these graphic novels. If this doesn’t get kids hooked, it will hook their parents. Aussie humour at it’s best. 

Level: Y1-Y4 

Tempts children to read other series by Anh Do: 

Wolf Girl, 4 in series 

Ninja Kid, 6 in series 

Hot Dog!, Great for K-1 readers, 9 in series

Rise of the Mythix YA, 2 in series

What teachers say, “As a teacher, I often come across reluctant readers. The kids have all enjoyed this one though - great to find one that sparks ALL the kids interest! It's fun for the whole class to relate together as "Weirdo's"”. – Jane, via Goodreads

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Glitter, glitter everywhere! Or not.

 

The Naughtiest Unicorn 

Book one in the The Naughtiest Unicorn series 

by Pip Bird and David O’Connell (Illustrations) 

Published: September 1st 2019 by Egmont 

 

Getting into trouble is so much fun when you can blame your unicorn! Mira is finally off to Unicorn School, just like her big sister. She needs to travel through the magic portal, there are rainbows involved, and a bunch of new friends. There’s so much excitement! Until she meets Dave. He’s her new unicorn, and not quite the multicoloured, glittery princess she’s been expecting. Instead he’s obstinate, lazy, farts way too much and mostly, very naughty! 

This series has the magic of Harry Potter and the laughs of Wimpy Kid to hook young readers. The quirky black and white illustrations are also a bonus. 

Level: Y1-3 

Number in series: 7 

Tempts kids to read other series by Pip Bird: 

Super Cute, coming 2021

What teachers say: “The girls are drawn to this series they always love the covers too!” Ally, Y1 teacher