THE ARTHUR ADVENTURE SERIES

by Marc Tolon Brown
Before he was a PBS phenom, the amiable aardvark was the star of his own book series--fending off a pesky younger sister, playing baseball and having the kind of adventures young readers can identify with. Little Brown;
ages four to eight.
THE ARTHUR ADVENTURE SERIES

THE MAGIC TREE HOUSE SERIES

by Mary Pope Osborne
Popular with young readers, this series' tree house is stocked with magic books that whisk a boy and girl on exotic missions to save stories from being lost. Random House;
ages four to eight.
DINOSAURS BEFORE DARK (The Magic Tree House Series, Book One)

THE ENCHANTED FOREST CHRONICLES

by Patricia Wrede
Fleeing her impending marriage to a dull prince, a plucky princess lands a job as assistant to a dragon. Watch for the wry references to familiar fairy tales.
Harcourt Brace; ages four to eight.
DEALING WITH DRAGONS (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book One)

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA

by C. S. Lewis
In this seven-part series, four kids step through a magic wardrobe into a world ruled by an evil witch, protected by a wise lion, and rich with allegorical themes (for those who are looking). HarperCollins; ages nine to 12.
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA

THE RAMONA SERIES

by Beverly Cleary
Ramona Quimby is forever a lovable pest--infuriating older sister Beezus, exasperating teachers and humorously navigating the trials of growing up in this enduring chronicle of life in the 1950s and 1960s. Camelot; ages nine to 12.
THE RAMONA SERIES

THE REDWALL SERIES

by Brian Jacques
A bumbling young mouse takes on a maleficent one-eyed rat and kicks off a very popular nine-part epic, full of animals who speak in delightful accents and defend their peaceful Redwall Abbey.
Philomel; ages nine to 12.
REDWALL (Redwall Series, Book One)

TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING

by Judy Blume
A quarter-century later, kids still find the travails of Peter Hatcher, his two-year-old brother, Fudge, and neighbor Sheila ("the Cootie Queen") hilarious. Other titles in the series: SUPERFUDGE, FUDGE-A-MANIA and OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SHEILA THE GREAT. Yearling; ages nine to 12.
TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING

THE TIME WARP TRIO SERIES

by Jon Scieszka
Aimed at reluctant readers, this tongue-in-cheek action series zaps its protagonists back to ancient Egypt, forward to meet their great-grandchildren and anywhere else they can cleverly outwit folks of another era. Puffin; ages nine to 12.
KNIGHTS OF THE KITCHEN TABLE (Time Warp Trio Series, Book One)