Sequels and Series for Young Readers

​Books in series are popular with readers of all ages. This column includes reviews of recently published books for young readers: first books in new series, some much anticipated sequels, and the latest books in episodic series that can be read in any order. These books will leave emergent and newly independent readers eagerly awaiting the release of the next book and reading—and rereading—earlier books in the series as well as seeking similar series.

​The Beginning (Orris and Timble #1). Kate DiCamillo. Illus. by Carmen Mok. (2024). Candlewick.
Orris the rat lives in solitude in a nest behind a hole in the wall of an abandoned barn with his treasures: a red velvet slipper, a marble, and an Imperial Sardine can with a portrait of a king and the words “Make the good and noble choice!!” One evening Orris hears a cry for help and cautiously approaches a young snow owl, Timble, who flew in through a window and got his foot caught in a mousetrap. While talking about “The Mouse and the Lion” fable and heeding the advice of the king pictured on his sardine can, Orris pries open the trap. Timble takes flight only to appear at the hole in the wall wanting to hear the end of the fable. This is not the end of the story of Orris and Timble, however, but rather the beginning. (PreK Up)

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​Chicken Little and the Very Long Race (The Real Chicken Little #3). Sam Wedelich. (2024). Scholastic.
On the title page of Sam Wedelich’s new picture book tale in cartoon format in the Real Chicken Little series, the cute, white-feathered chick wearing oversize, red glasses and snazzy red cowgirl boots expresses her reluctance to participate in a very long race. Seeing the bad influence Hare, the local record holder and self-promoter of Hop to It: Hare’s Guide to Running, is having on the flock’s training program, however, she decides to train for the upcoming marathon. On the day of the event, Chicken Little’s “SLOW AND STEADY” approach to the challenge of running a very long race has Hare, who stops to sign autographs for his fans, coming in second. On the final page, Chicken Little is pictured pondering what other challenges she could try. (PreK-Gr 2) 

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​Dog Gets a Pet (The Dog and Pony Show #1). Jeff Mack. (2024). Simon Spotlight.
Dog gets a pet as a surprise gift from Pony. Upon opening the box with holes in the sides after making some wild guesses about which animal he is getting, Dog is disappointed to see a rock and not the T. rex he really wanted. When Pony suggests that he will like his new pet rock more after giving it a name, Dog calls her Lulu—"Lulu the T. rex who likes to eat ponies.” After a day spent doing other things that Lulu likes to do, Pony says it is Lulu’s nap time. Once Pony reassures Dog that Lulu won’t eat him either, he says, “Pony, I love my new pet. Even if she is just a rock” and settles down for a nap with Lulu. We Are Up a Tree!, the second adventure of Dog and Pony in Jeff Mack’s new Level 1 Ready-to-Read Graphics book series, will be published in September. (PreK-Gr 2)

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​Duck Moves In! (Duck and Moose #1). Kirk Reedstrom. (2024). Disney Hyperion.
It is springtime when Duck, a new arrival to the forest, spies the perfect site for his new home—the space between the antlers on Moose’s head. “This will be my forever home. Hiya! I’m Duck.”  Exuberant, loquacious Duck’s nonstop chatter has Moose, who does not want to exchange his peace and quiet for “PEACE and QUACK” (the saying on Duck’s sampler), tries to relocate him with no success. When Duck throws a noisy housewarming party atop his head, Moose has had enough. “I said NO! You can’t live there, Duck! . . . because it’s my HEAD!!!” Duck departs and Moose is once again alone—or is he? Chapter 3, “Return of the Duck,” reveals a satisfying ending to this first book in Kirk Reedstrom’s humorous early graphic novel series. Moose Blasts Off! was published simultaneously; Duck in the Dark! will be released in December. (PreK-Gr 2)

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​Henry and the Something New (Henry #2). Jenn Bailey. Illus. by Mika Song. (2024). Chronicle.
Henry, a young neurodivergent child, is excited about Class Ten’s field trip to a museum but he is also a bit worried about getting there because he has never ridden on a bus. Henry listens as his teacher goes over the rules for the visit, but gets distracted when a huge, noisy bus drives up to the school door and doesn’t hear the third rule. At the museum, Henry responds to “What should we see next?” with a loud “DINOSAURS!” and his group does a special activity in the Bone Room and has a tour of Dinosaur Hall with a scientist. Mika Song’s expressive illustrations rendered in watercolor and ink complement this warm and gently humorous early chapter book in which, at the end of the day, Henry realizes that he actually followed Rule Number Three: Find something new. (PreK-Gr 2)

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​Hornbeam Gets It Done (The Hornbeam Books #2). Cynthia Rylant. Illus. by Arthur Howard. (2024). Beach Lane.
Cynthia Rylant and Arthur Howard offer young readers more humorous short stories in this second picture book in their new early reader series about a moose named Hornbeam and his friends. In “March Worries,” Eureka, his neighbor gander, comes up with a sensible solution to Hornbeam’s problem of protecting a little blueberry bush (as well as a lot of other things) in his yard from blowing away during the windy month of March. In “Food-Shopping,” a red-faced shopper helps Hornbeam and Cuddy, a bull, solve their problem of not getting past the yummy cupcakes at the baked goods counter right inside the front door to do their weekly Monday food-shopping: enjoy eating cupcakes and reading the newspaper on Monday mornings and put hot peppers in their mouths so they won’t want cupcakes and do the shopping on Tuesdays. In “Game Night,” Eureka hosts a monthly gathering of all the friends to play board games. “And no matter who won, everybody went home happy!”  (PreK Up)

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​Maisy Loves Trees (Maisy’s Planet #1). Lucy Cousins. (2024). Candlewick.
Preschoolers can explore and learn about trees with Maisy, Lucy Cousins’ beloved mouse character, in this first book in the new board book series Maisy’s Planet with Cousins’ signature style artwork featuring Maisy and her friends done in bright colors and outlined with thick black lines and a simple text. Basic information that answer questions such as “What is a tree?” and “Where do trees grow?” is paired with scenes clearly showing that Maisy loves trees. A final fold-out page shows Maisy and her friends Tallullah, a chick, and Cyril, a squirrel, at a park seeing trees from all over the world (cypress, traveller’s palm, baobab, monkey puzzle tree, and willow). “Trees are amazing. Maisy loves them all!”  Maisy Loves Bees was published simultaneously; Maisy Loves Water will be out in September. (PreS Up)

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​Pete the Kitty and the Three Bears (Pete the Kitty #7). Kimberly Dean & James Dean. Illus. by James Dean. (2024). Harper.
“Once upon a time . . .” Pete the Kitty saw the empty house of the three bears while walking in the woods. No one was at home. Kimberly and James Dean give the Goldilocks tale an update as Pete the Kitty enters, eats Baby Bear’s just right pizza, plays and breaks a string on his just right guitar, and takes a nap in his just right bed. When Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear return home, they see what Pete has done and discover him still in Baby Bear’s bed. Here is where the Deans’ plot takes a big twist from the classic tale as Pete feels bad about his behavior and says he is sorry. “Everyone makes mistakes.” says Mama Bear; “We forgive you, Pete,” says Papa Bear; “Let’s be friends,” says Baby Bear. (PreK-Gr 2) 

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​Stink and Webster Go to Mars (Judy Moody and Friends #15). Megan McDonald. Illus. by Erwin Madrid. (2024). Candlewick.
Stink is planning his first-ever sleepover with his best friend, Webster. Judy, of course, is ready to advise him on the sleepover rules: 1. Have a theme, 2. Have an activity, 3. Have snacks, and 4. Don’t sleep. Webster’s arrival in his outer-space pajamas sets the theme, a trip to Mars. The boys convert Stink’s race-car bed into a spaceship, Sleep Rover SW1 (S for Stink, W for Webster, and 1 for their first sleepover). “Blastoff time!” The text, peppered with aerospace terminology, describes their activities including a spacewalk and an encounter with a Martian; the colorful digital illustrations show that their adventurous journey to the red planet actually takes place in Stink’s bedroom. Ignoring Judy’s “You cannot sleep” rule, the two tired Mars-o-nauts fall asleep after planning a sleepover trip to Venus for the next weekend.  (PreK-Gr 2) 

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​Vacation: Three-and-a-Half Stories (Bat, Cat & Rat #2). Ame Dyckman. Illus. by Mark Teague. (2024). Beach Lane.
The trio of unlikely friends who moved in together in The Cozy Home (2024) is now ready for a vacation. In story #1 “Working,” they do odd jobs to refill their Vacation Jar—but not without some mischief. In story #2 “Choosing,” they must decide on a destination. Bat suggests outer space, Cat suggests the spa, and Rat suggests the buffet. When the time comes to choose on the count of three, “OUTER SPACE!” says Bat and “THE SPA!” says Cat. “EEK! says Rat. In story #2-and-a-half “Bickering,” Cat and Bat continue their squabble, and Rat leaves the house pulling a wagon with the Vacation Jar in it. In Story #3 “Vacationing,” Rat returns and interrupts Bat and Cat’s bickering and shouts, “EXCUSE ME! We don’t need a destination!” He has a telescope for Bat’s outer space choice, a lounge chair and cucumber slices for Cat’s spa choice, and a variety of snacks for his own buffet choice. “Their cozy home had everything they needed for THE BEST vacation!” (PreK-Gr 2)

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Carolyn Angus is former Director of the George G. Stone Center for Children’s Books, Claremont Graduate University, in Claremont, California.