35 Fiction and Nonfiction Books for National Arts in Education Week
September 15, 2020
What’s Your Story?: Tyrell Zimmerman Helps Parents Guide Black Kids Through Trauma With Children’s Book
September 22, 2020
Show all

National Literacy Month: Enjoy These 30 Book Series

National Literacy Month is about celebrating the joy of reading. Yes, joy is something that book lovers feel when discovering new authors or excitedly waiting on new releases from longtime favorites. It’s also a time to encourage less excited readers to explore various genres, as the saying goes, “Everyone is a reader… Some just haven’t found their favorite book yet.” This National Literacy Month, here are 30 book series that range from picture to young adult titles. Look out for these upcoming series’  first books, Rena Barron’s, Maya and the Rising Dark, Bunheads by Misty Copeland, and Varian Johnson’s middle-school, graphic novel Twins. If these and the 30 selections are not enough, this past article includes 27 more! We’d love to know your thoughts on our list, please leave a comment below.  Happy Reading! Our stories matter.



Picture Books  


Denene Millner

Fresh Princess

Fresh Princess: Style Rules! (#2) | Gladys Jose | HarperCollins | 2020 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop

Fresh Princess (#1) | Gladys Jose | HarperCollins | 2019 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop


Connie Schofield-Morrison

I Got…

I Got the School Spirit (#3) | Frank Morrison | Bloomsbury | 2020 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop

I Got the Christmas Spirit (#2) | Frank Morrison | Bloomsbury | 2018 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop

I Got the Rhythm (#1) | Frank Morrison | Bloomsbury | 2014 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop


Troy Andrews

Trombone Shorty

The 5 O’Clock Band | Bryan Collier | Harry N. Abrams |  2018 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop

Trombone Shorty | Bryan Collier | Harry N. Abrams |  2015 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop


Kwame Alexander

Acoustic Rooster

Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie Starring Indigo Blume  | Tim Bowers | 2020 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop 

Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band | Sleeping Bear Press | Tim Bowers | 2011 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop


Nathan Bryon

Rocket Says

Rocket Says Clean Up! (#2) | Dapo Adeola | 2020 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop

Rocket Says Look Up! (#1) | Dapo Adeola | Random House BYR | 2019 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop


Nadia L. Hohn

Malaika

Malaika’s Surprise | Irene Luxbacher | Groundwood Books | 2021 | PB | Amazon | IndieBound 

Malaika’s Winter Carnival | Irene Luxbacher | Groundwood Books | 2017 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop

Malaika’s Costume | Irene Luxbacher | Groundwood Books | 2016 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop



Chapter Books


Kelly Starling Lyons

Ty’s Travels

Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom! | Nina Mata | HarperCollins | 2020 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop  

Ty’s Travels: All Aboard! | Nina Mata | HarperCollins | 2020 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop  


Siman Nuurali 

Sadiq

Sadiq and the Explorers | Anjan Sarkar | Picture Window Books |  ChpBk | 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop  

Sadiq and the Perfect Play | Anjan Sarkar | Picture Window Books | ChpBk | 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop  

Sadiq and the Bridge Builders | Anjan Sarkar | Picture Window Books | ChpBk | 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop  

Sadiq and the Ramadan Gift | Anjan Sarkar | Picture Window Books | ChpBk | 2020| Amazon | Bookshop  


Monalisa DeGross

Donavan

Donavan’s Double Trouble | Amy June Bates | Amistad | 2007 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop

Donavan’s Word Jar | Cheryl Hanna | Amistad | 1994 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop


Theanne Griffith

The Magnificent Makers

Riding Sound Waves (#3)| Reggie Brown | Random House BYR | 2020 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop  

Brain Trouble (#2)| Reggie Brown | Random House BYR | 2020 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop  

How to Test a Friendship (#1) | Reggie Brown | Random House BYR 2020 | ChpBk |  Amazon | Bookshop 


Nikki Shannon Smith

Azaleah Lane

The Dramatic Life of Azaleah Lane | Gloria Felix | Picture Window Books | ChpBk | 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop  

The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane | Mari Lobo | Picture Window Book | 2020 | ChpBk  | Amazon | Bookshop  


Nikki Grimes

Dyamonde Daniel

Halfway to Perfect (#4) | R. Gregory Christie | Puffin| 2010 | ChpBk  | Amazon | Bookshop

Almost Zero ( #3) | R. Gregory Christie | Puffin| 2010 | ChpBk  | Amazon | Bookshop

Rich (#2) | R. Gregory Christie | Puffin| 2010 | ChpBk  | Amazon | Bookshop

Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel (#1) | R. Gregory Christie | Puffin| 2010 | ChpBk  | Amazon | Bookshop



Middle-Grade


Lesa Cline-Ransome

Finding Langston

Leaving Lymon (#2) | Holiday House | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop

Finding Langston (#1) | Holiday House | 2018 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop


Sundee T. Frazier

Cleo Edison Oliver

Cleo Edison Oliver in Persuasion Power (#2) | Arthur A. Levine Books | 2017 | MG | Amazon | IndieBound

Cleo Edison Oliver, Playground Millionaire (#1) | Arthur A. Levine Books | 2016 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop


Jerry Craft

Class Act | Quill Tree Books | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop

New Kid | Quill Tree Books | 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop


Denise Lewis Patrick 

Cecile (American Girl)

Cécile’s Gift (#3) | American Girl | 2011 | MG | Amazon | IndieBound

Troubles for Cecile (#2) | American Girl | 2011 | MG | Amazon | IndieBound

Meet Cecile (#1) | American Girl | 2011 | MG | Amazon | IndieBound


Kwame Mbalia 

Tristan Strong

Tristan Strong Destroys the World (#2) | Rick Riordan Presents | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop  

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky  (#1) | Rick Riordan Presents | 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop


Victoria Bond & T. R. Simon

Zora and Me

Zora and Me: The Summoner (#3) | Candlewick | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop 

The Cursed Ground (#2) | Candlewick | 2018 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop

Zora and Me (#1) | Candlewick | 2011 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop



Lamar Giles

Legendary Alston Boys

The Last Mirror on the Left (#2) | Dapo Adeola | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop 

The Last Last-Day-Of-Summer (#1) | Dapo Adeola | 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop


Fracaswell Hyman

Mango Delight

Summer in the City (#2) | Sterling Children’s Books | MG | 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop

Mango Delight (#1) | Sterling Children’s Books | MG | 2017 | Amazon | Bookshop


Rashad Jennings

The Coin Slot Chronicles

Arcade and the Dazzling Truth Detector (#4) | Zonderkidz | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop  

Arcade and the Fiery Metal Tester (#3) | Zonderkidz | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop

Arcade and the Golden Travel Guide (#2) | Zonderkidz | 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop

Arcade and the Triple T Token (#1) | Zonderkidz | 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop


Hope Anita Smith

CJ

Keeping the Night Watch (#2) | Hope Anita Smith | E. B. Lewis | Holt (BYR) | MG | 2008 | Amazon | Bookshop

The Way a Door Closes (#1) | Hope Anita Smith | Shane W. Evans | Holt (BYR) | MG | 2003 | Amazon | Bookshop


Craig Robinson & Adam Mansbach

Jake the Fake

Jake the Fake Keeps His Cool (#3) | Keith Knight | Crown BYR | MG | 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop

Jake the Fake Goes for Laughs (#2) | Keith Knight | Crown BYR | MG | 2019 | Amazon | Bookshop

Jake the Fake Keeps It Real (#1) | Keith Knight | Crown BYR | MG | 2017 | Amazon | Bookshop


Daniel José Older

Dactyl Hill Squad

Thunder Run (#3) | Scholastic Press | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop

Freedom Fire (#2) | Arthur A. Levine Books | 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop

Dactyl Hill Squad (#1) | Arthur A. Levine Books | 2018 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop



Young Adult


Justina Ireland

Dread Nation

Deathless Divide (#2) | Balzer + Bray | 2020| YA | Amazon | Bookshop  

Dread Nation (#1) | Balzer & Bray | 2019 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop  


Ashley Woodfolk 

Flyy Girls

Micah: The Good Girl | Penguin Workshop | 2020 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop  

Lux: The New Girl | Penguin Workshop | 2020 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop  


Nic Stone

Dear Martin

Dear Justyce (#2) | Crown BYR | 2020 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop  

Dear Martin (#1) | Crown BYR | 2017 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop


Tochi Onyebuchi

War Girls

Rebel Sisters (#2) |  Razorbill | 2020 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop 

War Girls (#1) | Razorbill | 2019 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop


Tomi Adeyemi

Legacy of Orisha

Children of Virtue and Vengeance (#2) | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) | 2019 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop

Children of Blood and Bone (#1) | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) | 2018 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop


L.L. McKinney

The Nightmare-Verse

A Crown So Cursed (#3) | Imprint | 2021 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop

A Dream So Dark (#2) | Imprint | 2019 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop

A Blade So Black (#1) | Imprint | 2018 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop


Amazon/Bookshop/IndieBound Disclosure: BCBA is a participant in the Amazon, Bookshop, and  IndieBound Affiliate Programs. The affiliate programs offer participants the opportunity to earn fees by linking books to their websites. Clicking on the book links will direct you away from bcbooksandauthors.com. Thanks for your support!

Comments are closed.