Your 8-year-old is in a perfect place in their reading journey to explore worlds beyond their own. Whether they’re into nonfiction, fantasy, or graphic novels, an engrossing book series is the perfect way to keep your child hooked on reading.
As plots thicken, characters become more complex, and new situations arise, your child will sharpen their reading comprehension and increase their reading level.
The Best Series for 8-Year-Olds
Wings of Fire: This exciting series is about a group of young dragons learning the ropes of magic. As these dragonets navigate a war amongst various dragon tribes, your child will learn how to take their destiny into their own hands.
Captain Underpants: Full of hilarious antics and practical jokes, George and Harold are two friends with limitless imaginations. The book series begins when these two fourth graders create their own comic book with a superhero named Captain Underpants. Adventures and mayhem ensure when their comic-book superhero springs to life!
Upside Down Magic: In Dunwiddle Magic School’s Upside-Down Magic class, magic can turn a little bit wonky at the worst possible moments. The series follows four misfit students as they navigate an unconventional class with unpredictable students, and learn along the way that being different isn't so bad after all. A wonderful series for readers who love magical worlds and great adventures.
I Survived: In this historical fiction series, readers meet children their own age who have lived through some of history’s most trying times, like the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and the Revolutionary War. Through the eyes of their peers, children will learn what it took for each character to count on their own strength to pull through.
The Baby-Sitters Club Graphix: The graphic novel version of the popular series from the 80s rejoins Kristy, Stacey, Mary Ann, Dawn, and Claudia as they navigate responsibility and the complex dynamics of friendship. Readers will relate to the girls’ challenges and triumphs through engaging storylines and illustrations.
Magic Tree House: A treehouse full of magic books transports siblings Jack and Annie back through time on various adventures. Together, they encounter the likes of dinosaurs, knights, mummies, and more! Along the way, readers will absorb some truly compelling historical facts.
Harry Potter: In this beloved series, readers join Harry and his friends at Hogwarts, the prestigious school of witchcraft and wizardry, and their exciting — and oftentimes, dangerous — adventures to overcome evil. September 2023, officially marks the 25th anniversary of the U.S. publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Even after all these years, the series is still casting a spell over readers of all ages.
Whatever After: Each book in this New York Times bestselling series is a fresh modern spin on a classic fairytale. It follows siblings Abby and Jonah whose magic mirror transports them into stories like Little Mermaid or Snow White. With each adventure, the plot fails to unfold as planned and as the fairy tale shifts, hilarity ensues.
Goosebumps: This nostalgic, spooky series by R.L. Stine still captures kids’ imaginations today. Fans of scary stories will love immersing themselves in this series, which is full of colorful characters like Slappy (the haunted ventriloquist dummy), zombies, and ghosts.
Shop more series for 8-year-olds below. Plus, explore our Scholastic Parents book lists to discover the best children's books by age, interest, and more! You can find all books and activities at The Scholastic Store.
