Children's Literature in the Reading Program —
Abstract of

Chapter 6
Series Books for Young Readers: Seeking Reading Pleasure and Developing Reading Competence

Anne McGill-Franzen

Series books have been around for at least a century, and in this chapter McGill-Franzen describes why series books have endured and what about them gives readers pleasure and develops their reading skills. Both the reassurance of familiar characters and structure and the feeling of belonging to a community of like-minded readers support novice readers and keep them reading. Contrary to what many educators may think, series books lead novice readers into more challenging reading, according to accounts by avid readers. Because series books engage readers, they spend more time reading, and in doing so, increase word recognition, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. Many of today's best-selling series span a range of reading levels, thereby making them available to teachers who wish to use them for author or character study in a diverse classroom.

McGill-Franzen, A. (2009). Series Books for Young Readers: Seeking Reading Pleasure and Developing Reading Competence. In D.A. Wooten, & B.E. Cullinan (Eds.), Children's Literature in the Reading Program (pp. 57-65). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.