Indigo, the world’s first cultural department store, invites gift-givers to be ‘the hero’ this holiday with its premiere list of the top book series that kids love. From toddlers to teens - and everyone in between - there is a series for everyone! Plus, series are great tools to encourage early readers to continue discovering where stories lead, allowing them to develop their imaginations and become voracious adult readers.
1. That’s Not My... by Fiona Watt (for ages 0 to 2). Babies and toddlers will love touching the textured patches throughout the books in the internationally bestselling series That’s Not My... by Fiona Watt. The bright pictures and textures are designed to help children develop sensory and language awareness. What’s more, a little white mouse appears on every page for children to spot. New are That’s Not My Bee and That’s Not My Llama.
2. Pop Classics by Kim Smith (for ages 3 to 5). What do you get when you combine classic pop movies with picture books? Pop Classics! This genius idea comes to us from Calgary-based author and illustrator Kim Smith as she takes classic pop movies and turns them into amazing visual stories perfect for young children (and those born in the ‘80s!). Pop Classics include Home Alone, The X-Files: Earth Children are Weird, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and her newest release, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
3. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey (for ages 5 to 8). It’s Dog Man, the crime-biting canine who is part dog, part man, and all hero! With loads of illustrations, this hilarious comic series is perfect for new readers and keeps them howling with laughter. Dog Man 5: Lord of the Fleas is available now and look for Dog Man 6: Brawl of the Wild releasing on December 24 as the perfect last-minute gift. This Indigo- Exclusive Edition even features a special Dog Man Poster!
4. The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale (for ages 6 to 8). Prim and perfect by day, Superhero by night! Brought to you by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, this action-packed and totally hilarious chapter book follows the adventures of Princess Magnolia. With fun illustrations throughout, the series is perfect for kids to read on their own or for families to read aloud together.
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (for ages 8 to 12). This series is still going strong after 13 books, because everyone knows what it feels like to be the main character Greg Heffley sometimes. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is funny, highly illustrated, and a great series for keeping a reluctant reader laughing their way to the end of the book. The latest book in the series, The Meltdown, is a great gift idea for the pre-teen in your life.
6. Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi (for ages 9 to 12). Amulet is an incredible graphic novel series from the visionary Kazu Kibuishi. The series is a fantastic adventure, a family saga, and an amazing story that has fans on the edges of their seats waiting for the release of the next book Amulet: Supernova.
7. Rick Riordan Presents (for ages 9 to 12). Rick Riordan, who brought us Percy Jackson and Magnus Chase and introduced a new generation of kids to Greek mythology in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, returns with an awesome new series. Presenting fantasy novels by diverse authors, Riordan highlights adventures inspired by mythology from around the world. Check out Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi and the latest release The Storm Runner by J.C. Cerventes, based on Mayan myths.
8. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (for ages 9+). Originally published between 1997 and 2007, J.K. Rowling’s award-winning Harry Potter novels have sold more than 450 million copies and translated into 78 languages. To bring Harry Potter to the next generation of readers, new editions feature beautiful illustrations by Jim Kay, with huge appeal. Pass the magic on!
9. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (for ages 14+). Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, one of the most popular young adult high fantasy novel series, follows the journey of Celaena Sardothien, a teenage assassin in a corrupted kingdom with a tyrannical ruler. As the tale progresses, Celaena forms unexpected bonds and uncovers a conspiracy amidst her adventures. The series reaches its conclusion with its seventh book, Kingdom of Ash.
10. The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare (ages 15+). Emma and Julian struggle with the one rule that rules their lives: don’t break the sacred bond and fall in love with your parabatai (pair of warriors who fight together as lifelong partners, bound together by oath). Set in the world of the Shadowhunters, also a Netflix TV show, The Dark Artifices trilogy will reach its conclusion with Queen of Air and Darkness, available December 4.
BONUS! Robert Munsch (for ages 3 to 5). While not a series, Robert Munsch’s books are amazing for reading aloud - especially with family over the holidays. From The Enormous Suitcase to Andrew’s Loose Tooth, Munsch’s heartwarming and hilarious stories are beloved by children, parents, and teachers alike. Plus, with a new book coming every Fall, there is always something fresh and fun to add to bookshelves like his latest release, Moving Day!
Indigo is the world’s first Cultural Department Store - a physical and digital gathering place inspired by and filled with books, music, art, ideas, beautifully-designed lifestyle products, and the creative people behind the experience. As an organization dedicated to literacy, Indigo founded the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation to address the underfunding of public elementary school libraries. To learn more about the Foundation, visit loveofreading.org. To stay in the loop, visit indigo.ca and follow @chaptersindigo.
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