In Praise of Dog Man and Other Gateway Books for Children
by Laura Lambert
For a lot of parents, there’s a clear moment in a child’s literary life — the time when reading was a challenge or a chore and then the moment after, when reading for reading’s sake becomes a thing. That moment is often triggered by what I’ve come to call the gateway book. (Okay, fine, I wasn’t the first).
For my son, the gateway book was Dog Man. A first grade friend hopped into the backseat of my car for a playdate and pulled Dog Man out of his backpack. My son was enthralled as his friend sounded his way through it. “Dog Man is go. That don’t make no sense. But we like it.” They cackled. I heard that phrase for days. It was the first book my son ever begged me to buy. It was the first series he tore through. And now we’re eagerly, impatiently awaiting the release of Dog Man #5.
But — like a good gateway drug — it didn’t stop there. We’re on to another Dav Pilkey series — Ricky Ricotta, and I’m pretty sure Captain Underpants is next. The fire has caught on. I keep looking at him and thinking, “Oh, kiddo, this is your brain on books.”
Gateway books can’t be predicted. And they come when they come, not on some pre-set schedule of precisely midway through kindergarten. I asked a smattering of parents about their experiences with gateway books and there were some common themes, familiar titles, and much-beloved authors in their answers. May you find your gateway book somewhere among these suggestions.
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Harry Potter Series
This one comes as no surprise. For the slightly older child, Harry Potter is often the first serious book they read on their own.
Says Ryan M., of his oldest son, Harry Potter was the real breakthrough: “We read them all together starting in first grade. As he emerged as a reader he still needed me to read Harry Potter to him — until he took the last two books away from me at the end of second grade and plowed through them.” For Pascha S., a mother of twins, Harry Potter helped turn on her less voracious reader. Back in second grade, her family was traveling and saw a Facebook post of their classmates all dressed up as Harry Potter characters for Halloween. “She grabbed [her twin’s] newly finished Sorcerer's Stone and started reading it right then and there. It was a defining moment and now she reads several grade levels above and both of them read two to three books a week!”
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Junie B. Jones Series
Available from:A surprising (to me at least) entry on the list of commonly banned books, Junie B. Jones has been criticized for its protagonist’s use of “funnest,” “beautifuller,” and other grammatical errors. But she is no less beloved — probably not in spite of but because of it. Says Lisa K., of her daughter, “She loved and related to the character’s voice.” Boys are into her, too. Says Stephanie G., “He loved how funny the stories were.” Now, she adds, “He has his nose in a book constantly.”
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Elephant & Piggie Series (and basically anything else by Mo Willems)
Available from:“It was like that pigeon flipped the switch for her,” says Jennifer M., of her then-kindergarten daughter. And she’s not alone. For a wide range of girls and boys, the warmth and humor of Willems writing and characters are what draw them in and turn them on. “Elephant and Piggie all the way!” says Chrissy G., a mother of two.
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Encyclopedia Brown Series
Available from:Sometimes, it’s the genre. For Marimelle P., Encyclopedia Brown got her daughter into mysteries and she now loves the Nancy Drew series, Agatha Christie adaptations for kids, and American Girl Mysteries.
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The 39 Clues Series
Around second grade, Megan H.’s daughter found The 39 Clues. “It was the mystery, mental stimulation aspect of it that got her.” And, appropriately, Nancy Drew was up next.
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Mercy Watson Series
Available from:“So readable for kids who are afraid there are too many words on the page,” says Marija T. of author Kate DiCamillo and illustrator Chris Van Dusen’s series about a pig with a big personality.
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The Owl Diaries Series
This sweet series is aimed at newly independent readers. “The Owl Diaries is when my daughter's reading really took off,” says Darcy Z. She bought several titles for her now 7-year-old at a book fair last fall. “Within a few days she devoured all three books. The larger font size made it easier to read and less overwhelming than typical chapter books. There are cute illustrations throughout which also made them an excellent transition from picture books to chapter books. They are also written in a journal style, which seemed to draw her into the characters more.”
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Magic Tree House Series
Available from:Early readers love a series and the Magic Tree House books really deliver. Jack and Annie travel to faraway lands and distant times and the adventures can work for kids of any gender. Particularly popular for the younger set.
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The 13 Story Treehouse Series
This ever-evolving series, with book #8 in the wings, has earned kudos for what The New York Times calls the author’s “wacky, offbeat edge — and ability to push the boundaries of good taste.” And there’s the feeling that anything could happen, which kids find inspiring. “It’s like an Aladdin’s cave of ideas, and new stories and plots just keep coming,” Andy Griffiths told Publishers Weekly.
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Who Was? Series
For kids who simply don’t embrace fiction, this diverse and wide-ranging set of biographies are a reliable bet.
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Percy Jackson Series
Available from:The teen-centric, slangy style of the Percy Jackson series is just the thing for slightly older readers. For Ellen F., the graphic novel version was the key. “My 8-year-old has ADHD and dyslexia and that was life-changing!” And the series tends to keep kids engaged over the long haul. Says Kim J., “Harry Potter who?”
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Fly Guy Series
For a beginning reader, the repetitive words in the Fly Guy series can really help build confidence. And the ick-factor makes it a surefire hit.
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The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series
As Sally B. says, “Wimpy Kid was the first book [my son] wanted to read late into the night,” which is the hallmark of any good gateway book.
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Babymouse Series
Available from:This charming series of graphic novels entertains growing readers with its relatable protagonist, plot points, and humor. Plus, there are 20 installments in the series so once kids get hooked, they’ll have plenty to explore.
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The Land of Stories Series
Catherine O. says, “Although my son has always loved reading and being read to, The Land of Stories series sealed the deal. Binge-reading became a thing because of those books!”
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Just about anything by Roald Dahl
Available from:For my oldest child, learning to read wasn’t necessarily a struggle, but it wasn’t really fun until Roald Dahl, and a particularly passionate teacher, came along. The BFG and Matilda are still on her bookshelves, as she heads off to middle school.
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What was your child’s gateway book? Let us know in the comments below!