Branching Out Archives < BooksForTopics

Princess Minna: The Enchanted Forest

Chapter book

Princess Minna loves to sort out mix-ups and mishaps in the kingdom! In this full-colour, illustrated chapter book, join her on a funny, exciting adventure to wake a sleeping prince and much more – all in time for tea.

Princess Minna lives in Castle Tall-Towers with the King and Queen, Raymond the Wizard and her best dragon friend, Lorenzo. There are often mix-ups and mishaps in the kingdom and Princess Minna loves to sort them out!

She can tame unicorns, kiss frogs and fight dragons (apart from Lorenzo) and she is very good at fixing things before it’s time for bed.

In The Enchanted Forest, Princess Minna has to wake a sleeping prince before nightfall. But along the way, she finds a swan, an old lady and a very fluffy sheep – all of them in a fix! Can she help them and still reach the prince before sundown?

Full of colourful illustrations, these short, funny stories are perfect for readers just moving on from picture books and visual readers.

Branching Out: Books for Fans of Murder Most Unladylike

If you like Murder Most Unladylike, try these…

The Murder Most Unladylike books form a series of children’s murder mystery novels written by Robin Stevens. Popular with children aged 9-12, the stories follow the adventures of two schoolgirls who set up their own detective agency.

Fans of the Murder Most Unladylike series enjoy the stories’ unfolding mysteries told through Hazel’s witty case notes. Readers also love the fast-paced plots with clever twists, the character-centred drama and also the 1930s boarding school setting. The stories deal with important themes like friendship, diversity, loyalty and social class against the backdrop of the murder investigations. Additionally, many children enjoy the collectibility of the series with their rainbow-hued covers and sprayed edges.

We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of Murder Most Unladylike. Readers who want to get their hands on more murder-mystery style stories could try the Violet Veil Mysteries or equally one of Fleur Hitchcock’s atmostpheric murder stories like Murder at Twilight. Those looking for another boarding school drama to get stuck into might enjoy Malory Towers or Emily Lime: Librarian Detective. If you’re looking for a strong female sleuthing duo to fill the void left by Daisy and Hazel, we think you’ll love Lori and Max or Sophie and Lil in The Clockwork Sparrow. Finally, for children looking for a new suspenseful series to start collecting, we recommend Mysteries on Trains (starting with The Highland Falcon Thief) or the book-lovers’ fantasy world of Pages & Co – both of which are strong favourites among children who like to read through a series.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for more books like Murder Most Unladylike…

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Branching Out: Books for Fans of Dog Man

If you like Dog Man, try these…

The Dog Man books form a wildly popular children’s book series written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey. The series features a half-dog, half-human police officer who fights crime and saves the day in the city.

Written in a graphic novel format with comic-style illustrations and speech bubbles, these books are popular with children aged 6-9. The series has become known for hooking children into reading through visual humour and wacky storylines. Each story in the Dog Man series is told through several short chapters, and the books can be read in any order.

It’s no surprise that the series is so popular, but many teachers and parents ask us for what to read next after Dog Man. We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of Dog Man. Readers who love getting silly with the absurd humour and wacky plots of the Dog Man books could also try the Bunny Vs Monkey books or Max and the MidKnights. – or if a dash of irreverence is what’s in demand then try Grimwood. Those looking for a good streak of save-the-day action as well as crime-busting adventure in their books might enjoy Kitty Quest or Real Pigeons Fight Crime. For children who love Dog Man’s graphic novel format, we suggest trying Mr Wolf’s Class or The Investigators. Also, for more graphic novel ideas check out our primary school Graphic Novel Booklists.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for more books like Dog Man…

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Branching Out: Books for Fans of Lottie Brooks

If you like Lottie Brooks, try these…

The Lottie Brooks books by Katie Kirby are hugely popular with preteen readers. This hilarious illustrated series explores the daily ups and downs of growing up, including facing puberty, navigating friendships, dealing with first crushes and all of the embarrassing moments that come with handling school and family life.

Many readers of the Lottie Brooks series enjoy the laugh-out-humour, the funny doodle-style illustrations and the true-to-life themes covered in the story. Lottie is a relatable character who resonates particularly well with girls in the 9-12 age bracket.

We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of Lottie Brooks. Readers who love stories about real-life themes of family and friendships could try Ella on the Outside or Invisible Emmie. Those looking for another preteen illustrated diary series like Lottie Brooks might like the easy-to-read Accidental Diary of B.U.G or the humorous gentle fantasy series Diary of an Accidental Witch. For children who enjoyed the compelling first-person voice of Lottie Brooks’ narrative and her positive energy in the face of the everyday challenges of life, we recommend Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novel Smile or the Front Desk series – both of which are popular favourites among the 9-12 age group.

Browse the full list below of stories for children looking for more books like Lottie Brooks…

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Branching Out: Books for Fans of Bunny vs Monkey

If you’re looking for books like Bunny vs Monkey, try these…

The Bunny Vs Monkey series by Jamie Smart has become a popular favourite with children. The stories started as part of the Phoenix Comic and have now been made into a book series of their own. Teachers in the BooksForTopics community have told us what a big hit these funny graphic novels have been in the classroom and the books have also seen success in bestseller lists and book award shortlists.

Readers enjoy the whacky tales of Bunny and his friends Weenie the Squirrel, Pig (the pig), Action Beaver and Skunky the Inventor, who all lived a peaceful life in the forest until Monkey’s rocket crash-landed and he decided to take over. What follows is a riot of chaotic adventures and mayhem that unfolds through a funny comic strip format.

We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of Bunny vs Monkey. Readers who love the graphic novel format could try the Investigators books or the action-packed Mega Robot Bros books. Those looking for a new animal-led whacky adventure to read after the Bunny Vs Monkey books might enjoy Kitty Quest or Grimwood. For children who like a high image-to-text ratio, we recommend trying the 13 Storey Treehouse series or Real Pigeons Fight Crime – both of which are tried-and-tested hits with fans of Jamie Smart.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for more books like Bunny vs Monkey…

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Branching Out: Books for Fans of Isadora Moon

If you like Isadora Moon, try these…

The Isadora Moon books by Harriet Muncaster are widely popular with young readers just taking the leap into independent chapter books. With easy-to-read text and stylish two-tone illustrations, this short, illustrated series hits the sweet spot as a first chapter book collection for many children in the 5-8 age bracket, with a growing number of magical adventures in the series.

We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of Isadora Moon. Readers who love the magical adventures of the Isadora Moon books could try Midnight Magic or the Princess Mirror-Belle collection. Those looking for new stories featuring fairies or unicorns might enjoy Aziza’s Secret Fairy Door or The Naughtiest Unicorn. For children who want more very short chapter books similar in length and style to Isadora Moon, we recommend the super-cool Kitty series or Ballet Bunnies, and for those looking for more chapter books with colour illustrations, we suggest trying Princess Minna or Unipiggle next.

Browse the full list below of stories for children looking for more books like Isadora Moon…

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Max and the Midknights

Chapter book

Join Max’s quest to become a knight in this laugh-out-loud New York Times bestselling adventure!

Max wants to be a knight – too bad that dream is about as likely as finding a friendly dragon. But when Max’s uncle Budrick is kidnapped by the cruel King Gastley, Max has to act . . . and fast! Joined by a band of brave adventurers – the Midknights – Max sets out on a thrilling quest: to save uncle Budrick and restore the realm of Byjovia to its former glory!

There’s a Beast in the Basement!

Chapter book

Chaos and mayhem reign as Izzy and her friends take on another hilarious (mis)adventure. There’s no such thing as an ordinary day at school when they’re around… Izzy and her friends overhear their head teacher talking about “missing treasure” and “running out of time”. They know this means there’s TREASURE buried in the school somewhere and that Mr Graves wants it all for himself. So Jodi says they’ve got to find it first, and they should start by searching the staffroom. After seeing things they will never forget, they head to the basement. Gary Petrie’s dad is working down there and he’s seen something SHINY! So they send Zach’s cat down with a camera strapped to her head and study the footage carefully. What they see is SHOCKING and CHANGES EVERYTHING. It’s not treasure in the basement, it’s a BEAST with SHINING EYES and it’s coming to get them! RUN!!!

Agatha Oddly: The Secret Key

Chapter book

Meet thirteen-year-old Agatha Oddly – a bold, determined heroine, and the star of a stylish new detective series.

Agatha Oddlow has been a detective for as long as she can remember – she’s just been waiting for her first big case. And nothing gets bigger than saving the City of London from some strange goings-on.

With a scholarship to the prestigious St Regis School, a cottage in the middle of Hyde Park, a room full of beloved sleuthing novels, and a secret key that gives her access to a whole hidden side of London, Agatha is perfectly poised to solve the mystery of what’s going on. But just who can she trust when no one is quite who they seem…

A Girl Called Justice: Book 1

Chapter book

Missing maids, suspicious teachers and a snow storm to die for… For a fearless girl called Justice Jones, super-smart super-sleuth, it’s just the start of a spine-tingling first term at Highbury House Boarding School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk. For fans of Robin Stevens, Katherine Woodfine and Enid Blyton.

When Justice’s mother dies, her father packs her off to Highbury House Boarding School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk. He’s a barrister – specialising in murder trials – and he’s just too busy to look after her alone.

Having previously been home-schooled, the transition is a shock. Can it really be the case that blondes rule the corridors? Are all uniforms such a charming shade of brown? And do schools normally hide dangerous secrets about the murder of a chamber maid?

Justice takes it upon herself to uncover the truth. (Mainly about the murder, but perhaps she can figure out her new nemesis – the angelic Rose – at the same time.) But when a storm cuts the school off from the real world, the body count starts to rise and Justice realises she’ll need help from her new friends if she’s going to find the killer before it’s too late …

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Reading For Pleasure: Branching Out

Princess Minna: The Enchanted Forest

Branching Out: Books for Fans of Murder Most Unladylike

If you like Murder Most Unladylike, try these…