Books for Kids Who Love the Magic Treehouse Series

On a dark and stormy night, three little girls— Rita, Peggy, and Dot– mistakenly uncover a secret society of some of the most famous female spies in history. Before long, the girls team up with the experienced spies and begin to solve “real” mysteries of their own. While fictional, the books feature real women who worked as spies throughout history. The series is heavily illustrated, making it perfect for young chapter book readers who love solving mysteries.

The Timekeepers are a secret group of kids tasked with keeping history on track—especially when a villain named DeLay tries to cause chaos. When their special watches start spinning backward, it’s up to them to fix the timeline. Over the course of the six-book series, the Timekeepers travel to locations like the ancient Greek Olympics, the 1889 World’s Fair, and the Edo period in Japan. We loved how the books explore a unique variety of time periods and places, while also letting the characters meet famous historical figures like Nikola Tesla and the Wright brothers.

In The Fantastic Frame series, ten-year-old Tiger Brooks and his neighbor Luna Lopez discover a magical golden frame that transports them into famous paintings by artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Hopper, and Henri Rousseau. Once inside, the friends must face challenges within the art and find their way back before time runs out. Blending art history, fantasy, and adventure, this series offers a fun and educational way to introduce kids to classic works of art. Readers will also love the overarching mystery woven into each book of the series.

When a mysterious camper van appears on their driveway, twins Finn and Molly Parker uncover its magical ability to transport them to different places across the United States. Each book in this series highlights a different state– Colorado, New York, Texas, and California. Fans of Magic Tree House will love how the twins must solve a problem or help others before they are able to return home. Each Magic on the Map book features a map of the United States, a detailed map, and fascinating facts about the state that Molly and Finn visited. My own kids enjoyed this short series!

Hoot, an impulsive owlet from the future, and Bentley, a rule-abiding kid from the present, don’t quite belong in their own times. When they accidentally press a mysterious button, they’re catapulted on a wild time-travel adventure through ancient Egypt, the Wild West, and the Renaissance! Kids will love the behind-the-scenes look at how the characters were drawn, plus the Timely Truths that humorously correct the author’s artistic liberties.

In this chapter book series, eight-year-old twins Ethan and Ella travel with their journalist parents to destinations around the world. In each location, the twins find a mystery to solve. I loved how the story seamlessly weaves in geography, history, and different cultures, allowing young readers to learn without feeling like they’re being taught. The font is larger, and there are plenty of illustrations in each book, making it perfect for beginning chapter book readers. If you like it, you can buy the boxed set.

George’s Secret Key to the Universe is a science-filled adventure series co-written by revolutionary physicist Stephen Hawking, his daughter Lucy Hawking, and later, physicist Christophe Galfard. The series follows George, a curious boy who teams up with scientist Eric, his daughter Annie, and a supercomputer named Cosmos. Together, they journey through space and learn all about the universe. By blending fictional space adventures with real science, this series makes complex topics like black holes, planets, and the Big Bang feel fun and approachable for curious young readers. If you like this book, you can buy the boxed set.

Becca, Zack, Cam, and Thomas may seem like an unlikely group of friends, but they share a serious passion for history! As members of their school’s history club, they have an important mission: to stop the villainous History Twister from destroying the past and changing the future forever. Packed with action and adventure, kids will love the graphic novel format of this first book in the History Club series.

In this series, Abby and her little brother Jonah discover a magical mirror in the basement of their new home in Smithville. They discover that the mirror can transport them into fairytales, but their arrival usually alters the original story. Eventually, Abby and Jonah realize that their interference might actually mean a happier ending for the characters in each story. Whatever After was originally published in 2013 and consists of 17 books and three Super editions, with more on the way in 2025! The storylines provide a unique spin on the classic stories, and Abby and Jonah are funny, likable characters. My daughter and I often listen to these books on Audible, and I know we’ll both be sad when the series ends. Highly recommend!

Cleo and Evan are classmates who stumble upon a hidden library in their school filled with magical books that transport readers into their story. The kids quickly discover that their school librarian has disappeared inside one of the books and they hunt for the keys to rescue her. This series is perfect for kids who love suspense and fast-paced action. Each book explores a different genre–mystery, fantasy, historical fiction–but Battle of the Bots seems particularly timely, as Cleo and Evan must stop an evil computer network from taking over the world.

This complete collection of The Magic Faraway Tree series follows three children—Jo, Bessie, and Fanny—who discover a magical tree that leads to different enchanted lands. Each adventure takes them to a new world, like the Land of Dreams or the Land of Goodies, where they explore, meet quirky characters, and face exciting (not scary!) challenges. Written by Enid Blyton, these books were originally published in the 1940s and have become a beloved classic–I read this to my children after we finished the Magic Treehouse series, and they loved these books as much as more contemporary stories. Get the boxed set.

The History Smashers series is a fun and fact-filled collection of historical books aimed at young readers, designed to bust myths and reveal the real stories behind key moments in history. In this installment of the History Smashers series, Kate Messner takes readers on a journey through one of the most important and secretive chapters in American history—the efforts to help enslaved African Americans escape to freedom in the North. Although this book is nonfiction, the author uses a fresh perspective to transport readers to important historical events.

Ranger in Time follows a young Golden Retriever named Ranger. He’s a lovable search-and-rescue dog who’s eager to help but struggles to stay focused during training—especially when squirrels are around! One day, Ranger discovers a mysterious first aid kit in the garden. This magical kit transports him to different historical periods, where he must help children in need before returning home. My son absolutely adored this series! We ended up buying each book individually, but the boxed set would make a perfect gift for any young reader.

In The Flashback Four: The Hamilton-Burr Duel, four risk-taking friends travel back in time to 1804 to record the infamous duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. Once in Weehawken, New Jersey, they face a tough decision: should they document the tragic event or try to change history? With real photographs and a mix of fact and fiction, this book offers a fun, fresh take on one of America’s most famous rivalries.

After their parents’ divorce, twins Maisie and Felix move with their mom from New York City to an old family home in Rhode Island. The siblings are not excited about their new life…until they discover a secret room that transports them back in time to different historical periods. Throughout the series, the twins meet notable figures such as Clara Barton, Alexander Hamilton, and Crazy Horse. With a mix of adventure, mystery, and history, this 10-book series offers kids who enjoyed the Magic Treehouse to learn even more about the past.

Twins Pew and Basket Church live in an isolated orphanage, longing to escape their miserable lives and uncover the truth about their missing parents. They’ve always known they were different, but they’re shocked to discover they can time travel. Armed with mysterious clues and a magical talisman, the twins embark on a thrilling quest to uncover their family’s secrets and outwit time’s greatest villain. This adventure is perfect for older readers ages eight and up, ready for a more complex, action-packed story.

In the first book of this exciting adventure series, April, her brother Toad, and their friend Henry watch as their professor father is sucked into a magical book. To rescue him, they must travel through history! Each book in the series transports kids to a different U.S. state, blending history, time travel, and adventure. Our family’s favorite is the Colorado book, but the series also takes readers to Florida, Michigan, Massachusetts, and South Carolina.

When your adventurous grandmother, Dolores, leaves you and your family in charge of her Time Travel Inn in rural Wisconsin, you move from Florida with hopes of uncovering secrets about the inn and your grandmother’s mysterious disappearance. But you quickly discover the inn is a hub for time travel research that’s gone horribly wrong. Written in second person, this series lets readers make the choices, making them feel as if they’re living the adventure. The “Choose Your Own Adventure” format is perfect for reluctant readers, giving them control over the story and keeping them engaged.

Liam Chapman just bought a real, working time machine for only $3! It’s labeled “World’s Worst Time Machine,” but Liam’s sure that’s an exaggeration… until he realizes it’s definitely not. Now Liam and his friend Elsa get thrown into one disaster after another, bouncing through history with no control. Now, he must figure out how to fix the machine and avoid getting stuck in the past forever. This heavily illustrated book is perfect for readers who love graphic novels but might feel intimidated by a more traditional format.

When Chase and his sister Ava discover a mysterious suitcase filled with strange objects, each item they touch sends them jumping through time. From King Arthur’s castle to King Tut’s tomb, and even into the future with flying cars and robots, each new journey challenges the siblings to complete a new mission.  This action-packed early chapter book series is perfect for newly independent readers, with engaging plots, likable characters, and cliffhangers that will keep kids wanting more.