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Quick answer: If you love Owl Diaries, read Rebecca Elliott's Unicorn Diaries, then The Princess in Black, Isadora Moon, Dragon Masters and Magic Tree House. All are short, illustrated chapter books for children who like cute characters and gentle adventure.
Rebecca Elliott's Owl Diaries follow Eva Wingdale, a young owl who writes about school, friends and family in her diary. The books are colourful, funny and ideal for children just moving into chapter books. The books below offer similar short chapters, friendly animals and bright pictures.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unicorn Diaries: Bo's Magical New Friend | Rebecca Elliott | Ages 5-8 | more Elliott |
| Dragon Masters: Rise of the Earth Dragon | Tracey West | Ages 6-9 | dragon adventure |
| The Princess in Black | Shannon Hale and Dean Hale | Ages 5-8 | secret hero |
| Isadora Moon Goes to School | Harriet Muncaster | Ages 5-8 | half fairy |
| Dinosaurs Before Dark | Mary Pope Osborne | Ages 6-9 | time travel |
| Mercy Watson to the Rescue | Kate DiCamillo | Ages 5-8 | a pig and toast |
| Dory Fantasmagory | Abby Hanlon | Ages 5-8 | imagination |
| Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret | Wanda Coven | Ages 6-9 | magic school |
| Ruby the Red Fairy | Daisy Meadows | Ages 5-8 | fairy series |
| The Emerald Berries | Poppy Green | Ages 5-8 | woodland friends |
| Zoey and Sassafras: Dragons and Marshmallows | Asia Citro | Ages 5-8 | science and animals |
| Bad Kitty | Nick Bruel | Ages 5-9 | silly cat |
| Babymouse: Queen of the World | Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm | Ages 6-10 | graphic novel |
| Mia Mayhem Is a Superhero! | Kara West | Ages 5-8 | superhero school |
| Fancy Nancy | Jane O'Connor | Ages 4-8 | fancy fun |
1. Unicorn Diaries: Bo's Magical New Friend by Rebecca Elliott
A young unicorn discovers a magical friend. Same diary format and charm.
Best for: more Elliott.
2. Dragon Masters: Rise of the Earth Dragon by Tracey West
A boy is chosen to train a dragon. Short and action-filled.
Best for: dragon adventure.
3. The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
A princess fights monsters in secret. Funny and fast.
Best for: secret hero.
4. Isadora Moon Goes to School by Harriet Muncaster
A girl who is half fairy and half vampire starts school. Sweet and pretty.
Best for: half fairy.
5. Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne
Jack and Annie travel to the age of dinosaurs. The first Magic Tree House book.
Best for: time travel.
6. Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
A pig loves buttered toast and saves the day. Gentle humour.
Best for: a pig and toast.
7. Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon
Dory invents monsters to get attention. Lively and silly.
Best for: imagination.
8. Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret by Wanda Coven
Heidi discovers she is a witch. Short and magical.
Best for: magic school.
9. Ruby the Red Fairy by Daisy Meadows
Two girls help a fairy recover her stolen magic. A huge series for young readers.
Best for: fairy series.
10. The Emerald Berries by Poppy Green
Sophie Mouse explores her forest home. Gentle, cosy and sweet.
Best for: woodland friends.
11. Zoey and Sassafras: Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro
Zoey uses science to help magical creatures with her cat Sassafras. Warm and funny.
Best for: science and animals.
12. Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel
A cat behaves badly in alphabetical order. Silly and quick.
Best for: silly cat.
13. Babymouse: Queen of the World by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
A daydreaming mouse wants to be popular. Funny and fast.
Best for: graphic novel.
14. Mia Mayhem Is a Superhero! by Kara West
Mia learns how to use her powers. Short and exciting.
Best for: superhero school.
15. Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor
Nancy loves fancy words and fancy things. Colourful and cheerful.
Best for: fancy fun.
How to Choose
For more diary-style stories try Unicorn Diaries. For fantasy choose Isadora Moon, The Princess in Black or Dragon Masters. For gentle adventure pick Magic Tree House or Sophie Mouse. For funny animals read Mercy Watson and Bad Kitty. For reluctant readers Babymouse and other graphic novels can help. Short chapters and big illustrations make them suitable for early readers. Some of these series are very long, which is useful if your child finds a favourite and wants to keep reading. Many early-reader series come with free classroom or library resources, and some publishers provide printable activity sheets. If your child loves the diary format, encourage them to start their own, since writing and drawing alongside reading boosts confidence. Look at the first book in each series to see which one clicks.
Related: 15 Books Like A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder You’ll Love: Teen Mysteries and Twisty Thrillers · What Age Is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Owl Diaries about?
Eva, a young owl, writes about her days at school and her friends in a diary.
Who wrote it?
Rebecca Elliott.
What age is it for?
Roughly ages 5 to 8.
Is it a chapter book?
Yes, a short, illustrated one.
How many books are there?
Many. Check current listings for the latest count.
Is it part of a larger series?
Yes, it is published under the Branches imprint for early readers.
Are the books good for reluctant readers?
Yes, the pictures and short chapters help.
What should I read next?
Try Unicorn Diaries or Isadora Moon.
Are Owl Diaries good for girls only?
No. The stories feature a young owl and suit any child who likes cute animals and friendship.
Do the books have activities?
Many include diary pages and drawings that encourage children to draw and write.