Best Books Like Magic Tree House

Table of Contents

• Quick Comparison
• The Campground Kids: Best Pick
• Merlin Missions: Stay in the Magic Tree House World
• Geronimo Stilton: For Humor & Heavy Illustration
• The Boxcar Children: Classic Mystery
• A to Z Mysteries: Short & Structured
• So Which One Should You Actually Pick?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Magic Tree House is one of the most beloved chapter book series ever written. Over 30 books, made for ages 6–9, and with a reading level (Lexile 240L–530L), it’s built for kids just becoming independent readers. 

But that reading level is why so many parents end up searching for what comes after it. A series with a similar spirit that grows with their reader.

Below is a useful list including one honest recommendation for kids who are ready to step up a level, not just more of the same.

Quick Comparison

The Campground Kids: Best Pick

If your kid has outgrown Magic Tree House's reading level, The Campground Kids is the strongest next step. 

It's a growing book mystery series for ages 8–12 that trades MTH's fantasy time-travel premise for real U.S. national parks and Great Lakes, with cousins Isaiah, Sadie, and Ethan solving a real mystery in every book instead of just exploring a new time period.

The reading level jump is real and intentional. The Campground Kids sits at 620L–720L, above MTH's 240L–530L range, so it's built for a reader who's ready for more plot complexity and a longer story, not just a same-level replacement. 

It's AR-approved, holds a 4.8/5 rating across 172+ reviews, and like Magic Tree House, gives kids a full series to read rather than a single book to finish and abandon.

Why it works as a "what's next" pick specifically

Both series share the same core structure that makes MTH work so well. A consistent cast, a new setting every book, short chapters, and a hook that keeps a reluctant reader turning pages. 

The Campground Kids just does it with real mystery-solving stakes instead of time travel, which tends to land well with kids who are ready to feel like they're reading a "bigger kid" book.

If You Want to Stay in the Magic Tree House World: Merlin Missions

Before looking elsewhere, it's worth knowing Magic Tree House already has a built-in "next step": the Merlin Missions, a 29-book spinoff following the same Jack and Annie on longer, slightly more advanced adventures for ages 7–10. 

If your kid loves the characters and isn't ready to leave them behind, this is the most seamless option. 

Geronimo Stilton: For Humor & Heavy Illustration

Geronimo Stilton follows a nervous mouse newspaper editor who keeps getting dragged into wild adventures by his family. 

At Lexile 590L–730L for ages 7–10, it's a fair step up from MTH, and its colorful, illustration-heavy format (closer to a graphic novel) makes it a great pick for a reader who needs visual variety to stay engaged. 

With 80+ books in the main series alone, it also solves the "how do I keep them reading" problem for a long time.

The Boxcar Children: Classic Mystery, Similar Warmth

The Boxcar Children follows four orphaned siblings who make a home in an abandoned boxcar and solve gentle, wholesome mysteries along the way. 

At Lexile 580L for ages 7–10, it sits close to Magic Tree House's level while shifting from fantasy/time-travel into real-world mystery. 

This is a nice bridge if your kid isn't quite ready for Campground Kids' higher reading level but wants more of a "solve it yourself" plot than MTH offers.

A to Z Mysteries: Short, Structured, & Easy to Collect

A to Z Mysteries follows three kids through 26 short mystery books, one for each letter of the alphabet. 

At Lexile 510L–610L for ages 6–9, it's nearly a direct reading-level match for Magic Tree House, which makes it one of the safest "more of the same, but mystery-flavored" picks on this list. 

The built-in alphabet structure also gives kids a natural way to track their progress and stay motivated to finish the set.

So Which One Should You Actually Pick?

• My kid finished MTH and reads at roughly the same level, just wants more books →  A to Z Mysteries, The Boxcar Children, or Merlin Missions, are the closest matches.

• My kid is bored with MTH's reading level and needs something harder → The Campground Kids is the biggest, most deliberate step up on this list.

• My kid needs pictures to stay engaged → Geronimo Stilton

• My kid wants mystery specifically, not time travel →  The Boxcar Children, A to Z Mysteries, or The Campground Kids all deliver that. The Campground Kids is the pick if they're ready for higher stakes and a higher reading level.

Want to Help Your Reader Level Up to a Modern-Day Magic Tree House Series?

Give your reader a new series to get excited about, with real-world mysteries, outdoor adventures, and stories built for the next stage of reading.

Explore The Campground Kids collection →

Frequently Asked Questions About MTH Swaps

Is The Campground Kids similar to Magic Tree House? 

They share the same core format: a consistent cast, a new setting every book, and short, accessible chapters. But, The Campground Kids is written for an older reader (ages 8–12 vs. MTH's 6–9) with a mystery-driven plot instead of time travel.

What reading level is Magic Tree House compared to other series? 

Magic Tree House sits at Lexile 240L–530L. For comparison, A to Z Mysteries runs 510L–610L, The Boxcar Children sits around 580L, Geronimo Stilton runs 590L–730L, and The Campground Kids runs 620L–720L.

My child loved Magic Tree House but is bored with the reading level now, what do I do? 

That's the clearest sign to move to a series with a higher Lexile range rather than just more of the same books at the same level. The Campground Kids is built for this transition.

Is The Campground Kids AR-approved like Magic Tree House? 

Yes, The Campground Kids is AR-approved across the series, which makes it easy to slot into the same school reading programs many kids are already using with Magic Tree House.