• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Baby + Toddler (0-2)
  • Pre-K (3-5)
  • Beginning Readers (6-7)
  • Growing Readers (7-9)
  • Tweens (10-12)
Happily Ever Elephants
Happily Ever Elephants

Happily Ever Elephants

The Best Kids Books Found Here!

  • Home
  • Book Lists
  • Kids Book Clubs
  • Spring Books!
  • About
  • Home
  • Baby + Toddler (0-2)
  • Pre-K (3-5)
  • Beginning Readers (6-7)
  • Growing Readers (7-9)
  • Tweens (10-12)
Books by Theme » Funny » Dory Fantasmagory is the Perfect Series for New Readers

Dory Fantasmagory is the Perfect Series for New Readers

By Lauren Bercuson ·  Published: Nov 3, 2016 ·  Modified: Nov 1, 2022 ·  This post may contain affiliate links

The Dory Fantasmagory series by Abby Hanlon is easily one of my favorite easy chapter books for newly independent readers. I hand the first book to every one of my students when they are ready to move on from beginning readers to the next step. Check it out!

The cover of Dory Fantasmagory.
Table of Contents:
  1. What makes the Dory Fantasmagory series a favorite for growing readers?
  2. Kids fall in love with Dory Fantasmagory from the first page
  3. Dory hits all the marks for new readers

What makes the Dory Fantasmagory series a favorite for growing readers?

There’s nothing I love more than a kid with a big imagination… except for a great book with characters who inspire and encourage kids to use that imagination and get creative. And when those characters are hilarious to boot, even better.

So is the case with the Dory Fantasmagory series, written and illustrated by Abby Hanlon. Dory is without a doubt one of my favorite fictional characters, making this series a favorite for newly independent readers and even for family read-alouds. And for those of you who know me, you know that’s a bold statement. But Dory! Oh, my heart.

Happily Ever Elephants participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.

Check out Dory Fantasmagory at these links!

Kids fall in love with Dory Fantasmagory from the first page

Dory Fantastmagory is an easy chapter book series your kids will fall in love with from the very first page!

Dory Fantasmagory tells the story of a young girl named Dory, called “Rascal” by her family, who desperately seeks the attention of her older brother and sister.  Because her siblings think she is too babyish and typically refuse to play with her, Dory creates an imaginary friend, a monster called Mary, who puts up with Dory’s relentless array of questions.

The first page of Dory Fantasmagory.

When Dory’s antics get a bit out of control, her siblings take matters into their own hands. The two tell Dory about an evil woman named Mrs. Gobble Gracker who is known for robbing baby girls, and she is allegedly on the lookout for dear Dory. What ensues when Dory’s imagination spirals out of control as she attempts to disguise herself and trick the demonic Mrs. Gobble Gracker? Total and utter hilarity.

It takes a lot to get me giggling while I read, but almost right from the start, Dory Fantasmagory made me laugh out loud over and over again.

This story – and all of the other books in the Dory Fantasmagory series – is sheer perfection for those of you with little ones graduating from early readers and eager to begin their first “real” books, as they so frequently say to me in the library. It is a fan favorite among my students.

The first four books in the Dory Fantasmagory series.

RELATED: Looking for more books I love for newly independent readers? Check out our post all about Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey, as well as our lists of easy chapter books and the best books for 7-year olds!

Dory hits all the marks for new readers

The Dory Fantasmagory series offers newly independent readers an easy chapter book with a perfect blend of text and illustrations, A+ pacing, plot, and tone. As if that is not enough, each story incorporates great vocabulary words, and they never stray from their mission of fully engaging readers in Dory’s hilarious antics.

Put simply, Hanlon never remotely forgets the audience for whom she is writing.

Dory is one of those fully imagined characters that Hanlon nails- she leaps off the page, practically feeding you laughing gas due to how quickly and frequently she elicits giggles from readers. She is a character that sticks with you long after the book has ended.

The Dory Fantasmagory series, my friends, is an absolute must. If you are looking for a chapter book for your newly independent readers, you must grab the Dory Fantasmagory series first. What a gem!

Check out Dory Fantasmagory at these links!

RELATED: We’ve got more than 100 children’s book lists on Happily Ever Elephants. Be sure to check out this link!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

6-7

« Previous PostBefore Morning, by Joyce Sidman
Next Post »Picture Books About Friendship: BE A FRIEND & its Message of Inclusiveness!

OTHER POSTS YOU MAY LIKE:

  • easy chapter books for first graders

    6-7

    The Best Easy Chapter Books for 1st Graders!
  • 6-7

    Wishtree, by Katherine Applegate
  • 6-7

    Top Ten Picture Books

Never Miss a Happily Ever Elephants Newsletter!

Join our community and discover 28 Unforgettable Books to Make Storytime Magical and Meaningful.

Thank you for subscribing!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Happily Ever Elephants!

Lauren

Hi! I’m Lauren. I’m a boy mom, former attorney, current elementary school librarian, and moderator of book clubs for kids around the country. My goal is to make storytime with your children both magical and meaningful. Welcome! LEARN MORE 

AS FEATURED IN

Good Housekeeping

Spring Books!

15+ Cute Bunny Books for Kids!

The Best Easter Books for Toddlers

15 Sweet Children’s Books About Flowers

10+ Children’s Books About Rain

SEE ALL SPRING BOOKS

Popular Posts

kindergarten-read-alouds

These Kindergarten Read Alouds Will Wow Kids!

The covers of 9 of the best books for 10 year olds.

The Best Books for 10-Year-Olds To Excite Your Kids!

The cover of Gossie with some rubber ducks, a great book for 2 year olds.

The Best Books for 2-Year-Olds Your Reader Will Love!

beginning-reader-books

The Ultimate List of the Best Books for Beginning Readers!

JOIN OUR BOOK CLUB

Browse by Age

BABY + TODDLER (0-2)
PRE-K (3-5)
BEGINNING READER (6-7)
GROWING READER (7-9)
TWEENS (10-12)
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Join 70k+ Instagram Followers

Find even more great book recommendations with the @happily.ever.elephants Instagram community!
Join more than 70k+ parents for more tips, recommendations and reviews.

Footer

Don’t miss a single book.

Join our community and discover 28 Unforgettable Books to Make Storytime Magical and Meaningful.

Thank you for subscribing!

Buy the Books

The best virtual book clubs for kids. Why read alone when we can read together?

JOIN NOW!
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 ·  Happily Ever Elephants LLC ·  Review Policies & Disclosures ·  Accessibility ·  Website by Anchored Design

0 shares