Books On Board
series Reading Order

Carver Chronicles Books in Order

6 Books
2013 – 2018 Published
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Reading order
01
Dog Days
Dog Days
2013
Amazon
02
Skateboard Party
Skateboard Party
2014
Amazon
03
Don't Feed the Geckos!
Don't Feed the Geckos!
2015
Amazon
04
Trouble Next Door
Trouble Next Door
2016
Amazon
05
The New Kid
The New Kid
2017
Amazon
06
Pizza Party
Pizza Party
2018
Amazon

How to Read the Carver Chronicles

The best way to read the Carver Chronicles is in publication order. While each book is a standalone story focusing on a different student at Carver Elementary School, reading them in order allows young readers to see familiar characters pop up in the background and watch the classroom dynamics develop naturally.

The Carver Chronicles in Publication Order

  1. Dog Days (2013) – Gavin moves to a new neighborhood and tries to fit in while dealing with a yappy Pomeranian as punishment for a broken snow globe.
  2. Skateboard Party (2014) – Richard is excited about a classmate's birthday party at a skate park, but his unfinished homework threatens his weekend plans.
  3. Don't Feed the Geckos! (2015) – Carlos is frustrated when his cousin Bernardo visits and starts interfering with his beloved pet geckos.
  4. Trouble Next Door (2016) – Calvin deals with a difficult science fair project and is dismayed when a school bully moves in next door.
  5. The New Kid (2017) – Gavin returns as the protagonist when a new classmate named Khufu arrives, leading Gavin to suspect he might have stolen his bike.
  6. Pizza Party (2018) – Richard's class is on the verge of earning a pizza party for good behavior until a strict substitute teacher takes over.

Chronological Caveats and Overlaps

Since the stories occur around the same school year and center on the same third-grade classroom (Ms. Shelby-Ortiz’s class), they can technically be read in any order without losing track of a central plot. The series shifts perspectives to give different kids their time in the spotlight, so no heavy continuity binds the books together. However, minor details like Gavin's friendship with Richard build over time, which makes publication order the most satisfying route.

The Shared Carver Elementary Universe

Before launching the Carver Chronicles, Karen English wrote the acclaimed Nikki and Deja series. These books are set in the exact same Carver Elementary School and act as companion stories. Nikki and Deja themselves make occasional cameo appearances in the Carver Chronicles, and both series share the same illustrator, Laura Freeman. If your reader loves Carver Elementary, they should definitely check out the companion series.

Nikki and Deja Series (Companion Books)

  • Nikki and Deja (2007)
  • Birthday Blues (2009)
  • The Newsy News Newsletter (2010)
  • Election Madness (2011)
  • Wedding Drama (2012)
  • Substitute Trouble (2013)

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Carver Chronicles?

You should start with Dog Days, the first book in the series. While the books are standalone stories and can be read in any order, starting at the beginning introduces the classroom setting and characters best.

QAre the Carver Chronicles and the Nikki and Deja series connected?

Yes. Both series are written by Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman, and set at the same fictional Carver Elementary School. Characters from both series make minor crossover appearances in each other's books.

QWhat reading level are the Carver Chronicles books?

The series is designed for early chapter book readers, typically ages 6 to 9 (grades 1 to 4). With short chapters and illustrations, they serve as an excellent bridge from picture books.

QIs there a specific main character in the Carver Chronicles?

No, the series features a rotating cast of diverse protagonists, giving different students in Ms. Shelby-Ortiz's third-grade class their own spotlight.

QHow many books are in the Carver Chronicles?

There are six books in the Carver Chronicles series, published between 2013 and 2018.

QWho illustrated the Carver Chronicles?

The books are illustrated by the Coretta Scott King Honoree Laura Freeman, who also illustrated the companion Nikki and Deja series.