With Autumn upon us, and the nights drawing in, surely now is the time to get your kids cosily curled up with a book. Or two. Or preferably, a whole series, to keep them busy until Spring. With this in mind, we’ve cherry-picked a few, for discerning young minds.

Darren Shan is a major player in teen fiction, and the author of several acclaimed series. My 13-year-old son declares his absolute favourite to be The Saga of Darren Shan, which runs to a whopping twelve books. Darren and his friend Steve, find themselves drawn into the lurid world of the vampire. When it transpires that Steve is unfortunately possessed of evil blood, events take a turn for the surreal, culminating in ‘…the madness of the blood-drenched night.’ The author constructs his vampire world with imagination and a macabre flourish.

Those looking for something slightly more sedate, should take a look at the Geek Girl series, by Holly Smale. Running to six titles, don’t be put off by the mini chick-lit type book covers. Harriet’s brain is filled with random facts. She knows, for example, that one teaspoon of a neutron star weighs billions of tonnes. To her schoolmates, Harriet is officially a laughable geek. So when she is unexpectedly talent spotted by a modelling agency, Harriet seizes the chance to glamorously reinvent herself. Smart, funny, and very popular with teenage girls.

The 91-Storey Treehouse is the seventh book in a joyously silly series for 5-8 year olds. A combination of text and cartoon, it tells the story of Andy and Terry, and their daft antics, living in the most fabulous treehouse in the world. A treehouse with a lemonade fountain, man-eating shark tank, and secret underground laboratory! Fun, and easy going for reluctant readers.

Please click on our Young Readers section for further inspiration. Remember, a good book series buys time for the clueless parent!