Series books feature recurring themes pertinent to the average child. These themes can be weighty, like identity, fear or parental divorce, or they can be uplifting, like self-esteem, friendship and bravery. In an essay for "Education Review," Kathleen Sullivan Brown writes that death is a recurring theme in the "Harry Potter" series, which addresses the common fear of a child losing his parents.
Because they get to know the protagonist well reading through a series of books, children often identify with the main character's physical, mental and emotional struggles. Aaron Mead, on the website Children's Books and Reviews, claims nearly any child with a sibling can relate to sisters Ramona and Beezus in Beverly Cleary's series "Ramona." According to Reading Is Fundamental Inc., reading series books fosters this connection between children and characters.
Series books are open-ended to allow further plot development, so children are motivated to read the next book to see what happens. Both Scholastic and GreatSchools Inc. suggest parents and educators use children's series books to encourage reluctant readers.