Chapter books for 4.5 year old - ideas?

[MuesliMama]

I'm looking for any book recommendations you kind ladies might have for my 4.5 year old girl - specifically, chapter books that we can read together at bedtime, night after night. We finished Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little and are looking for similar books. I of course went to the library but found that a lot of the chapter books were just too scary (eg parents are dead, monsters are lurking, etc). I love old books but am open to new authors as well.

Any ideas? Thanks so much in advance!

BTW, I haven't been on MDC for ages, and it feels good to be back.

[Katielady]

My son and I started with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which he loved. It is maybe scary for some kids, with the strange "accidents" that happen to the children who visit the factory, but he was fine with it. We're now reading Little House in the Big Woods. Again, might not be for everyone- it has a lot of detailed descriptions of hunting and even of butchering animals. But it's a lovely book, and it's sparked some great discussions about how our lives are so different from the way people used to live.

Another one I remember my mom reading to me is Heidi.

The Trumpeter Swan is my favorite E. B. White book.

There's a whole series from the 1920s I think called Freddy the Pig- kind of like Winnie the Pooh. We listened to one as an audiobook and really liked it, so may check out the series soon for chapter book reading.

I'm so loving this phase! I like reading something new every night, and I like how the books are really opening up DS's imagination.

[Daffodil]

There are a lot of good books by Astrid Lindgren - Pippi Longstocking (and sequels), The Children of Noisy Village (and at least one other Noisy Village book), Emil in the Soup Tureen (and sequels). My kids both particularly loved Ronia the Robber's Daughter (and so did I), but it might be too scary for some kids.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a big hit here.

Some other possibilities:
My Father's Dragon (and the two sequels)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
the Catwings books
No Flying in the House
books by Dick King-Smith
Winnie-the-Pooh

[naupakamama]

Anything by Roald Dahl:
Matilda
James and the Giant Peach

Also:
Little House on the Prairie
Anne of Green Gables

[emaye_to_2]

I think we started with Charlotte's Web at around that age too. Then we read: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The Boxcar Children, Little House in the Big Woods.. almost finished The Hobbit.

[LuckyMommaToo]

I'll add:
-Cricket in Times Square
-Mr. Popper's Penguins
-Ramona the Pest
-The Mouse and the Motorcycle

Happy reading!
-e

[Elizabeth2008]

I highly recommend Pippi Longstocking as well as the other Pippi books (South Seas, Pippi On Board). Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is excellent. James and the Giant Peach is as well, however, you mentioned you didn't want anything too scary. It may be a bit harsh fo ra 4 year old as in the beginning Jame's aunts beat him and are very cruel to him.

Little House in the Big Woods is a great book for boys and girls. I would NOT recommend Little House on the Prairie for a 4 year old though. It is loaded with racism toward native Americans. At that age children haven't developed critical thinking and they would just internalize those messages.

[teenyxdoodlez]

Woohoo, Just the thread I was looking for! Me and my 4yr old are in the same funk!!

[cjam]

My kids (3 & 5) really enjoy the Tinkerbell series of chapter books. Right now we are reading Vidia and the Fairy Crown.

[geekgolightly]

All of the Roald Dahl books can be "scary," but my son LOVES them!

Lots of fantastic suggestions here. I'll add on...


The Magic Treehouse series is pretty ok if you like serial books.


Ones DS liked, and I did too, as a kid:

Romona Quimby, Age 8 (DS liked it, even though it was about a girl)
How to Eat Fried Worms
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (the scenes with fudge are hysterical)
Superfudge
Chocolate Fever
Freckle Juice
The Wizard of Oz

Ones we found that I never knew about and he likes:

Little Pear - Eleanor Frances Lattimore
The Book of Three - Lloyd Alexander (part of the Prydian Chronicles)
The Adventures of Captain Underpants - Dav Pilkey (lots of these books. SILLY!!)
Sideways Stories from the Wayside School - Louis Sachar (who wrote Holes, which we will read next)

DS also really enjoys the choose your own adventure books. They can be a bit of a pain to read, especially if you have to roll dice, but usually we just let him "win" the rolls to follow a storyline rather than have him lose a battle and start over. The ones where you just pick different leads are easier to read for grownups and DS liked them fine when he was your DS's age. AND they are super cheap at used bookstores and online.

[aikigypsy]

What about the Narnia series? I was older when I read it myself (7-8-9 or so) but I think my mother read it to both me and my little brother at the same time the first time around (he's 4 years younger than me).

I'd forgotten about Ramona Quimby -- thanks for reminding me!

[sapphire_chan]

Edward Eager, Half Magic, Time Garden, etc, which will lead into E. Nesbitt.

Dick King-Smith, Harry's Mad, Babe the Gallant Pig (BUT DO NOT WATCH THE MOVIE), Sophie, etc etc

Michael Bond, Paddington and Olga

[attached2ethan]

My 4.5 yo and 7 yo both love the Magic Treehouse books, but some of them might be a little vivid for younger kids- it depends on the child.

What a great thread though, I love some of the other ideas too!

[MuesliMama]

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, you smart ladies!


That's from my daughter to you!

[Daffodil]

Some other ideas:

Jenny and the Cat Club
All-of-a-Kind Family
Betsy-Tacy (Tacy's baby sister dies in one chapter - otherwise sweet and mild)
Did You Carry the Flag Today, Charley?

[titania8]

Subbing- 4.5 yo twins here, who are very much into books. Great thread!

[geekgolightly]

Also, the Junie B series is so fun. i read them for me, because DS isn't interested in girl stuff.

[kgianforti]

We are reading the Ralph S Mouse books:

http://www.amazon.com/Ralph-Mouse-Co...470654&sr=1-11

[Mother Cake]

Mary Poppins (the books) & anything by Beverly Cleary (way more than just Ramona Quimby Age 8--see this link).

Have you read Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne yet?

[pdxmomazon]

subbing. thanks for the great ideas!