Children's Book Rec for 5 Yr. Old Girl

[Ianthe]

A friend's Bday is coming up and I'm thinking about getting her a book, as she has a ton of toys and likely has all the classic books out there. Can anyone recommend a book for a 5 yr old girl?

[Daffodil]

Do you want a chapter book or a picture book? A book she can read to herself, or one her parents can read to her? How much do you know about what kind of books she likes?

If I were giving a chapter book to a 5 year old, I'd probably go with Comet in Moominland, the first in a wonderful series by Tove Jansson. I'd consider them classics, but they're not as well known as they should be. And they're totally appropriate for almost any kid - no violence, and nothing very sad or scary.

For picture books, I'm very fond of almost everything by Russell Hoban, and my kids are too. If I were giving a gift, I might go with How Tom Beat Captain Najork and His Hired Sportsmen or The Sea-Thing Child.

None of those books are particularly girly - in fact, the main characters are pretty much all male. That doesn't matter to my daughter, but I suppose it might to some 5 year old girls.

[Ianthe]

Originally Posted by Daffodil

Do you want a chapter book or a picture book? A book she can read to herself, or one her parents can read to her? How much do you know about what kind of books she likes?

A book that she can both read to herself and her parents can read to her.. I don't know what books she likes, but I know that her mom is a non-religious psychic, who does tarot and numerology and is also a yoga instructor... so maybe something like fantasy, fairies, mythology or something like that?

[Ianthe]

Originally Posted by Daffodil

If I were giving a chapter book to a 5 year old, I'd probably go with Comet in Moominland, the first in a wonderful series by Tove Jansson. I'd consider them classics, but they're not as well known as they should be. And they're totally appropriate for almost any kid - no violence, and nothing very sad or scary.

That book looks awesome!!!

ETA: I just looked at the Borders website (the only bookstore in my town) and they say they don't carry it in stores

[LuckyMommaToo]

What about How To Find Flower Fairies? Or Fairy Houses? Both would appeal to a 5 y.o. girl.
-e

[Daffodil]

It makes it a lot harder to get something good if it has to be something you can find at a Borders. Some other possibilities:

No Flying in the House
Igraine the Brave
The Witch Family
Half Magic

[Thalia the Muse]

I like those Michael Hague anthologies -- the Book of Fairies, the Book of Pirates, the Book of Dragons -- for gifts. The Book of Fairies is a stunner.

[zinemama]

Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie.

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Lights-Bu.../dp/0876144547

It's a really nice book about a girl in Maine who keeps the lighthouse going during a storm when her father is away and her mother is sick. My ds loved it when he was 5.