Books for a five year old boy?

[mama*pisces]

Chapter books, maybe? He doesn't read yet, but we are working on it.

[ollyoxenfree]

Are these books to read together? 

I would offer a mix - 

- poetry - eg. Shel Silverstein, Dennis Lee

- mythology, legends, fables - eg. D'aulaires' Greek Myths, D'aulaires' Norse myths, Aesop - all classics

- non-fiction - eg. Ripley's Believe it or Not (often has gross stuff, so you may want to scan it first), Guiness Book of World Records (likewise), The New Way Things Work, DK Eyewitness Guides....

The reading level for these books is much higher than early chapter books, but there are lots of photos or illustrations. Before they were fluent readers, my kids were often tempted by these books and tried to figure out some of the text that went along with the illustrations

- fiction - some popular early readers:

- Harold and the Purple Crayon 

- Geronomo Stilton series

- My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

 - books by Arnold Lobel (Frog and Toad, Owl at Home etc.), 

 - Catwings series by Ursula K. LeGuin 

[MamaJenese]

My son loves the Magic TreeHouse series.

[SweetSilver]

These are picture books, but we loooved "The Dangerous Snake and Reptile Club" and "Space Station Mars" etc, by Daniel San-Souci.  So fun and funny.  Not just for boys, either.  This recommendation comes straight from a house with 2 little girls in it.  Excellent, excellent.  I'll keep thinking!

Edited to add:  I started reading "The Hobbit" to my oldest daughter about this time.  We've read it 3 times since.  If he's a good listener, it would be perfect.  I think I started the first "Harry Potter" and "Lion, Witch...Wardrobe" about that time too.  "Pippi Longstocking" is fabulous for boys and girls. "Farmer Boy" is great.  We've read it once through but read chapters here and there.  And depending on your stomach for crude humor, the Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III series (starting with "How to Train Your Dragon") is an absolute hoot for parent and child-- very funny and adventurous.

[Daffodil]

Pippi Longstocking is a good choice, and so are some other Astrid Lindgren books: Emil in the Soup Tureen (and sequels), The Children of Noisy Village, The Children on Troublemaker Street, and (for a kid who doesn't mind a little scariness) Ronia the Robber's Daughter.

Other ideas:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

James and the Giant Peach

books by Dick King-Smith

Toys Go Out

Ramona the Pest

The Mouse and the Motorcycle

Comet in Moominland (and other Moomin books)

[SweetSilver]

Misty of Chincoteague.  Especially a recent addition that has the big, original illustrations throughout.

[rubyjune]

I would have to second The My Fathers Dragon.

Mine also like the E Nesbit books as read alouds at that age. The Five Children and It being the top of the list.

[mizzoh]

Another vote here for the Magic Treehouse series

[NicaG]

We love Dav Pilkey around here--I read the Captain Underpants books out loud to him at age 5, and now he's 6 and reading the Ricky Ricotta series on his own.  Captain Underpants can get a little...potty humorish....but it's very funny and kids love it.

Another vote for Magic Treehouse.

[mama*pisces]

Thank you all!! Those sound great...I will definitely have to narrow that list down greatly, but thanks for the wide variety of ideas.

[SweetSilver]

I thought of this thread today when I reserved some old favorites from the library:  C. W. Anderson's Billy and Blaze stories, especially "Blaze and Thunderbolt".  They have pictures on every page, but are longer than a typical picture book.  Most are from the '50's, though the original story "Billy and Blaze" is from the 30's.  Excellent stories of a boy and his pony.  We love them, again and again!