[SunshineRocket]

Hi Everyone!

My son is five and a half and while we've read every night since he was born, it's always been smaller story books. He would fight me if I tried to read a chapter book because of the lack of pictures and the fact that they take too long. Story time was getting frustrating for me because I was tired of reading the same books over and over.

One night, I decided to read to him from a book that I was currently reading (A "grown up" book but not inappropriate) and he loved it! He eagerly awaited the next installment. Since then, we've been reading the Magic Tree House series which he enjoys but I am getting bored with.

So.. I am here for some suggestions! What does your younger boys like that also is pretty interesting for an adult to read?

Thanks

 

[ollyoxenfree]

Some of these are simple, some have nicely illustrated versions, some are a little more challenging.......

Winnie the Pooh and similar books with short linked stories, rather than chapters, might work well.

The Wind in the Willows

Stuart Little

Charlotte's Web

Tumtum and Nutmeg

The Lighthouse Family books

Catwings

My Father's Dragon

Moomintroll books by Tova Janssen

Astrid Lindgren's books - Noisy Village series, Emil series, Pippi Longstocking

The Wizard of Oz

Freddy the Pig series

E. Nesbit books - The Enchanted Castle etc.

Edward Eager books - Half Magic etc.

Jeanne Birdsall's Penderwick family books

 

[mamazee]

I love so many of the books suggested by ollyoxenfree! I'd also add the Mouse in the Motorcycle books (there are 3 I think) from Beverly Cleary.

 

[Daffodil]

The above suggestions are great. Some others:

Ramona the Pest

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

The Boxcar Children

No Flying in the House

Did You Carry the Flag Today, Charley? - Rebecca Caudill

Happy Little Family - Rebecca Caudill

Toys Go Out - Emily Jenkins

Little House in the Big Woods

 

[ollyoxenfree]

Forgot to add

The Jungle Book

The Hobbit - DH must have first read this to DS when he was 5 or 6 y.o. and started him on a life-long love of LOTR. DS is 20 y.o. now and yesterday, I picked up a copy of The Silmarilion at a used books store and he and DD were both claiming it.

 

[pek64]

Here's a booklist for both now and later. I started being specific for boys, but threw in a few for girls, just in case someone is interested.

A Wizard at Work is fun. It's half a chapter book, and half a collection of short stories.

Pushcart War

There's a bunch of Little House books, some written by other authors, about preceding generations. If you skim through the sewing, etc, there's some good male characters.

The Egg and I

Cheaper by the Dozen

A Wrinkle in Time (best one for this age!)

A Wind in the Door (the youngest is dying and must be saved)
Many Waters (Noah's ark, so lots will die)
A Swiftly Tilting Planet (older theme -- possible nuclear war)

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

The Borrowers (not high on my son's list, but taste is personal)

Around the World in Eighty Days is a good story, but my son hated the original. You may want to try a version adapted for children.

The early Babysitters Club were good, though the later ones are less about starting a business and more about dating, makeup, etc.

The Boxcar Children (my son didn't care for this series, but you never know unless you try)

When older, Deltora Quest series, Spy X series, A to Z Mysteries, Hardy Boys, early Bionicles (Farshty) and all four by C.A.Hopka, Nancy Drew, On the Run and other series by Gordan Korman, and So You Want to be a Wizard.

The following can be read *to* your child, or you both may decide to let him read them himself, later.

Jigsaw Jones, Droon, Blast to the Past, Magic School Bus (chapter books), Encyclopedia Brown (short stories)

 

[Neera]

Many early chapter books come with pictures. We have one called Gilbert's Lost Tooth. V. cute.

The Fly Guy series

Amelia Bedelia

I like Keeker but dd hasn't yet liked them.

 

[Red Pajama]

There's a series that starts with "toys go out", which is the premise of toy story (your toys are busy while you are away and have their own lives) but is about stuffies rather than hard plastic action figures. It is fantastic. The others in the series are not as good, but I highly recommend Toys Go Out.

 

[SunshineRocket]

Thank you everyone for your replies! Our library was having their annual book sale over the weekend so I picked up literally BOXES of books. We started the Indian in the Cupboard tonight and he is so excited to continue on with it! I want my kiddies to grow up passionate about reading like me and my sister- we were always reading and I especially remember rainy days when we weren't forced to go outside and play, we'd lay on opposite ends of the sofa, our legs touching and just read for hours at a time. I am trying to bring that magic to my littles