[Hazelnut]

Just curious. My son just turned four, and we have mostly been reading shorter, younger books (think Richard Scarry and Dr. Seuss). But a thread on reading Little House on the Prairie wrt all it's thorny issues got me wondering about what books I might try to read to him, chapter by chapter.<br><br>
Any suggestions? All I can remember enjoying at a young age is Charlotte's Web. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment">

 

[mavery]

My ds really loves the Magic Treehouse series. I don't think they're exactly fabulous literature, but they're fun.<br><br>
We read all kinds of other stuff -- lots of kids' nonfiction science and history, plenty of stuff with good photos and drawings, but for "chapter books" the Magic Treehouse is a definite favourite.<br><br>
I remember liking My Father's Dragon at this age, I think.

 

[Strong Mama]

My son likes the frog and toads..little bears, those kind of books. small chapters, but same characters.

 

[velochic]

At three, dd was still wanting books with lots of pictures. Around 4, she started liking the "still illustration intensive" books that are around grade 2 level. The only example I can think of off the top of my head is Geronimo Stilton.<br><br>
She turned 5 in Feb. We've read Little House. We've talked about social issues. We've read the Boxcar Children, Magic Treehouse series, Encyclopedia Brown, Mr. Penguins Poppers (most recently), a couple of Amber Browns. We've even read the Ghostville Elementary books. The storylines all have issues that we can talk about. From social to financial to ethical. Right now dh is upstairs reading to dd and they've been there for about 45 minutes. I think they are reading the classic "I CAN READ" books from my childhood. Red Tag Comes Back, Greg's Microscope, Harry and the Lady Next Door, Danny and the Dinosaur, Ootah's Lucky Day (this one's about a young Inuit becoming a man by killing his first walrus... how much more controversial can you get). These are all books from the 60's. I love them and they open up all sorts of discussions recently. They're not quite chapter books, but they're not illustration books either.

 

[UUMom]

We love anything by Shirley Hughes. Alfie Gets In First, Trotter Street, The Big Alfie and Annie Rose Story Book, Alfie Lends a Hand-- there are many. The illustrations are warm and comforting-- the house is always strewn with toys and baskets. The gardens are filled with sandboxes and other things of childhood, the parents look a bit rumpled...the children are happy and loved, and Annie Rose and Alfie share a bedroom. There is a good amount of text, but not so much a parents eyes start to close if it's evening...<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
Here is a sample of the illustration style:<br><br><a href="http://www.art-of-illustration.co.uk/shirleyhughes/" target="_blank">http://www.art-of-illustration.co.uk/shirleyhughes/</a><br><br>
Also, we enjoy Jan Brett very much.<br><br><a href="http://www.janbrett.com/" target="_blank">http://www.janbrett.com/</a><br><br>
For a chapter book, we've enjoyed Milly Molly Mandy. The children have very simple, homey adventures. it's well written, in fact, but not overly floral. There are some simple illustrations and a little map of the village Milly Molly Mandy lives in. My kids liked little maps like that at 4 or so.<br><br><a href="http://www.gusworld.com.au/mmm/mmm.htm" target="_blank">http://www.gusworld.com.au/mmm/mmm.htm</a><br><br>
The My Father's Dragon tirlogy also has a map my kids liked--<br><br><a href="http://www.wildernesse.us/archives/2005/03/my_fathers_drag.html" target="_blank">http://www.wildernesse.us/archives/2...hers_drag.html</a>

 

[2shy2post]

As far as longer/chapter books, we're reading Charlotte's Web. We also read from the Winne the Pooh and Peter Rabbit books. We have a great Bible called, "Step by Step Bible; A Panoramic Journey through God's Word" The only problem we have is that the 4yo loves these, but they are too much for our 2.5yo. So we often read to them separately.<br><br>
Can be read in one sitting: The Tale of the Three Trees retold bay Angela Elwell Hunt and The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tommie dePaola (he has a few others that I can't remember the names of right this second <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/duck.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Duck">: )<br><br>
Even if you don't plan on homeschooling ~ I love the books listed on <a href="http://amblesideonline.org/" target="_blank">Ambelside Online</a>.<br><br>
I'm also making notes of the other posters ideas! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[Igraine]

Ds loves books. He loves things about animals, spaceships, robots.<br><br>
Last night I read a silly story called "Knuffle Bunny". And he looked at me and said, "I didn't like that. I don't want to hear about how she walked there and went there!". He was insulted a little!<br><br>
Then I read a book about a little boy reading about Tarzan and how the little boy went into the story. It was a nice adventure story. At the end ds said, "Now that was a story, mama."<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
"Zigby" "A Fly Went By" "Curious George"-the older, longer ones, "Green Eggs and Ham" are a few that we read quite frequently.<br><br>
He really enjoyed an abridged version of "The Time Machine". Dh tried to read another chapter book, but he did not like the cover of the book.

 

[mclisa]

My first thought for chapter books was Charlotte's web!<br><br>
Trumpeter Swan (my absolute favorite)<br>
Five Little Peppers and how they grew<br>
The Hidden Garden<br><br>
That's all that I can think of right now<br><br><br>
we also read the beginner readers that you can buy. We stick to level one and two.

 

[anarchamama]

DS is almost 4 and still likes to read picture books but also likes to read some longer stuff. He loves any of the dav pilkey comics (captain underpants ricky ricotta), he likes the berenstein bear chapter books, and those story compilations for older kids (LIke stories about giants/monsters/whatever) I am trying to get him into pippi longstocking but he's not quiet there yet. I am REALLY looking forward to moving on to chapter books (curse you dav pilkey!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">: <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> )<br><br>
Heather

 

[2shy2post]

forgot to sub! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment">

 

[rainyday]

There are three My Father's Dragon books by Ruth Stiles Gannett. They have short chapters and really interesting stories. They've been favorites of our DC's for a couple of years now. They make a good transition to chapter books, and everyone I've recommended them to really likes them.

 

[Ilovelife]

I'm still looking for a chapter book that will interest dd. Since her brothers were born she has only wanted to read simple board books again. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[mamachandi]

this is a great thread! My girl is 4 and she loves to read! I am also looking for longer chapter books. though she really likes the traditional fairy tales like little red riding hood and jack and the beanstock etc (but not "disney like" versions... the real versions)<br><br>
I second the ambleside online-I just discovered it and we have a local charlotte mason (secular)workshop happening here so can't wait for that. ~C

 

[delphiniumpansy]

I like to let my 4 year old choose the books most of the time when we are at the library and bookstore. I believe it will help her to become a life long reader and book lover if I let her choose the books I read to her. If she likes them, she will want to have them read to her and to "read" them herself.<br><br>
She is very visual and loves books to have vivid pictures. She is now very into rhyming books and books with patterns about letters and numbers as these topics all interest her in general. She is really into counting above 10 and doing simple math and loves rhymes. So, she is drawn to Seuss and other books like his. She also is very visual and loves story books. The only "chapter" books we read are the Winnie the Pooh stories. This is all right on track with her developmental level at age 4. She is verbally precocious and very smart, but still not ready for chapter books. I once tried to read her a Boxcar children book I have but she quickly lost interest in it.<br><br>
In school chapter books usually start in 2nd grade so 4 and 5 is a bit young anyway. If they like it, great, but I know mine would not like it.<br><br>
I usually turn her loose in the picture book section of the library and let her choose a pile of books. We read them all and choose 3 or 4 to take home. I also put books on reserve from the nonfiction children's section that have to do with themes she is interested in. Right now, she is enjoying a Clifford gardening book, some Richard Scarry books about jobs around town, a book on the animals in the animal kingdom, a fun rhyming book my mom sent us called Silly Sally, some Seuss books on counting and ABCs, some books on where babies come from, and a book of fairy tales that was mine when I was a child.<br><br>
We also have a series of books my brother found in a thrift store put out by the Sesame Street gang in the 1970s that are all about the alphabet and numbers. Each book covers several letters and numbers. Just like an episode in a book. They are great! Stories, games, activities - she loves them.

 

[Igraine]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>yellowpansy</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7982219"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">We also have a series of books my brother found in a thrift store put out by the Sesame Street gang in the 1970s that are all about the alphabet and numbers. Each book covers several letters and numbers. Just like an episode in a book. They are great! Stories, games, activities - she loves them.</div>
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We have these too! Ds loves these also. He often gets up an hour or so before the rest of the family. We find him in his room with these books and his little cat. He says that she likes it when he reads to her!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> HE really studies these books.