My son is not yet reading, but he loves to have chapter books read aloud to him (my husband is currently reading Prince Caspian). I heard the Mercy Watson books are good (is that a boy or a girl pig?...Does that matter?). I want to start getting books that we can read together, but eventually he can read by himself. All we have are the big picture books like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Bear Snores On. Does anyone know of any good books for this next level? Thanks!
Thanks for all the great advice! We did go to the library to look at all the different choices. He picked out a few he liked to bring home. I have always liked to have books on hand in my house just in case moment strikes to read, so we also went to the bookstore. I did check out just about every suggestion here, and though some aren't right for us at this time, they look like good ideas for the future.
These are his favorites so far:
Nate the Great
Hi! Fly Guy (Tedd Arnold)
Magic Tree House #16 Hour of the Olympics (he's obsessed w/ China and the Olympics right now)
Flat Stanley
Stink The Incredible Shrinking kid
Mercy Watson
Mighty Robot (Ricky Ricotta)
My mom also found a stack of my old Berenstain Bears and I Can Read books in her basement. I must say, there was a comment about him being able to sit while he is read chapter books...It doesn't last long. He'll sit for about 5 pages, depending on the book, and then quietly play with his brother on the floor. A while back I read that it was still good for kids to hear the words being said aloud even if they weren't sitting still. He is still listening. Also, just to let you all know...Buy your books online! Every book we looked at was cheapest on Amazon or Overstock.com. Amazon even does a buy 3 get 1 free for most of these books.
Thanks again!
Well, when he starts to read he wont be reading chapter books.
Some good beginner books are Berenstein Bears, Mercer Meyer, and Dr. Seauss. My kids loved those and both learned to read with them--then in first grade they began reading simple chapter books like Junnie B Jones,captain Underpants and Magic Tree house.
A nice series for you to read to him now or him to read later is Michigan and American Chillers.
My son, who is going into Kindergarten in the fall, love having the Magic Tree House books read to him. It is a series of chapter books (10 chapters per book) where a brother/sister team travel all over the world and in different times. They are great books and I even enjoy them. We are book 15 - Viking Ships at Sunrise.
My son loves
Junie B Jones books,
Mr Putter and Tabby
Magic Treehouse
Magic school bus
Mercy Watson
Nate the Great
Baily School kids adventures
Non chatper he loves loves loves
Skippy Jon Jones and it has even motivated him to want to learn to read
We love Mo Williams books, "Today I will Fly"., "My Friend is Sad", "Pigeon finds a Hotdog".....They are repetitive and very funny. Both my kids have loved these books. Today I will Fly, and My Friend is Sad is geared towards the younger kids too. LOVE THESE BOOKs
You already have alot of good recommendations! I was really excited that your husband is reading Prince Caspian! My husband just finished reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe to our 4 year old and she loved it!
S.,
My best advice would be to talk with your children's librarian and see what they would suggest. Then you won't need to buy books, but can instead borrow and maybe only purchase the ones you all love the most.
It's wonderful that your son can sit still long enough to listen to parts of a chapter book! =)
-C..
Hi S.,
My son is six and he loves these books/series:
The Secrets of Droon (a fantasy series)
Junie B. Jones series (we laugh outloud when we read these)
Captain Underpants series (if you can stand a little toilet humor)
Charlotte's Web
Books by Beverely Cleary (The Ramona books, The Ralph books)
Henry and Mudge series
We also take trips to the library and my son takes a list of questions that he wants answers to. We ask the librarian to help us find the books that will answer the questions.
Best of luck to you! I teach 8th grade Language Arts and can not express to you how essential it is that your kids get read to on a consistent basis. The knowledge you are building in their brains is priceless.
Take care.
I was also going to mention the "100 Books for Kindergarteners" at the W. Bloomfield library. You could check with your local library or check out the W. Bloomfield website at www.wblib.org
Any book is a good book!
Oh S. - what a topic! There are so many books that are fun for everyone to read. Where to start. We read the "Redwall" series together - they are at a pretty high level that he won't be able to read himself for a number of years, but they are wonderful stories of good guys and bad guys, characters (animals) working together against a common threat. They are by Brian Jacques. There are lots of series of books that are great, there are many single books on so many subjects my head spins. Does the librarian at his school have any suggestions? How about at the public library? They are usually tuned into newer offerings and what is popular...though that isn't always the best indicator of what your family will enjoy. Treasure Island....Robinson Crusoe...Swiss Family Robinson - have fun!! Beth
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett is a very fun story. The chapters are on the short side & our version has three books in one volume.
Find what interests him. I have a son who doesn't like fantasy books, it must be factual, sports or hunting. I have another child who took to comic books. Go to the library and get everything from a picture dictionary to Junie B Jones that he thinks he might like and go from there. It doesn't matter what they read or whhat series is popular just get them to read. I got the Harry Potter books because they were popular and if you don't like fantasy, it doesn't matter what's on the best sellers list.
My sons also loved being read chapter books - coincidentally, the first one I read to them was also the Narnia series. I would also recommend the Junie B. Jones series. They are written from the perspective of and with the language of a kindergartener/first grader. My kids loved it when they were able to start re-reading the books themselves! Mine also enjoyed the Little House on the Prairie books - it didn't matter to them that the primary character was a girl. The messages and lessons in those stories are so wonderful for any gender. I would often find them playing LHotP in the backyard, one would be Charles and the other Mr. Edwards. Charlotte's Web is another that could be thoroughly enjoyable for him. Good luck!
check out the library, i know ours has a list of books for different age groups that are supposed to be good
Hi S.,
I love books and have an education background so I am aware of a read aloud resource that will give you a tool to use when selecting book for your sons. The book is "The Read-Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease. He believes in reading aloud to your children no matter how old they are. A wonderful concept! I will mention a couple though to get you started. "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" by William Steig; "The Story of Ferdinand"
by Munro Leaf. "Stellaluna" by Janell Cannon.
Enjoy reading!!!
M.
Try Discovery Toys... I have a friend, Mary Austin, in Commerce. Her number is ###-###-####.
Berenstein Bears are always popular and with good lessons taught too. Kids have always enjoyed them.
Otherwise go to the book store and ask one of the clerks to help you.
I have taught kindergarten in the past and am currently teaching third grade. I would suggest the Magic Tree House Books. Most all of my students LOVE these books.
Good luck and happy reading!
the very hungry catepillar
one fish, two fish (Dr. Suess)
Good night moon
encourage your son to "read" to you from his picture books. It sparks his imagination and gives him a great understanding of "how" books work, like the progression of a story.
it could end up being a new story every night based on what he is seeing in the pictures!
I am not sure where you live but the west bloomfield libuary have a great collection of books called the 100 books. They are the 100 books every kindergartener should read. If you go there they will give you a cool poster that lists all the books and a sticker to place on it once the book is read. It is very motivating for my kids. They also have a great summer reading club for young children. They log the hours they read (or are read to) and they get stickers and a prize book at the end of 12 hours.
Happy reading
Hi S.!
I am a consultant for Barefoot Books, an independent children's book publisher. We have lovely, inspiring, creative books for 5-year-old boys!! Take a look at my website www.mybarefootbooks.com/LoriHachenski and see what you think. Send me an e-mail or call (info on my website) for specific recommendations. Each of the books has a recommeded age range -- both a "Read Together" age and a "Read Alone" age. They are fantastic!! For a 5-year-old, I'd recommend "The Prince's Bedtime," or if he's into Pirates, "The Barefoot Book of Pirates," an anthology of stories. So many to recommend and choose from -- I'd be happy to speak with you live. Let me know what you think!
Thanks so much!! I'm ALWAYS interested in talking about books for kids! So I love this post!
Good luck -
L.
I loved the Box Car Children series. There are LOTS of books in the series and I was reading them on my own in first/second grade.
At your local library they have a whole set of books for young children set up by levels of reading. Ask the librarian to show you and enjoy!
S.
