Cranberry Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 ...I can't seem to find any thread on good read alouds for a first grader and 4 yo. Of course I think I've read a bunch when I didn't need any more choices.... Anyway, I need some good boy adventure type stories. Bonus if it has a good moral lesson, or sparks some good moral discussions... We've done: Mr. Popper's Penguins Mouse and the Motorcycle Stuart Little Charlotte's Web Little House books (3 of them I think but they are tired of them) Velveteen Rabbit Narnia books the first Boxcar children book What next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraGB Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Are you opposed to Harry Potter? You've got the good, the bad, the fantasy, the lessons...its all in there. We started when the kids were about 4 1/2. Then, I think there were only 5 books out, and it took us a while. It was a first time read for all of us. We ALL huddled around each night to see what would happen next. (It even got Dh to read ahead :001_huh:, and I had never seen dh read ANY book before or after the HPs!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Pollyanna is next on my list! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Homer Price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Homer Price :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Another idea, check out the suggestions on heartofdakota.com, always wonderful and safe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom3tn Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 I always recommend The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo. It's my favorite. :) Also, we just finished Little Pilgrim's Progress, by Helen Taylor, and enjoyed it. It was adventurous and sparked some great discussions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom3tn Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Or, how about the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books? My kids LOVE those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 (edited) My Father's Dragon Lugalbanda Rimonah of the Flashing Sword Miranda the Great http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41304 Try this thread. Peter and the Starcatchers is a wonderful read aloud Wow. I am searching and can't find any more. Wierd. Edited October 16, 2009 by Lovedtodeath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photo Ninja Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 My Father's Dragon (and 2 sequels) Freddy the Pig books (a series with lots of books) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 There are a lot of good one's from Roald Dahl. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me James and the Giant Peach Matilda And there are more. :iagree:DD loved the Twits, though some parents might not love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi @ Mt Hope Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Homer Price :iagree: I third Homer Price. And the next book, Centerburg Tales. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 We loved all the book son your list -- and just finished The Indian in the Cupboard -- a boy turns plastic toys into real (but tiny) people. I don't know if this would be too old for a 4 yr old. But on the same theme, The Littles is an easy chapter book series that we have read aloud -- fine for 4 yr olds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 There are a lot of good one's from Roald Dahl. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me James and the Giant Peach Matilda And there are more. :iagree: I also love Trumpet of the Swan. At the moment we are reading the Fudge Series by Judy Blume. My son loves these books. After each book we then listen to it on tape. Judy Blume also has a series about the Pain and the Great One (a brother/sister) that are quite fun to read. Megan McDonald has a whole series of books about a kid named Stink. My kids love them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Catwings, Chocolate Fever, Wolf Story, The Water Horse, Deltora Quest, Magic Tree House series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 All of my children enjoyed The Children of Noisy Village series at that age, as well as My Father's Dragon trilogy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchycons Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 My father's dragon (all 3 books) Little Pilgrim's Progress Homer Price House at Pooh Corner and other stories Little House series: My 6 year old loved the Laura books and wants to listen again and again, maybe try the next one in the series again in a year James Herriot's dog stories and stories for Children 5 True dog stories George MacDonald books: about the princess and Curdie (there are 3 or 4 of them)similar but slightly more advanced than Narnia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Most of mine have already been suggested. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. The kids LOVED these books. (We read Mrs. Piggle Wiggle and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle's Magic. They would like to read more, but I got tired of it.) My Father's Dragon Homer Price Henry Huggins (we are reading this right now) Matilda (I think we will start this next) Gooney Bird Greene Old Mother West Wind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauracolumbus Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 My kids couldn't get enough of Roald Dahl, altho I can understand some parents being upset w/them. They esp. liked Magic Finger. We also liked Kate DiCamillo's books, but I thought Edward Tulane was a bit too old for my 4 year old, but she enjoyed it. Phantom Tollbooth, Ramona the Pest (great on CD), other Ramona books, we're getting ready to read Half Magic. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyNellen Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Someone here recommended Dog Friday by Hilary McKay a few weeks back and we just finished it. It is a great, great book. Wonderful for a read-loud. All my children (ages 2-12) enjoyed it. It has great potential for conversations. Highly recommend!! (and a hearty thanks!! to whoever recommended it.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 We're reading The Secret Garden at the moment. The kids like it, although it brings up quite a few things that need explaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicia64 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Want to add that my 6 year old boys LOVED the Little House books. There's lots of "boy" stuff in there thanks to Pa. Trumpet of the Swan was our very favorite. The very funniest: The Exiles and the Exiles at Home. Same author: Dog Friday, Amber Cat, Dophin Song. The last 5 books have kids with awesome, big personalities. Not your usual fare. Really well done. Alley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 (edited) Mrs. Piggle-wiggle Dick King-Smith Island of the Blue Dolphin King of the Wind The Orphelines books Bristleface Oh and: Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch Five Little Peppers and How They Grew Edited October 18, 2009 by kalanamak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirch Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 We've been listening to A Cricket in Times Square in the van and my boys have loved it. We finished it and they immediately wanted to listen to it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E_Edgerton Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Anything by Roald Dahl, Tolkien, CS Lewis. Homer Price is hysterical. What about a book of collected poetry, The Canterbury Tales, Bible stories, Grimm Fairy Tales? My grandmother read the Grimm tales to me...I am forever grateful to have Grimm over Disney! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranberry Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 thank you everyone! I spent a great deal of time putting many of these titles in my google library so now I won't come on here asking again when we need more ideas! I have forgotten that the kids have done a few others with their Dad...The Hobbit, Railway Children... My oldest reads Bible stories on his own all the time. I think I better stay away from Grimm. My kids get a little weirded out sometimes by scary stuff and fairy tales. I think we'll start with Homer Price and then My Father's Dragon series and go from there. Thanks so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Virginia Dawn Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 I'll add one more that I didn't see in other posts: Pippi Longstocking. I just finished reading it to my 5yo and he loved it, the 10yo kept coming in the room to do his work while I was reading it. Now we are on Pippi in the South Seas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 The 101 Dalmations (you could try to fiinsh this up near Christmas as the puppies come home on Christmas Eve...or is it Christmas Day?? Anyway, it's a fun read near Christmas). All-of-a-Kind Family (series) The Rescuers (series; NOT Disney) Lassie Come-Home Rabbit Hill Hurry Home, Candy [Note: *I* cry like a baby when I read this!] Understood Betsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elw_miller Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 If you can find it, I recommend The Wonderful O by James Thurber. When I was a kid/teen, my family also enjoyed reading together: --The Wheel on the School --Tree Wagon --The Cat Who Came for Christmas The Wonderful O is my favorite of those 4 by far, though. A pirate loses his mother after she falls out of a porthole and now he despises anything shaped like an O. He takes over a town and slowly gets rid of things with O's in them. The townspeople, of course, must fight for their town. I love reading everyone's suggestions! Great post! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elw_miller Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 What about a book of collected poetry, The Canterbury Tales, If you choose Chaucer's Canturbury Tales, be sure to read them yourself before reading them to the kids. Some of the tales might be okay. "The Miller's Tale", for instance, is NOT something you should probably read to a little kid. (For instance, there is a sex scene that ends--supposedly hilariously--with the man committing adultery getting a hot poker stuck in his nether region by another jilted lover.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Oh, forgot about Avi's Poppy series! My kids loved them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 oh, here is another one I thought of: Capyboppy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandpsmommy Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 What about Trumpet of the Swan and Stuart Little (E.B. White)... My kids were just your kids' ages when I read them Trumpet of the Swan and they loved it. It is still among their favorites. They also enjoyed James and The Giant Peach and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. We just finished reading The Dragon of Lonely Island by Rebecca Rupp and are currently reading The Return of The Dragon. I think your boys would really enjoy it. Ginger Pye was another good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 I wanted to add that Grimm's Tales, while often, well, grim, also contain many, many stories that are not grim or scary, but are funny, and show the triumph of the underdog. And there are some that are just laugh-out-loud funny--"Hans my Hedgehog" springs to mind. Also, the colored Fairy Books (blue, red, violet, etc) have some very good stories in them as well. Oh, and The Penderwicks!! Can't say enough good stuff about them--they are like E. Nesbit transported to modern times, with no magic. Very sweet depiction of family life, but that doesn't descend into the saccharine. Our boys listened to them as happily on tape as the girls, and even DH was caught by them. They really are good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 My kids joke that we finished The Wheel on the School simply because it was so awful. I don't get that book. At. All. I almost fell asleep many times. The transaltion to English is terrible as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blessedwithboys Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 The Mad Scientist's Club Henry Reed, Inc. The Marvelous Inventions of Alvin Fernald Ulysses Moore, The Door to Time Series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvbnhome2 Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 Another vote for the Harry Potter series!! It is THE BEST book series that have read as an adult. I went through these with my children and found nothing objectionable, if you do not mind the fantasy element. I had several ADULTS suggest these to me and kept blowing them off~I never could get much past the first book as it is so similar to the movie. The 3rd book is where it really picks up and gets a lot more indepth than the movie!!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvbnhome2 Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 (edited) Shiloh Where the Red Fern Grows Old Yellar These are all about a boy and his dog/dogs, so your boys should love them. Warning!!! You will sob through the end of these!! I know I did and I am not even a great lover of dogs. Oh, I do not know where Farmer boy is in the Little House series, but it was our favorite, and I have two girls!!! Another good series is Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. A little dark perhaps, as the original "guardian" of the children (whose parents have perished in a fire) is constantly trying to kill them. This is lightened up with a lot of ironical humor!! Edited October 18, 2009 by luvbnhome2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 Oh, and The Penderwicks!! Can't say enough good stuff about them--they are like E. Nesbit transported to modern times, with no magic. Very sweet depiction of family life, but that doesn't descend into the saccharine. Our boys listened to them as happily on tape as the girls, and even DH was caught by them. They really are good! I'll second The Penderwicks! Daughter and I just read them and had a really fun time with them. Readable, but she doesn't talk down to the kids: I plucked eight weeks of spelling/vocab words for my 5th grader out of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 Secret of Platform 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 The Hank the Cowdog series by John Erickson. It was a favorite in our house -- especially given the different voices my husband used for each character. Here's a link to the first in the series. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.