Tonia Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I'm trying to make a list of books I'd like to read aloud to dd next year (she will be 5 yo). I have a long list of picture books but would like some ideas for longer books. She will listen to things like Storytime and the Millers with no difficulty, so I think she is ready for short chapter books. So, any ideas for chapter books that are age appropriate for a 5 yo girl? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 From there we branched into Charlotte's Web, the original Pinnochio (not Disney). For audio books with a little bit of sound effect, Island of the Blue Dolphin (Tantoo Cardinal), Just So Stories read by Boris Karloff, and an old recording (well, 70's) of The Mouse and the Motorcycle. The reason I do audiobooks on the longer pieces is that if I am reading, kiddo won't do anything else, and gets restless, but if I put it on a machine, he will assemble tinkertoys or Zoobs or some such thing while happily listening. I know he is listening because he often asks me questions. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tami Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I'm trying to make a list of books I'd like to read aloud to dd next year (she will be 5 yo). I have a long list of picture books but would like some ideas for longer books. She will listen to things like Storytime and the Millers with no difficulty, so I think she is ready for short chapter books. So, any ideas for chapter books that are age appropriate for a 5 yo girl? Hi Tonia! I know you asked for chapter books, but may I also suggest the Five in a Row Booklist? Early childhood is so fleeting, and there is such a short window of time in which these books are truly magical! For the most part, picture books have rich vocabulary and the added advantage of a built-in art imitation lesson! Unless your dd has has experienced all the wonderful picture books that no child should miss, I wouldn't rush the chapter books. If you go the chapter book route, since your child is so young. I would use them sparingly. One source would be AmblesideOnline.org Year 1. This is the FIAR list from their website: FIVE IN A ROW BOOK LIST Volume 1: The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese Lentil by Robert McCloskey Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans A Pair of Red Clogs by Masako Matsuno The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills Who Owns the Sun? by Stacy Chbosky Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton The Glorious Flight by Alice and Martin Provensen How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Harry Devlin Another Celebrated Dancing Bear by Gladys Scheffrin-Falk Papa Piccolo by Carol Talley Very Last First Time by Jan Andrews The Clown of God by Tomie DePaola Storm in the Night by Mary Stoltz Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton Night of the Moonjellies by Mark Shasha Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost (with illustrations by Susan Jeffers) Volume 2: The Giraffe That Walked to Paris by Nancy Milton Three Names by Patricia MacLachlan Wee Gillis by Munro Leaf Owl Moon by Jane Yolen A New Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert Mrs. Katz and Tush by Patricia Polacco Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully They Were Strong and Good by Alice and Robert Lawson Babar, To Duet or Not to Duet based on characters by DeBrunhoff The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf Down, Down the Mountain by Ellis Credle Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey The Tale of Peter Rabbit written and ill. by Beatrix Potter Mr. Gumpy's Motor Car by John Burningham All Those Secrets of the World by Jane Yolen Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney The Little Red LIghthouse and the Great Gray Bridge by Hildegarde Swift Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant Gramma's Walk by Anna Grossnickle Hines Volume 3: The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco Andy and the Circus by Ellis Credle The Wild Horses of Sweetbriar by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ill. by Ted Rand Henry the Castaway by Mark Taylor The Finest Horse in Town by Jacqueline Briggs Martin Truman's Aunt Farm by Jama Kim Rattigan The Duchess Bakes a Cake by Virginia Kahl Andy and the Lion by James Daugherty Daniel's Duck by Clyde Robert Bulla Warm as Wool by Scott Russell Sanders The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer Climbing Kansas Mountains by George Shannon Amber on the Mountain by Tony Johnston Little Nino's Pizzeria by Karen Barbour Volume 4: Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran The Raft by Jim LaMarche Mailing May by Michael O. Tunnell Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin The Gullywasher by Joyce Rossi Arabella by Wendy Orr Higgins Bend Song and Dance by Jacqueline Briggs Martin Cowboy Charlie by Jeanette Winter Grass Sandals by Dawnine Spivak Albert by Donna Jo Napoli The Hickory Chair by Lisa Rose Fraustino Hanna's Cold Winter by Trish Marx The Hatmaker's Sign Retold by Candace Fleming The Pumpkin Runner by Marsha Diane Arnold Angelo by David Macaulay Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazelt"nut" Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 This year I read the following to my K'er not including our history studies etc. The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (original) The Cricket in Times Square The Campout Mystery (not my pick but a pick from bookclub) Tons of picture books of course ,she still loves them at age 6 Those are the ones I can remember. Sometimes its just hard to fit it in. I still have a toddler that wants bedtime stories, tons of reading with our history program etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 We will be doing The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter and a nicely illustrated version of Anderson's fairy tales along with a large assortment of picture books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiegirl Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I usually read all of the Beverly Cleary books (Henry Huggins, Ramona, Mouse and the Motorcycle) as well as the Thornton Burgess books to my K'er. I find that these books are a great intro to the world of chapter books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
April in NC Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 When my girls were in K, they enjoyed Winnie-the-Pooh, The Wizard of Oz, My Father's Dragon, and several of the Magic Tree House books. (Their favorites were probably either Pooh or The Wizard of Oz. They thought both of those books were hilarious.) They also enjoyed a lot of the FIAR books. We still mixed several picture books in with our chapter books to keep things fun and interesting. It seems that many people have the impression that picture books aren't "worth it". I actually find them to be very worthwhile in terms of creating memorable impressions and developing emotional bonds and positive associations with books, partly because of the visual element, as well as the opportunity to read them more than once. We mix in both so that dc get a chance to develop their listening skills and attention span with the chapter books, as well as enjoying the visual pleasure and repetition of good picture books. One of my 7 year olds still reads "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" all the time. She saved her allowance to pay for half of the pop-up version! I will say that I don't think they remember many of the chapter books we read during the K year. They served a valuable purpose in training their brains/attention spans/vocabulary and giving them things to think about, but the chapter books didn't really create a lasting memory for them. I'm glad I waited until they were a little older to share some of my favorite books with them. Have fun!:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie in VA Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Hi Tonia! I know you asked for chapter books, but may I also suggest the Five in a Row Booklist? ITA! We actually used FIAR for K and it was a huge, huge hit! The books are just wonderful and I can't wait to do another 36 weeks with DD#2 when she hits K-age! Also AO has a good list for the K years (Called Year 0). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 We used a lot of chapter books for playing in the car as we ran around town (we still do). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie in MS Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I agree with the Thorton Burgess books. http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/nsearch?follow-pro=1&vwcatalog=doverpublications&catalog=doverpublications&query=burgess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tami Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 ITA! We actually used FIAR for K and it was a huge, huge hit! The books are just wonderful and I can't wait to do another 36 weeks with DD#2 when she hits K-age! Also AO has a good list for the K years (Called Year 0). Yes! The other problem I have seen is that some children do not like reading books for themselves that have already been read to them. So, reading chapter books meant for early readers aloud will mean that you have to look long and HARD to find appropriate early chapter books the child has not already read. Because of that, I save books like My Father's Dragon, Magic Tree House, and Little House books for independent reading when the child can read them for themselves. There seems to be a shortage of worthy, early chapter books, so I save them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenora in MD Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I would add the James Herriot book of animal stories. Also, Winnie the Pooh, Beatrix Potter, Classic Children's Stories, by Volland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earthmother Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 My kids loved My Father's Dragon, The Tale of Despereux, Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Magic Tree House, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, charlotte's web, stuart little, the trumpet of the swan, and my one son loved Jonathan Rand books (Michigan and American chillers). The Rand books are NOT great literature, but he taught himself to read them in kindergarten so I can't complain. earthmother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCoffeeChick Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Here is the list of books we started reading aloud to my ds, who just turned 5 this month. We typically do 1 chapter a night, but longer chapters like in Prince Caspian we took 2 nights to read and quick chapters like in Edward Tulane we did 2 or 3 a night. Since he is still young we can only read aloud from these type of chapter books for about 10 - 15 minutes before he can't sit still anymore :) Oct 2007: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis Nov 2007: Freckle Juice by Judy Blume Nov 2007: Stuart Little by E. B. White Dec 2007: Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Jan 2008: Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald Jan 2008: Fudge-a-Mania by Judy Blume Feb 2008: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo Mar 2008: Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis Apr 2008: Poppy by AVI He loved Prince Caspian, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and especially Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (the laughter was constant for this book:)). Good luck with your list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I'd look at the Sonlight PK 4/5 list. Most of these are short, but Milly Molly Mandy was a huge hit here. There are 2 volumes, SL only uses the first. Beatrix Potter books are also great and some are quite a bit longer than the average picture book. If you're willing to do read-aloud combined with an activity, I'd highly recommend FIAR too. This has been the highlight of our school year and the kids have learned a lot of science and geography with very little planning time on my part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Didache Academy Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I spent a lot of time reading aloud to my older two when they were 6 and 4 while I would nurse their colicky baby sister. I was amazed at what they were able to sit and listen to (I think it may have been because that was the only sane part of our day at that time!) They really enjoyed: Little House on the Prairie series Great Illustrated Classics (they loved to look at the pictures) Anne of Green Gables series Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series I'm sure there were others, but those are the ones I can think of right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narrow Gate Academy Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Our favorites for K: The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh James Herriot's Treasury for Children Three Tales of My Father's Dragon Raggedy Anne Stories and Raggedy Andy Stories The Boxcar Children Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonia Posted April 29, 2008 Author Share Posted April 29, 2008 You gals are wonderful! :grouphug: Thanks for such great suggestions - I am adding them to our reading list - thanks so much! I know you asked for chapter books, but may I also suggest the Five in a Row Booklist? We love the FIAR book lists and have many of them on our bookshelves. They are read and reread quite often. We tried using BFIAR but it wasn't really our cup of tea - is there much difference between BFIAR and the other volumes? It seems that many people have the impression that picture books aren't "worth it". I actually find them to be very worthwhile in terms of creating memorable impressions and developing emotional bonds and positive associations with books, partly because of the visual element, as well as the opportunity to read them more than once. We read lots of picture books - the librarians know us by sight and have given us our own shelf in the reserved books section because we sign out so many! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asher Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 We often go to this list http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000-primary.html for ideas! :) Many have already been mentioned by PPs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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