Tess in the Burbs Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 She finished up 100EL a month ago. Has been reading everything in sight. She doesn't care if it's way above her ability. Today I spent time with her listening to her read and she's really good. She read "disappointment" with no problems! I am asking her to read through the readers in the basket(levels 1-3) and bought one book for her last night. But I need ideas on what to let her read! She will be 5 at the end of August. We are very conservative in the areas of media/entertainment. The sales clerk recommended Hannah Montana books last night...that is exactly what I do not want!!! I am taking her to the library to try the first Boxcar children book and will also encourage her to try the Magic Tree House books. What is appropriate reading for an almost 5 y/o girl??? She reads an hour a day on her own...more if I would let her. But I am concerned about too mature themes and inappropriate things for her age to just let her pick up any book. thanks for your suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liza Q Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Maybe she would like the Beatrix Potter books? Brambly Hedge (Jill Barklem) was a big hit as well. So many classic books for children have themes that may be too mature for your daughter. For example, Sarah Crewe by Frances Hodges Burnett is about an orphan who is mistreated. So is Heidi, to some degree. Can she handle that sort of thing? ETA: I ask because there are some books that I could recommend, but I am just not sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chai Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 We had lots of luck with non-fiction books. Try looking for books about animals, there are lots of easy reading levels and the content is appropriate. Here are a few that dd enjoyed: Magic School Bus chapter books CatWings books by Ursula K. LeGuin anything by Beverly Cleary Winnie the Pooh (the original versions) Carolyn Haywood: "B is for Betsy" and her other Betsy books Stuart Little and other books by E.B. White Peter Rabbit and other books by Beatrix Potter The Borrowers series My Father's Dragon books. Burgess Books Janet Oke children animal story books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Fairy Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Mathstart series Let's Read and Find Out series Little House series Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel Cowboy Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawn E Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 If you don't already get Sonlight's catalog, you should sign up for one. They have fabulous suggestions. Also, 1000 Good Books. It doesn't sound like my experience pertains to you, but I'll share it anyway, just in case. One thing I've found with my dd--who was also an early reader--is that although she is reading well, I need to let her slowly go through the lower level books before pushing her on to more. She is a great reader, and sometimes I get over-ambitious with my book purchases. :001_smile: I forget that even though she "can" she really doesn't have to, yet. So, I have stepped back, letting her reread the Dr. Seuss books, Clifford, Arthur, I Can Read books. It's building her confidence, and I love seeing her growing love of books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 some Beverly Cleary titles. Mouse and the Motorcycle, Ralph Mouse, etc. Her shortest on is Socks which is about a cat. Also, Charlotte's Web, Trumpet of the Swan, etc. I would check out VP's catalog as another good source for titles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommylawyer Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Your daughter sounds like mine. We just bought the first book in the Little House series for DD (5) - and so far, so good. We bought a paperback "collector's" edition - it has some beautiful artwork by Garth Williams throughout the book - but not on every page. That was a bit off-putting to DD at first, but now she enjoys it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess in the Burbs Posted June 10, 2008 Author Share Posted June 10, 2008 I personally want her to read all the readers I bought over the years for her older brother :-) She's the one I keep finding reading books I feel are way above her ability and understanding! So my goal now is to make sure she has access to books more her ability without looking like an easy reader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafiki Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Academy of Jedi Arts Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Great Illustrated Classics are easy readers for kids who aren't yet ready to tackle the real versions. Things like Heidi and Swiss Family Robinson would not have mature themes. American Girl books are also good for young readers. They made some continuations of the Little House series too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Laurie Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 My dd loves Mercy Watson, Olivia Sharp/Nate the Great (Olivia is his cousin), Magic Treehouse, and she loves that she can read picture books to herself- her favorites are Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm, Tomi dePaola books (especially the Strega Nona series), the Frances books, and fairy tales. She is going through all of our old books from SL's PreK core and enjoys that she can read them all to herself. If you look at the SL catalog, the level 2 and 2 intermediate readers have all been greatly enjoyed by my younger kids. Frog and Toad, Amelia Bedelia, Pickles the Firecat, Little Bear, The Littles, Clyde Robert Bulla's books, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2abcd Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 One dd read the Little House books at that age. They do get progressively harder. The other three LOVED The Three Cousins Detective Club by Elspeth Campbell Murphy... http://www.elspethcampbellmurphy.com/work1.htm I see there are some on http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php?r_by=mom2abcd@yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cami in UT Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 I found a book called Peak with Books by Marjorie R. Nelsen & Jan Nelsen-Parish. It has quite a list of easy books listed that are age appropriate for her. I'll be working though the list with my dd4 this next year. It has 42 "main books" that have enrichment activities developed if you want them. But each of those 42 books have at least 5 books that are loosely related. For example, one of the "main books" is The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. It also has 5 storybooks about snow/snowballs/mittens and 3 more nonfiction books about snow/animals that hide in snow listed on the pages for The Snowy Day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathie in VA Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 My ds did the same thing to me. His reading just took off! He really enjoyed the Wishbone series books. I let him watch one of the videos first and then he just wanted more of the books. Someone mentioned the Great Illustrated Classics, I'll agree. My kids loved these also. He read the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe within two days. He is 8 years old now and recently whipped thru White Wolf and A Call of the Wild with great interest. Oh and I had a similar experiance with recommendations from the librarians... not very impressive. Check out the website: 1000 Good Books list. http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html I printed a copy and take it with me when I search the library for books either online or on site. It helps keep me focused. I also helps to write down the call numbers for the books on the paper and keep track of which ones your library has to offer. hth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawn E Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 I personally want her to read all the readers I bought over the years for her older brother :-) She's the one I keep finding reading books I feel are way above her ability and understanding! So my goal now is to make sure she has access to books more her ability without looking like an easy reader. I understand. Dd went through this, too, but I was not as wise as you. I pushed the harder stuff too soon and reading lost its shine for a while. Thankfully, we have recovered. :001_smile: One thing that might work is the compilation editions of Frog and Toad and other readers. They are nice and thick, which appeals to their desire to be reading "big" books, yet the material is on the right level. She'll love Little House in the Big Woods as others have suggested. The Nate the Great books are good, and I've seen that they have another series with his cousin Olivia. I haven't read any of those though. Amelia Bedelia is great, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Berenstain Bears early chapter books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 That sounds like Becca too! I have her enjoying Magic Tree House books. She's also a huge Magic School Bus fan and they have some beginner chapter books. I also look at the leveled readers in bookstores. Not all of it is something I want Becca to read (I'm not ready for fourth grade attitude yet), but I can easily determine appropriateness. The Breyer Stablemates books are great too, especially if she loves horses like my girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 My oldest (4 1/2) is not reading yet, but some books that she's really enjoyed lately are the Dot and Jabber books by Ellen Stoll Walsh. I don't know what the reading level is. They're educational to boot, and I really enjoy them too. Dot and Jabber and the Great Acorn Mystery Dot and Jabber and the Big Bug Mystery Dot and Jabber and the Mystery of the Missing Stream We've also enjoyed Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh (I made a file folder game based on it--I got started on all of Walsh's books beginning with Mouse Count because of a file folder game book from the library). Also by Ellen Stoll Walsh that I look forward to checking out: Mouse Paint Mouse Shapes Mouse Magic (about combining colors--not sure if I'll get this one, as it has a "wizard bird") Hop Jump For Pete's Sake Hamsters to the Rescue and more.... I like the artwork--it looks like it's all done with homemade paper of various colors, skillfully torn into the shapes needed. According to Amazon, the reading level for most of these is ages 4-8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess in the Burbs Posted June 11, 2008 Author Share Posted June 11, 2008 Yes, we are working through the SL lists and have most of the nate the great, frog & toad, and amelia bedelia books. And mercy watson! These are great lists everyone, thank you !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 There is a really lovely Cynthia Rylant book called (I think) Blue Hill Meadows. In fact, I would recommend any of Cynthia Rylant's series: Henry and Mudge, Mr. Putter and Tabby, The Lighthouse Family (ok, I wasn't big on Cobble Street Cousins when I read it to my kids because it talked about 9 year olds having crushes). If she still insists on "older" books, how about The Cricket in Times Square series and the Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH series? I second the recommendation of Socks by Beverly Cleary. My kids ADORE that book. It's extremely sweet. Also, our library has a "classics" section with a lot of the Newberry and Caldecott winners in it. You might try some of those. Oh, and don't forget the Thornton Burgess books! You can get them extremely cheaply (for example, $1.50 a book) through Dover Publications. Check out Dover for other reading material, too. They seem (to me) to specialize in more gentle, wholesome books. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Dominion Heather Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Lois Lenski's books are nice... They were written years ago... They are set in different geographic areas of the USA, so you get some cultural study in there as well. Some are harder than others... They may be hard to find. Check your library. Also the Betsy-Tacy books are nice. Those are by Maud Hart Lovelace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 some series: Boxcar Children Cam Jansen Nancy Drew Notebooks Madeline Little House, and maybe some of the prequels Animal Ark Betsy-Tacy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 JoJo and Winnie by Marilyn Sachs. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dixiemaiden Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I agree with recomending the Burgess books. They are excellent stories that she won't despise as she gets older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie in Oh Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 It doesn't sound like my experience pertains to you, but I'll share it anyway, just in case. One thing I've found with my dd--who was also an early reader--is that although she is reading well, I need to let her slowly go through the lower level books before pushing her on to more. She is a great reader, and sometimes I get over-ambitious with my book purchases. :001_smile: I forget that even though she "can" she really doesn't have to, yet. So, I have stepped back, letting her reread the Dr. Seuss books, Clifford, Arthur, I Can Read books. It's building her confidence, and I love seeing her growing love of books. Our 3rd read like your daughter at that age, but I didn't push her to read Boxcar and stuff then. I let her read Amelia Badelia and Frog and Toad, and all those cute fun books that 5 and 6 yos like. Now she is a late 6 yo and she is reading books like The Courage of Sarah Noble and Tornado and Mr. McBroom's Hundred Acre Farm in a day's time. I just didn't want her to miss some of the stuff that average readers read at that age because it is good stuff. HTH> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Dd began with Henry and Mudge books, plowed through the Mr. Putter and Tabby books and went on the The Lighthouse Family books. All delightful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorax Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 My daughter loved the Lollipop books by Dick King-Smith when she first hit the longer chapter book stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio12 Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Milly Molly Mandy Grandma's Attic Series All of a Kind Family Little House onthe Prarie I loved all of these as a a girl and so do my dds! 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.