amyinva Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Reading is finally clicking for my 9yo, but she is still intimidated by chapter books. However she is finally reading one and enjoying it!! It is the first Boxcar Children book. :) This child will read Calvin and Hobbes for hours on end, but I really want to build up her reading endurance. However, I would really like to stick with reasonably decent quality literature if possible. Can I please get some idea for chapter books she might enjoy at this reading level? thank you! Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Is she beyond things like The Magic Tree House? The historical and science based support books are really good, too, although those would probably be better as read alouds.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 The Secrets of Droon series might work. The Chronicles of Narnia. Nancy Drew has a Junior version. Cam Jansen was popular with my kids for a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Also, you might look at High Noon books. They are great for reluctant readers just starting out with reading chapter books.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trilliums Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 HOw aobut Guardians of Ga'Hoole and Warrior Cats?? I don't really know if they are quality books...but son who was pretty intolerant of overly simple easy to read chapter books loved both series. He was also a late reader. I think it takes finding books of interest to her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 HOw aobut Guardians of Ga'Hoole and Warrior Cats?? I don't really know if they are quality books...but son who was pretty intolerant of overly simple easy to read chapter books loved both series. He was also a late reader. I think it takes finding books of interest to her. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertflower Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Charlotte's web Wizard of Oz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 What about non-fiction chapter books? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 What about non-fiction chapter books? Yes. There are Time for Kids Biographies that have a lot of great information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Weird. Double post. Want to add - anything by Dick King Smith. Fun, well written books about animals. My kids loved them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Percy Jackson. I honestly could not read them because of the writing (which should not challenge her too much), but my kids DEVOURED them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyinva Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 Thank you!! Some of these are still too much for her- the length of the book can be very overwhelming to her, even though she can decode the words. There are some shorter books which I have put on hold at the library. Great suggestions! Also, feel free to suggest reasons why my girl is still struggling with reading longer books. She can read Calvin and Hobbes literally for hours, so it is not length of time reading. Vision has checked out ok, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondbutterandjelly Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 My dd was the same way. I was trying to move her into chapter books, and she was resistant. I think some kids just have to be convinced that the books with fewer pictures still can be pretty good. FWIW, I got her hooked on Junie B. Jones by playing an audio book of it first. (And you really have to know the sound of Junie's voice. Otherwise reading her bad grammar will drive you nuts. But if you have her voice in her head, then you think "Oh, it's just Junie B. being a little kid.) She still, years later, keeps and loves her Junie B. Jones books. She also enjoyed the Ready Freddie books by Scholastic. These were her gateway books to chapter books. Plus, I started requiring some for school, but only fun ones like How to Eat Fried Worms and those Sock that Ate my ... books. And the Ramona the Pest books. She loved those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayne J Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 My reluctant reader loves the Ivy and Bean series, the Critters Club series, and the Heidi Heckelbeck series. (Content warning--Heidi Heckelbeck is a witch and can do magic. Some parents are bothered by that, so I thought I'd mention it.) The actual stories are certainly not high literature, but they keep my daughter reading and laughing. They have slightly larger print, which she likes, short chapters, and black and white pictures every other page or so to keep her from feeling overwhelmed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Governess Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Anything by Beverly Cleary Anything by Cynthia Rylant Magic Tree House American Girl books The Little House books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 You might look at something like pairing Magic Tree House audio dvd's with her reading the book at the same time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertflower Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 If she doesn't like the longer chapter books, then how about My First Little House books. Not to be confused with the Little House series. I just discovered them and on the hunt to buy them at sales. They are really written well. They are basically big picture books. She's probably beyond this level, but I thought I'd throw it out there since you wrote she didn't like long chapter books. :) Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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