What after Little House books?

[teachermom2834]

My 2nd grade dd just started reading independently this year.  She never enjoyed reading and resisted reading time.  Then, we read Little House in the Big Woods and she was off :)  She has read the entire series over the last couple months often spending many hours a day in quiet reading time interrupted only by squeals of joy and excitement over Laura's adventures.  She has not been interested in any other books we have suggested.

 

She is on the last book and is already getting sad.  She says everyday how much she loves to read and the joy that reading brings her.  

 

What should I suggest for her next?  I feel like she would like another series.  It has been a while since I have had a new reader and I forget what else is out there.  What did your Little House fans enjoy after the series? I want to keep her reading!

[featherhead]

What about the books about Laura's daughter, Rose?

[Carol in Cal.]

Other good pioneer books at about that age level include "The Matchlock Gun".  She might still be too young for "Johnny Tremain" but it's set in Boston at the time of the Boston Tea Party.  

 

"Half Magic" has an old timey feel and is very funny.  If she likes that one, there are more books available about the same kids.

 

"The Saturdays" ditto.

 

 

[Ellie]

Mrs. Pigglewiggle

The Borrowers

All-of-a-Kind Family

[vonfirmath]

If she likes the historical fiction about a girl aspect, you might try the books about the American Girl girls (Maybe start with Kirsten, their pioneer girl?)

 

[EndOfOrdinary]

We went on to Anne of Green Gables or the Penderwicks. Ds both loved those and they had a similar feel.

[ThursdayNext]

Betsy-Tacy. It's a beautiful series about girls in turn of the century Minnesota. I'm sure she will like it.

 

I second Anne of Green Gables, though perhaps not the sequels.

I second Half Magic, and add Five Children and It and other Edith Nesbit, if she likes magic.

[Tanaqui]

The Birchbark House series.

[sweetpea3829]

Anne of Green Gables is a great follow up, but she may be a little young to read it. Though definitely listen to it on audiobook! And the sequels.

[rebbyribs]

Not a series, but she might like Caddie Woodlawn.

[featherhead]

Anne of Green Gables is a great follow up, but she may be a little young to read it. Though definitely listen to it on audiobook! And the sequels.

I agree. Anne of Green gables is definitely not the same reading level as Little House. She will probably enjoy them in a couple years though.

[Guest]

 

Not a series, but she might like Caddie Woodlawn.

 

 

there is a sequel--something about melons.

[Lecka]

As a child I moved on to Misty of Chincoteague. I am not sure of their level, but I remember them being on the easier side, and having the same warm family feeling I liked.

[Upptacka]

I second the Betsy Tacy suggestion! My second grade daughter loved the little house series and was sad to finish them, too. But she loved the Betsy Tacy books (we read those after little house) just as much. She has also enjoyed The Borrowers and The Happy Hollisters.

Edited March 15, 2016 by Upptacka

[Aurelia]

There are several series about the different generations of Laura's family. Martha's (Laura's great-grandmother) starts with Little House in the Highlands, Charlotte's (Laura's grandmother) begins with Little House By Boston Bay, Caroline's starts with Little House in Brookfield, and Rose's is Little House on Rocky Ridge. They have a similar feel to the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, but are by different authors. 

[Ellie]

As a child I moved on to Misty of Chincoteague. I am not sure of their level, but I remember them being on the easier side, and having the same warm family feeling I liked.

 

Oh, and there are three books in that series, I believe.

[Aurelia]

She may also like The All-of-a-Kind Family series. I think I moved from Little House to books like Ballet Shoes, Little Women, and the Oz series when I was a kid, but I was a little older. DD never really liked the Little House books, even though I bought the set with the color pictures, but she really enjoyed The Birchbark House series (4 books) and Laddie: A True Blue Story, which has a similar vibe, as well as Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon.

[RKWAcademy]

Boxcar Children series

Little Britches series

Encyclopedia Brown

The Penderwicks

The Cabin Faced West (similar feel as Little House but only 1 book)

 

Edited March 15, 2016 by RKWAcademy

[RKWAcademy]

There are several series about the different generations of Laura's family. Martha's (Laura's great-grandmother) starts with Little House in the Highlands, Charlotte's (Laura's grandmother) begins with Little House By Boston Bay, Caroline's starts with Little House in Brookfield, and Rose's is Little House on Rocky Ridge. They have a similar feel to the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, but are by different authors. 

 

I never knew about these!  Thank you!

 

[Tanaqui]

but she really enjoyed The Birchbark House series (4 books)

 

There's a new one coming out soon.

 

[chicagoshannon]

Boxcar Children.  There are a ton of them.

[...................]

There are three little house spin off series but you'll have to dig around to find them since they are by different authors. You can do a search online and then go to the library with the author names all ready. Some kids absolutely love them but others are only about Laura and view the rest as fakes lol. (My dd)

 

You could also try boxcar children. Obviously they are not as awesome as little house but with a very few exceptions they are morally upright and very interesting and weave a little culture, mystery and geography throughout (a very little) my dd loved them.

 

That's all I can think of for now.

[...................]

Oh All of. Kind Family is a HUGE favorite here but maybe a little hard for your dd right now but put them on your list for sure.

 

Also the TumTum and Nutmeg has three books.

[...................]

Betsy TAcey!!!!! Worth every penny!!!!!!

[Tanaqui]

Boxcar Children.  There are a ton of them.

 

And the quality went way, way down after the original author died or stopped writing them or whatever. Serious continuity errors all over the place.

 

OP, I just remembered the Year of the Dog books. I bet your kid would like those as well.

[Sahamamama]

In Grandma's Attic (series by Arleta Richardson)

 

Betsy-Tacy (all by Maud Hart Lovelace -- We read one or two of these as read alouds each year, going along with the ages of my daughters)

Betsy, Tacy & Tib

Betsy & Tacy Go Over the Big Hill

Betsy & Tacy Go Downtown (there are more books after this, but they deal with her high school years)

 

Pollyanna

 

The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook (but this really MUST be a read aloud, because you -- The Reader -- get chocolate when you have finished) ;) My girls LOVED this book, perfect for 2nd grade!

 

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

 

Billy & Blaze (series, by C.W. Anderson)

 

The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter

 

Caddie Woodlawn (Carol Ryrie Brink)

Caddie Woodlawn's Family (Carold Ryrie Brink)

 

Charlotte's Web (E.B. White)

It's sacrilege to say this here, I know, but I personally did not like Stuart Little or Trumpet of the Swan (both by E.B. White), but I love Charlotte's Web

 

Pippi Longstocking (Astrid Lindgren)

Pippi Goes on Board (Astrid Lindgren)

Pippi in the South Seas (Astrid Lindgren)

 

The Children of Noisy Village (Astrid Lindgren)

Christmas in Noisy Village (Astrid Lindgren)

Springtime in Noisy Village (Astrid Lindgren)

 

Ramona & Beezus books (Beverly Cleary)

Henry Huggins books (Beverly Cleary)

Ralph Mouse books (Beverly Cleary)

 

The Moffats (all by Eleanor Estes)

The Middle Moffat

Rufus M.

Ginger Pye

Pinky Pye

 

Mr. Popper's Penguins (very silly, but fun)

 

A Cricket in Times Square (my personal favorite book -- "I'm feeling Septemberish")

Tucker's Countryside

 

The Saturdays (and sequels, my oldest loved these)

 

The Penderwicks (series, my oldest loved these, by I'm not sure about these for a 2nd grader, regardless of reading level)

 

Lightkeepers Girls Box Set

 

Mrs. Pigglewiggle (series)

 

That's all I can think of tonight. Sorry, I'm tired. ;)

[Sahamamama]

Misty of Chincoteague and the others in that series are a bit difficult for a younger reader, due to the use of island dialect. However, if an adult reader is willing to invest in reading the dialect (it's a workout at first), then these books are great as read alouds. I would not recommend them as 2nd grade independent reading.

 

Also, just my two cents -- If I were you, I'd check Little Britches out from a library before you buy it, and read it yourself before you hand it to a seven year old.

 

Boxcar Children -- You want the books by the original author, Gertrude Chandler Warner, not those "based on the series by" the original author. As far as I know, these are Books 1 through 19.

 

Not sure how I failed to mention these in my last post, but look also for the American Girl series of books (for the historical characters). If you can find them, the sets with six books are much better (IMO) than the re-done "BeForever" versions that have been put out recently (2014).  :glare:  Snatch the historical sets up while you can! There are sets for Kaya (1764), Felicity (1774), Caroline (1812), Josefina (1824), Kirsten (1853), Marie-Grace & Cecile (1854), Addy (1864), Samantha (1904), Rebecca (1914), Kit (1934), Molly (1944), and Julie (1974). I think those are accurate. HTH.

Edited March 16, 2016 by Sahamamama

[...................]

In Grandma's Attic (series by Arleta Richardson)

 

Betsy-Tacy (all by Maud Hart Lovelace -- We read one or two of these as read alouds each year, going along with the ages of my daughters)

Betsy, Tacy & Tib

Betsy & Tacy Go Over the Big Hill

Betsy & Tacy Go Downtown (there are more books after this, but they deal with her high school years)

 

Pollyanna

 

The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook (but this really MUST be a read aloud, because you -- The Reader -- get chocolate when you have finished) ;) My girls LOVED this book, perfect for 2nd grade!

 

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

 

Billy & Blaze (series, by C.W. Anderson)

 

The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter

 

Caddie Woodlawn (Carol Ryrie Brink)

Caddie Woodlawn's Family (Carold Ryrie Brink)

 

Charlotte's Web (E.B. White)

It's sacrilege to say this here, I know, but I personally did not like Stuart Little or Trumpet of the Swan (both by E.B. White), but I love Charlotte's Web

 

Pippi Longstocking (Astrid Lindgren)

Pippi Goes on Board (Astrid Lindgren)

Pippi in the South Seas (Astrid Lindgren)

 

The Children of Noisy Village (Astrid Lindgren)

Christmas in Noisy Village (Astrid Lindgren)

Springtime in Noisy Village (Astrid Lindgren)

 

Ramona & Beezus books (Beverly Cleary)

Henry Huggins books (Beverly Cleary)

Ralph Mouse books (Beverly Cleary)

 

The Moffats (all by Eleanor Estes)

The Middle Moffat

Rufus M.

Ginger Pye

Pinky Pye

 

Mr. Popper's Penguins (very silly, but fun)

 

A Cricket in Times Square (my personal favorite book -- "I'm feeling Septemberish")

Tucker's Countryside

 

The Saturdays (and sequels, my oldest loved these)

 

The Penderwicks (series, my oldest loved these, by I'm not sure about these for a 2nd grader, regardless of reading level)

 

Lightkeepers Girls Box Set

 

Mrs. Pigglewiggle (series)

 

That's all I can think of tonight. Sorry, I'm tired. ;)

whoa.  That's like you read my brain about mine and my dd's favorite books of all time..and some of them are my son's favorites too!  We all absolutely fell in love with Pinky Pye.  Woaw!