Chapter Books

I can't remember what grade my daughter started reading them, but the Animal Ark series is one she really likes. There is also the Magic Tree House series, which is quite popular. You could get other ideas from looking in the juvenile paperback section at the library. Then you can give them a test spin to find out what she likes.

Hi A.,

I actually am a first grade teacher in a public school. I would recommend several different series. The Magic Tree House is a good series but still may be a little tough. The A to Z Mysteries are also a good one. There is also a Fairy series but I can't think of the name of it... you could look on Amazon. Just remember to ask her to tell you about what is going on in the story. Lots of kids can read the words but they don't understand what they are reading. I would start with the Magic Tree House.

My daughter LOVES the Magic Tree House series of chapter books by Mary Pope Osborne. She even likes to create her own after reading them. I know there are over 30 of them already.

My daughter loves the Magic Tree House series...there are a whole bunch of them!!! Hope she enjoys them like my second grader :)

"The Magic Treehouse" Series is pretty good. My son is also in first grade and loves these ones. They're about a brother and a sister who go on adventures together, so great for either gender. The stories are pretty cute - pirates, dinosaurs, Knights, mummies - not scary and even a little educational - I think some of them even have companion literature with more facts about the subject like Ancient Egypt and Medieval Times etc.

I remember reading the Box Car Children series when I was in first and second grade - I didn't know they still made them - I'll have to seek those out for my guy!

My daughter is 8 and she loves the Magic Tree House series. It's about children who travel back in time to witness great historic events. There are about 35 books in the series, and I think they are a great way for children to not only practice reading, but also learn about history.

Check out Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. Each chapter is a different kid's story. They are wonderful!

I taught third grade for seven years before I had my daughter (14 months old). Junie B. Jones is a fun series. Some other chapter book series that are similiar in terms of reading level would be the Magic Treehouse series, Cam Jansen series, A to Z Mysteries series, Bailey School Kids series, and Horrible Harry series. Those are all fictional book series. You may also want to look into nonfiction books by Gail Gibbons as well as the Magic School Bus series.

Discussion of what she is reading is also very important, as many kids can read the words on the page, but not comprehend what they are reading. Discussing what is happening in the books as well as what connections she is making with the book, (ie, what it reminds her of), and what questions/thoughts she has as she is reading will further enhance her comprehension.

Hope that helps!
C.

Both of my girls LOVED Junie B. Jones!! My youngest one also ready a series called Judy Moody. There was also a series that we found called Captain Underpants. I thought it was going to be unacceptable, but it ended up being a very good story line. This was also about the time my girls started on Judy Blume books.

Good luck!

I loved the Box Car children series. As a matter of fact I still have my first book

My daughter loved a series called Henry and Mudge. They were about a boy and his dog named Mudge. They were very funny. Amelia Bedelia was another good one I remember. Geez, I can't believe I don't remember books from only 7 years ago!

Hi, I have a 7 1/2 year old son and he loved Junie B Jones when he first started reading chapter books. Another great timeless series is The Boxcar Children, he loved these. He also likes The Magic School Bus. He is currently reading Back-to-School Burglar, it's a mystery. I also have a 6 yr old in Kintergarden, a 4 1/2 year old and an almost 3 yr old. We love reading, especially anything that keeps their attention! Good Luck.

My son loves the Magic Treehouse series! Check ebay for cheaper prices. The Magic Schoolbus series is popular too.

Try the Magic Treehouse Books. Those are fun for kids!

My daughter likes Magic Tree House.

My oldest daughter is also in 1st grade and she loves Amelia Bedelia and Fancy Nancy. I don't know how old you are but when I was little we learned to read with Dick and Jane books and I found a Dick and Jane chapter book and she likes to read that one too. I want to say i found it at Barnes & Noble.

Hi,

The Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine is a mystery series. Might be a little higher reading level than what is mentioned here, but my kids liked them.

Glad someone mentioned Henry and Mudge, by Cynthia Rylant.

There were several books about Henry, a Siamese cat who walked on his hind legs, I guess that would make a series.... I think the author is Mary Calhoun. One title was "Henry the Sailor Cat". Can't actually remember if they are chapter books, but I do remember reading these to my younger son when he was a pre-schooler, and he loved them!

When I was younger I remember reading and enjoying the Betsy & Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace, also the Bobbsey Twins books. As an adult I loved the A. of Green Gables series; these three might be a little advanced, but eventually kids advance their reading skills too!

Have fun!

K. Z.

I have been reading with my 7 year old son and 5 1/2 year old daughter the Magic Tree House books, which has them traveling throughout time, The Magic School Bus, which teaches them about science, and then we have just started the Hank Zipzer books. He is a little boy (4th grader I think) and it is how he goes through life. We have only read the 1st book but it was hysterical.

Judy Blume is great! And Ramona Books.

Check out www.ubah.com/u2584. Usborne books has many wonderful books available for all ages. You can buy them off of the website, or if you'd rather get your books for free, have a home or catalog party. With a party, your friends get to buy great quality Christmas gifts, plus you get free books! There are books about famous people(like A. Frank), classic stories(like Phantom of the Opera, Secret Garden, and Black Beauty, Little Women-too many to list), chapter book series about ballerinas and life at a horse stable. I'm sure you'll find many that she'll like. Email me if you have any questions.

Take her to the library - be sure she gets her own card.
Your local librarian can be of great help in getting her
started - for my daughter, it was American Girl. (she dearly
loves the historical fiction genre)

You might try:
Amelia Bedilia
Arthur
American Girl

One of the most important things is to keep them reading !

There's the Goosebumps books, Katie Kazoo series, Amelia Badelia...which I LOVE....Judy Moody, A-Z Mysteries, Flat Stanley, captain Underpants, Judy Bloom's books...which I also LOVE...Animal Ark, Franny K. Stein, Magic Treehouse, Jigsaw Jones, Cam Jansen, The Puppy Place, Henry Huggins, Ready Freddy, Black Lagoon Adventures, Aly Cat and Herbie Jones series, Horrible Harry and Friends, Calendar Club, The Magic Shoolbus, Sister Magic, Geronimo Stilton....If that don't help, then I'm sure the librarian at your local library could point you in a direction that would be good for your daughter. Good Luck!

Usborne Books has a collection of Young Reader books, series one or two, that your daughter would LOVE. There is a wide variety of titles, and the books are chapter books with pictures, which keeps them exciting and fun.

If you don't know about these books, you can go to www.ubah.com and click on Find a Consultant, and then just enter your zip code to find someone near you.

I've been a teacher for a long time, and I really recommend these books! If I can help you with anything else, just let me know. :)

-- B. Thompson
www.read2me2day.com

hi A...My daughter really loves the magic tree house series.She loves Junie b. also..she is in 2nd grade now but got into them in 1st. Good luck..K.

The "Black Lagoon" series is a group of short stories that make lite of things that may appear scary at school. (ie - "The Teacher From The Black Lagoon") There are a favorite of my 7 year old. Nate the Great is also a good one!

I remember loving the Boxcar Children, Encyclopedia Brown, Saddle Club, and Babysitter's Club books at that age (or maybe a little older).

We also like the Junie B Jones series. Another good series is the Magic Tree House series. We also enjoy Mercy Watson books by Kate DiCamillo, also, Cam Jansen books are good. They are like Encyclopedia Brown type mysteries but shorter. Some other good ones are the Pinky and Rex books and also Frog and Toad books. We get bunches from the library. Our library has the chapter books sorted into groups so they are easy to find. They also have them divided by Step 1,2, and 3. The only thing I found with the Step books though is that sometimes they have sounds that haven't been dealt with yet. The Step 1 books do have less words per page but sometimes they are hard to pronounce for new readers. Hope this helps.

The Magic Tree House books are great...they are for both girls and boys too. There are over 30 books in the series, so if she likes them it'll keep her busy for awhile!!
enjoy!!

My daughter loved the Magic Treehouse series, but I hated them. They were so dry. Finally, Finally, finally she finished them and now she is moving on to American Girls, which I love and so does she. We've also read some of the Little House books, there is a new series of Little House books, called "The Little House Chapter Books," they were specifically made for this stage of reading. We've also done the Rainbow Fairys and Rainbow Pets, which she also loved. There is also a series about Brownies. Check out your local library. Ask the children's libraian to help you, she's the one who knows the books best! Isn't it great when they start reading?! I was never so proud!

My daughter loved the 'Amber Brown' books and so did I!

My daughter loved Junie B. too. She also loved the Magic Tree House series and the A to Z Mystery Series.

My girls (1st and 2nd gr) love the Rainbow Magic books (the fairy ones mentioned before). They also love the Young Cam Jansen and then the regular Cam Jansen books. They are mystery type books. The young version would be easier. They also love the Magic Tree House series. We have enjoyed reading the Boxcar Children books out loud together. Another favorite for the girls is the Nancy Drew and the Clues Crew. They are about Nancy Drew as a young girl solving mysteries. Another series is the younger version of the American Girl books. Happy reading!

The Magic Tree House books are cute. I teach middle school special ed. They are around the same level as Junie B. Jones.

Are you reading to her or is she reading to herself. If you are reading to her try some of the classics like little women, Little house on the prairie hope that helps

Old fashioned, I know, but the original A.A. Milne "Winnie the Pooh" books are a dream. They are chapter books, but really are a little bit more like stories. I've never been able to appreciate the Disney version of Pooh. Too commercial and "cutsie," but the original one is a classic that can't be beaten!

The Ramona Quimby books are a lot of fun, too. My son is grown, so I can't remember whether they're chapter books or not, but I think they're age appropriate, and they're darling stories.

I miss reading to my little boy! "Story time, song time, bed time" was our favorite time of day!

Junie B. Jones!!!! We started to get those books when our son was in kindergarten, now he's in 3rd grade and still loves them! In fact, whenever he reads, all 4 of us gather around because the stories are absolutely hilarious!

When I was a kid I LOVED Beverly Cleary books (Ramona, Henry Huggins...)and I also was a big fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I look forward to my own daughter to grow old enough so we can start reading these classsic books.

A couple of new suggestions. Try the Secrets of Droon. They are so cool!!! I read them with my son and will start them soon with my daughter. They are lots of fun. Magic, secret passages, and adventure. Also, the A to Z mysteries are great. Just depends on where her reading level is. I think that both of these are around 2nd grade, but I never let that stop my kids. If they are reading and enjoying it then they are absorbing it. And learning to love reading.

Good luck!!