Reading Those Great Books

We have really loved the Flat Stanley series. Very fun books that my kids really enjoy! Happy Reading!!

My Dad started reading chapter books to me ("The Witches" by Roald Dahl is one I remember distinctly) when I was that age and I loved it. I always got to watch the movie after we finished a book, which I still do to this day!

I think she might be a little young for chapter books that long. But start with the magic treehouse stories. and the junie b jones books. those have shorter chapters and bigger print. they will keep her interest longer. I started reading my son the junie b jones books when he started kindergarten. he loved them.

Hi M. R.,
My local librarians suggested Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. Yes, the spider dies but it is mainly a story about friendship. Ask your local librarians. They live for this request.

L. L. and Devin, 4 and Sarah, 5 1/2

LOL to Thea! When my son was first born and all he did was lay there, I read The Hobbit to him just so I could have some sort of grown up time.
I think reading chapter books to a 4 year old is great! This way they can have something to look forward to at bedtime (or whenever you read a chapter).

We just started a few months ago with, ironically, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory followed by Charlottes Web. My boys are 5 3/4 and just turned 4. The 4 year old, surprisingly, could listen and follow the story quite well!

I remember reading Junie B. Jones books to my 2 older daughters when they were Kindergarten age. Those are hilarious chapter books, if you aren't familiar. I think it's just up to your daughter and her interest/attention span. You can always try a chapter book like you mentioned, and if it's too much for her, then go back to a regular book and pick it up again a few months later. Our youngest is also almost 5 now and I've been surprised, but she is really interested in certain older books I wouldn't have suspected.

I was JUST talking to someone about this last night! My son is 4 as well, and I, like you, have stuck to books we can finish in a single sitting. However, I was remembering last night, that my mom read The Hobbit with me the summer before I started kindergarten. I'm not sure I'd start with THAT, but I think we're definitely ready to pick a children's novel on our next library visit. I say go for it. Charlotte's web is a GREAT story, and theres also the movies which she'll enjoy as well.

HTH
T.

Thanks for posting this question. I never even considered reading chapter books to my 4 year old. I have something new to try over the summer :)

It depends on her and her attention span I guess. I read my son his first chapter book at 5, it was Treasure Island and he loved it! I had to stop and explain some words, pirate expressions, etc and he had a LOT of questions but he ALWAYS wanted more than O. chapter every night!

It really depends on the child and ready or not you can keep their interest. I would say give it a try now. If she doesn't see interested, wait a few months and try again.

Happy reading!

I have a 5 year old son that loves to be read to. What are some good ones to start with? He does get scared easily. (Sorry, I hijacked your question!)

Our daughter enjoyed chapter books at 41/2.. We started with Charlottes Web.

Of course this is a child that liked to be read a dozen books a night..
She slept surrounded by her books, they were her "loveys"..

We didn't start reading the chapter books until the summer between kindergarten & 1st grade. Because my daughter was reading words on her own then, I think she was a little bored with the "one-shot" books but enjoyed having me read the chapter books since she could not read those on her own yet. But each child is different so maybe try it & see how it goes. Just make sure your daughter understands that you won't be able to finish the whole book in one night before you start. We did have some "just one more chapter" issues! I did find that I enjoyed some of the books as much as she did. Have fun!

I read chpater books to my 4 year olds and usually the little ones would crawl into my lap and listen right along. We did Charlotte;s Web and the Little House Series. Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan, Betsy , Tacy, Tibb, etc., etc., etc.
My kids loved them all.

I did not read Harry Potter to mine. I am leaving that until they are older. My 3rd is reading them now, she's 12. My first started when they came out and he was in 4th.

I like magic Tree house, A to Z mysteries, nate the great, etc. Ask at the library.
While i do think you can read chapter books to kids at any age, because they love being near you. And reading even the phone book to kids helps them to be great readers, ... I am saving the books you mentioned until my kids are a little older 6 and 7 Just so they can be as excited about it as me and really really mean it.

That is so great you do so much reading with her, I'd say go for it on the chapter books. I've read to my 2 kids everyday since they were just babies. They are doing so well in school. My kindergartener is reading on a second grade level! Read, read, read away!! :)