Following this thread. My DD is 3.5 and ready for stories that are a bit more complex. Something in between elaborate picture books and the Romona series.
Have you explored early readers, like Henry and Mudge?
No, I'd never heard of this series. I looked it up and it looks really cute, thanks!
Both kids loved mercy Watson. Princess in Black has been mentioned. Owl Diaries are great. Check out the branches books from scholastics. Lots of pictures, not too many words and funny stories. Haggis and Tank. Billy and the Mini Monsters.
I will give a do not recommend- the Captain Underpants books. My DS loves them but I really really hate them. I think I won’t read anymore of them until he can read himself.
Ugh. I hate those. DS1 found out about them from his classmates and reads them himself now. But he knows that while I allow him to read them, I will not read them myself.
Dragon Masters from Scholastics Branches series Pinky and Rex Henry & Mudge Frog & Toad Clementine Magic School Bus from Scholastics Branches series (it follows the new cartoon series)
I feel so behind. I hadn’t even thought of chapter books for my new 4-year-old yet! Making a big list now.
You’re not behind at all! Seriously. My kids only started showing interest in chapter books this year at ages 8 & 6. The 8 year old is perfectly capable of reading longer books, but almost always chooses picture books. Honestly a lot of picture/children’s books are better stories than some of the beginning chapter books.
So if your child is happy reading picture books, do that. No need to race to chapter books. Read together-that’s all that matters.
I feel so behind. I hadn’t even thought of chapter books for my new 4-year-old yet! Making a big list now.
Don’t! I had never thought about reading chapter books to my 4 year old! I actually never read chapter books to my 9 year old. She still likes me reading picture books to her. I think it’s mainly bc she doesn’t get to do that at school- she reads chapter books all day long and it’s probably nice for her to relax with a funny picture book.
Yeah I will add that a lot of the very early chapter books are poorly written. Not all but a lot. We read picture books for a long time and now that DD is 8 we still do! I mean, I am not sure who is more excited for the new Mo Willems Pigeon book coming out this summer. DD, DH, or me. We just started mixing in chapter books right before Kindergarten because I was tired of reading the same thing over and over.
Post by formerlyak on May 15, 2019 10:06:58 GMT -5
I forgot to add my usual advice when these posts pop up. In a few years when you get to Judy Blume books, don't read "Superfudge" to your kid until they know about Santa. The truth is revealed in that book. It's how my then 7 year old found out about Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.
I feel so behind. I hadn’t even thought of chapter books for my new 4-year-old yet! Making a big list now.
Kids change a lot from young 4 to almost 5. I’ve enjoyed branching out into chapter books with my kids, but I also try to make sure we still read lots of picture books because i think they’re also really good for them. As long as you’re reading, I don’t think what you read makes much difference for their development, so don’t stress.
I feel so behind. I hadn’t even thought of chapter books for my new 4-year-old yet! Making a big list now.
Kids change a lot from young 4 to almost 5. I’ve enjoyed branching out into chapter books with my kids, but I also try to make sure we still read lots of picture books because i think they’re also really good for them. As long as you’re reading, I don’t think what you read makes much difference for their development, so don’t stress.
I totally agree. My kid turns five in a few weeks, and she's only really had the attention span for chapter books since around 4.5. And she still loves and hears lots of picture books.