Kids & Chapter Books

[ThirdandLong]

At what age do you think children are ready to have chapter books read to them? And what books would you start with?

Every night we read multiple little books such as Harry McClary, Runaway Bunny, Where the Wild Things Are, and the kids do love this. But little books have pictures and simple, short plots. I'm not sure they'd be too interested in chapter books. On the other hand, they LOVE when my H tells made up stories before bedtime, and this I liken to chapter books because it has no pictures and a rather involved plot.

My mom never read chapter books to us growing up. She read little books until we were old enough to read on our own, and then we read chapter books individually. So I don't have real life experience to draw upon.

[SpartanGirl]

I started reading chapter books with my oldest two when they were about 3. I started my son with The Magic Treehouse series. For DD1 we started with the Rainbow Magic series. Let me say, these are the most repetitive, boring books to me, but DD LOVES them. They really sparked her love of reading so I can't say no. We've branched out a bit since then - we read Where the Mountain Meets the Moon together and it was awesome. I'm trying to mix more great books like this in with her choice of Fairy and Unicorn books.

DS is more interested in nonfiction books so choosing chapter books for him can be difficult. If anyone knows of great nonfiction books for kids I'd love some recs!

Anyway, here is my list of some of my kids' favorite chapter books (many of these are series):
Rainbow Magic
Magic Treehouse
Ivy & Bean (they can be a little sassy though)
Roscoe Riley Rules
Princess Posey
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Spiderwick Chronicles (we read these when my daughter was older. I think they can be scary)
Cobble Street Cousins
The Magician's Boy
The Magic Schoolbus
Charlotte's Web
Ralph Mouse series
Ramona
Little House books

I've also heard good things about the Flat Stanley and Captain Awesome series, but we haven't read them yet.

[rootbeerfloat]

I think you could start around age 4, at least. I actually haven't read chapter books w/ DS (he tends to pick non-fiction books about animals and dinosaurs), but here are some recommendations from my mom board:

Captain Underpants
Beverly Cleary - Ramona series and the Superfudge series
Magic Tree House
Sugar Plum Ballerinas
American Girl books
Ronald Dahl
Judy Moody/Stink
Boxcar Children
Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew
Flat Stanley

[hopecounts]

I agree 3 or 4 depending on the kid and their attention span and interest in reading.

What about the Junie B. Jones Books?
www.amazon.com/Junie-Jones-Stupid-Smelly-ebook/dp/B003F3PLCQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1340243634&sr=1-4&keywords=junie+b+jones

[Deleted]

I think any age is good for chapter books but it works best if they are old enough to recall information from day to day. For instance, if you kid remembers for a straight week that you said you would take them to the park one day, they're probably ready. If they can tell you stories from things that happened the other day or remember what they wanted to ask you the day before, carry on.

When I was little, my babysitter used to read me the Secret of Nimh. I also loved the Mouse and the Motorcycle.

I think it depends pretty heavily actually on how active you are when your read to them.

[dorothyinAus]

It was about the time my younger brother was born -- he's five years younger than me -- that I really remember Mom reading chapter books to us, though I am sure she must have started before.

I remember her reading The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes over two nights, even though it was not a chapter book as such. It was only when I was an adult that she admitted how much she hated that book -- and it was one of my favourites.

I remember hearing Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH aloud and Charlotte's Web, as well as some Encyclopedia Brown books, but mainly it was Richard Scarry or Dr. Seuss that we read aloud, at least until I was old enough to read aloud. And then it became my job to read on long car trips. I read Bunnicula, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH and the sequel, Roscoe and the Rats of NIMH, and The Westing Game.

[cmh06]

I've been reading Magic Tree House books to DD for the last 2 months. She really enjoys them.

[vccake]

Try Mercy Watson and Nate the Great. Short chapters, some pics and good writing. I would love if DS loved The Chocolate Touch, etc. but it is just too over his head - he needs a picture!

[pooh8402]

whenever the kid is ready? I read my first chapter book on my own when I was about 5. my parents didn't read to me.

I'll probably read chapter books to my future kids before they're "ready," just so they can hear my voice reading to them, and not worry about whether they are retaining information.

[Nonny]

I don't remember my parents reading chapter books to me ever, but I started reading them on my own when I was about 7 (with the Little House books). In school I think the teachers started reading chapter books to us maybe in 2nd grade.