Advice on a Book to Read with My 5 Year Old

Updated on March 23, 2010
B.K. asks from Waterford, MI
26 answers

My daughter loves to read and we read a book every night before bed. I'd like to get a chapter book and read her a chapter every night. Any suggestions on a cute/girly age appropriate book?

1 mom found this helpful

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K.B.

answers from Houston on

My 6 year old daughter enjoys a series called the Petal Fairies Series. Each book focuses on a different fairy, Tia the Tulip Fairy, Daniella the Daisy Fairy, etc. They are really cute.

Good luck,
K.

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M.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Charlotte's Web, Ivy & Bean, The Boxcar Children, My Father's Dragon, Stuart Little, Ramona the Pest, Runaway Dolls, Little House on the Prairie... there are so many great chapter books for kids out there. These have all been hits with my girls. We started reading chapter books when my oldest was 4. The biggest winners have the Ivy & Bean series, the first Boxcar Children (we've read it 3 times now), and My Father's Dragon. Happy reading! And please, post what she likes so I can get a few new titles!

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R.P.

answers from Salt Lake City on

My daughter loved Junie B. Jones at that age. The Color and pet fairy books are also fun. Young Cam Jansen books are fun; cute little mysteries. Magic Tree House books. You can ask the librarian too. They have good suggestions.

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G.R.

answers from Peoria on

The American Girl books are girly and fun. Five might be a little young...it all depends on how mature your daughter is.

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B.

answers from Augusta on

Junie B Jones. or the Tinker bell series are both good.

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K.L.

answers from Chicago on

Toys Go Out is one of our favorite books to read out loud. It is so sweet.

K.H.

answers from Detroit on

It's not girly, but there's always classics like the Indian in the cupboard, or any of the "Ramona" books by Beverly Cleary, Charlotte's Web, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, the Secret Garden, etc.

I also found this site: http://www.daddyread.com/

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H.P.

answers from Milwaukee on

Kate DiCamillo is a great writer-My 5 yr old girl loved"The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" She also wrote "The tale of Desperaux." I have to agree about Junie B. Being a poor role model and annoying. We love the Ramona books, they are clever and I think it's amazing how well Beverly Cleary understood children. Those books are timeless. Right now I'm reading her "James and the Giant Peach" but Roald Dahl can be pretty wacky/ creepy so I think it depends on personality and maturity level. Good luck and have fun!

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Anything by Beverly Cleary. The Ramona books are so much fun!

There is also a cute series of books about a girl named Betsy. The books are by Carolyn Haywood. They might be hard to find in stores, but you could try the library and I just found them on Amazon.

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A.M.

answers from Detroit on

You have a plethora of wondeful suggestions. My husband read My Father's Dragon with my son when he was little and it was "their " book. He also did this early on with the Harry Potter (first book). I also recommend the actual "Winnie the Pooh" which exposes kids to a different language style.

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

My almost-5-year-old daughter loves the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary (we've read Ramona the Brave, Ramona and Beezus, and just started Ramona and Her Father) and Misty of Chincoteague by Margaruite Henry. We also frequently read the Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo (lots of pictures and short chapters -- you can usually finish a book in one sitting).

My sister in law read the Wizard of Oz books by L. Frank Baum when my niece and nephew were about 7 or 8. She also read the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder starting at about age 5. I plan to start this series soon (Ramona is wearing me out!).

Just an aside, most of these books are available as audio books, and we listen to them in the car all the time! Thanks for the question. I got some great ideas for our reading time too!

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L.M.

answers from New York on

The first books that come to mind are the "Magic Tree House", but these are not "girly" books.

"Ramona", "Ramona the Pest", "Ramona the Brave" and the few others in the series are fun.

The "American Girl" series are very good.

My oldest liked the Bailey School Kids books, however, these are not girly books.

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T.B.

answers from Detroit on

Junie B Jones books are wonderful - about an active girl in kindergarten and first grade, dealing with friends, teachers, family, holidays, etc. They aren't long chapters or long books so a chapter a night would be very do-able. Good luck!

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L.G.

answers from Detroit on

I just wanted to give one more vote against the Junie B Jones books. maybe you've checked them out already...i know they are entertaining for kids, but i think it's bad for a time when they are learning to read, and she doesn't use proper grammar at all.

our library has a whole section of the books for early readers, that are sorted by level. maybe yours does too!

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M.T.

answers from Detroit on

I would go with Junie B Jones or Ramona the pest.

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S.S.

answers from Detroit on

The "Junie B. Jones" books go over well with that age group. As do the "Fudgie" books! Personally, I LOVE the "Fancy Nancy" series read with a fun accent!

G.S.

answers from Saginaw on

We loved the Junie B Jones... and Cam Jansen series.. cute books! and fun to read!! also Judy Moody..

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T.Z.

answers from Detroit on

Some of the classics I read when I was younger are The Boxcar Children, Mandy, The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, The Little House Series, and anything by Shel Silverstein.

I have kept most of these, and I';; be reading them to my little one before too long!

K.I.

answers from Spokane on

"Where the sidewalk ends" and "light in the attic" By Shell Silverstein...I know these aren't chapter books but they are classics! We do half a dozen pages a night, it is so much fun and always a ton to think and talk about!

I also 3rd the Junie B. Jones books. Loved those when I was younger.

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C.S.

answers from Detroit on

I loved reading Little House and Alice in Wonderland to my kids when they were little. I also read Treasure Island to my son.

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R.C.

answers from Detroit on

Junie B Jones, Kindergartner series. Very cute, very funny and age appropriate. I can't think of the author name but they are quite popular. There is also a 1st grader series, too.

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K.S.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I have to agree with the others about to classics, they are time tested and good. I don't really like Junie B series either for the same reason mentioned. I am an Usborne Book consultant also and there are so many great books offered through them, including the classics. I am so glad to hear that you want to read to her every night as that is so important to promoting a love of reading. Keep it up even as she begins to read more on her own, my daughter is in 3rd grade. I am so shocked at how many parents don;t take the time to read with their kids at this age, thinking they can do it on their own.

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K.R.

answers from Detroit on

Anything Usborne! They have great chapter books for young kids and many girlie titles about fairies, princesses. Here's a local consultant's website. She'll help you personally if you don't find what you are looking for on the site.

http://www.myubam.com/ecommerce/main.asp?sid=D0322&gi...

A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Side note......If you do start reading her a chapter book every night (which I think is a great idea), also be sure to include another, more reading level appropriate book for her to read or for you to read to her. She won't learn how to read from a chapter book. She will still require a more simple words with picture book to visually follow along with to recognize common words. Just make sure to incorporate both together. I read my children Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, Swiss Family Robinson........the classics.

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L.D.

answers from Detroit on

I have to disagree with the Junie B series... I know it's a popular pick, but I think she's sassy and a bit mean. Her sentances are choppy and annoying. She's definately not a role model that I want my daughters to think of.

My twin daughters love the Magic Tree House series. We also like Ivy and Bean, Judy Moody and Stink. We're also reading a jewel fairy book, but it's a bit more advanced and proably wouldn't keep a 5 year olds atttention.

Happy reading!

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