Need Chapter Books to Read Aloud to Five-year Old

Here is a link to the American Library Association's recommendation of books for families. You'll find award winning and appropriate titles here. How exciting to have such an eager reader/listener!!
http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/alscresources/summerreading/r...

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I have also read the "My Father's Dragon" series to my kids (5 & 2), they loved them. I love chapter books and the bonding that takes place reading them!! We've enjoyed 'Charlotte's Web', 'The Trumpet of the Swan', & 'Stewart Little' - all written by E.B. White. If you're interested in those they're usually available as a set on Amazon for a discounted price.
Also, I recently picked up Mary Poppins but think I'll hold off another 6 months - 1 year, it seems a bit advanced. I have to strongly recommend another series titled 'Fred the Mouse'.
These 4 stories are especially unique because they were written by a young boy (8 yrs old),
named Reese Haller. I believe he is the youngest published author; they are very well written and based on friendship, integrity, trust, etc. My 5 year old loves them as did her Kindergarten class when we donated them to their library. I think it's awesome because it showed her even children are capable of amazing success in whatever they are interested in! I think these books are available @ his website : www.reesehaller.com
My daughter also enjoyed Heidi, don't know if it's considered a "girls" book...
I love the old classics! I'm going to go pick up Mr.Popper's Penguins next (thanks for that one!)
Happy Reading to you and yours!!
M. Redondo Beach, CA

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Try James and The Giant Peach, i don't remember who it is by but you could go to the library and ask them if they have it and then when your done reading it, rent the movie to watch w/ your son i love doing that with my friends and stuff,
(I'm not a mom, im only fourteen) anyway, the Giver is also a great book, and if he likes magical books Harry Potter is always good, but since the british people use what we think are cuss words, in everyday use, there will be some every once in a while, but there great, books 1&2 are just like the movie... but go to the library early in the morning one day and let him pick out some books, if you belong to the riverside county library system, (which means that you have a library card for the Riverside County) you can get 2 books your first time and like 30, after that... your daughter will love it too! i dont know where you live but on Mission trail and bundy canyon, they have story time wednesdays at ten... good luck!!!

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Try All About Sam by Lois Lowry. It's about a boy from the day he was born until he is about 5 years old told in the perspective of the young boy Sam. There are several books to follow his life. Hilarious! I bet he can really relate to some of the parts of the book!

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how about starting on the young adventures of captain jack sparrow
the pirates of the Caribbean series?

my favorite is Alice through the looking glass the original Alice and wonderland book.

you also can read the original peter pan book.
L. m

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Everybody has great suggestions! I teach first grade and another one that my class loved was Poppy by Avi and the sequel is Poppy and Rye. It's pretty dramatic, but good. I love Rosemary Wells and she has put out some little chapter books, too. Her characters are great. There are also great picture books out there with amazing illustrations to change it up a bit. Chris Van Allsburg has some really fun ones.

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I have been reading Flat Stanley to my five year old twin boys and they love it. I believe that there are five or six books in the series. And I like them because the boys in the book are polite:)

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R. one of the funniest stories I ever read to my kids was the ones we made up together, Each night what I did when starting a new book , we talk about a subject I wrote it down, then who should be in it, wrote it down, then on & on, next night, again, who should be in the story, on the third night we starting the book like this ,

Once upon a time there was this green dog, the reason he was green is he ate to many pickles, his name was lucky, lucky had a master his name was john. And on & and on by the end of a couple of weeks we had written a story together, then I went to, each night I set the timer so I spent the same amount of time working on the book. Best idea I ever had worth a million smiles.

www.lulu.com
and for a small price I had the book published and mailed to my kid, I think it cost me about $ 12.95 to have the book made, to this day my kids both love to write and have already written a couple of kids books. It gives them something to brag about.

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My son is a little older and I'm trying to remember what I read aloud to him at 5. He's now almost 7 and an avid reader himself and I'm having trouble finding enough chapter books he can read. He just goes through them so fast. Plus, I still read to him as well. Regardless, we've had tremendous success with the Magic Tree House series. I started reading these to him at 5 beginning with book 1 and working our way through. There are more than 40 books (I think) in the series. We continue to read these books together following the adventures of Jack and Annie. It's our own tradition. I know you've read some of them, but we'll sometimes do additional research on the topic to bring the stories more to life. My son has also loved the Black Lagoon series, but there are only 8 chapter books and my son finished these in a week. Don't confuse them with the picture books by the same author. My son as begun reading the A to Z Mysteries series, but he's not in love with these. We've also read the "Fudge" books by Judy Blume. They're a little old for him and I have to explain some of the vocabulary, but he thinks Fudge is hilarious. The first book is "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing". I would also try some of the classics. My son enjoyed James and the Giant Peach when he was 4 and then we had fun watching the movie. Charlotte's Web is another that comes to mind. Visit your local library and ask the childrens librarian for other suggestions. I haven't hear of My Father's Dragon and am going to seek those out. If you've read them twice, it sounds like your son really liked them. Maybe I'll have some success as well. Thanks and good luck!

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What about Charlotte's Web....kids love that one!!!!

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If he loved the Magic Treehouse series, then he might also enjoy the stepping stone series of chapter books that starts with Aliens for Breakfast. My son is 5 and a half and loves these books. I love that they are chapters so that we read as much or as little as we want.
It sounds like you're doing a great job with him. Reading is so important. With boys especially, it is really important to find stories that they like, so as to keep their interest.
Also, it's a good idea to read books that are above their reading level (I know that you are). This gives them the opportunity to expand their vocabulary and to learn new words by having them read to them. That is how they will learn to read them later.

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R.,

I had this same issue years ago as my kids are now 9 and 11. I suggest you go to the library or a book store where they have sections where all the books in that section are age appropriate for him and let him choose.Even though he might not be able to read yet he can still choose, maybe by the pictures, or by what catches his eye. This was one thing that my kids loved; they got to pick out there own books! They couldn't believe that I let them and I couldn't believe that they wanted to; after all they couldn't read yet. They couldn't wait to get home so I could read it to them.They even asked if I knew how to read and drive at the same time.I have to tell you though, the first time we went they chose books that I would have never chosen for them and almost offered my opinion and was going to say "No, you wouldn't like that book",but I refrained. It turned out that the books they chose were really inspirational and we all learned life lessons from them! I also noticed that their self esteem sky-rocketed. I didn't realize the impact that one little choice on their own at that age would have had in all areas of their lives! They were ready to take on the world. They began teaching themselves how to read when I wasn't able to read to them. They started cleaning up after themselves without me asking and enjoying it!

Hope this helps
All the best
Deb

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Hi R., My son loved!! Hank The Cow Dog and I enjoyed them too. It is a great series.
D.
southernlivingathome.com/danacarey

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How about the Boxcar Children? A series by Gertrude Chandler Warner, originally written in the 50's and 60's I believe. The first 20 or so were actually written by her. Later ones are "inspired by" her and don't begin to compare. Also Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Make Way for Ducklings and other books by that author. How about The Bobbsey Twins and Five Little Peppers. Also The Wheel on the School. I found all of these at the public library. Happy reading!
M., retired home school mom of 4

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Hi R.,
I see that you've already received a lot of suggestions, however, I didn't see anyone with my personal favorite for your son's age. I would highly recommend the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggles series. It's been around for over 50 years, and is a delightful classic that I still find relevant today. Really humorous, and each story always has a really appropriate moral lesson. Here's a link to check it out: http://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Piggle-Wiggle-Betty-MacDonald/d...
Good Luck.

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The best books are the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series they were written quit a while ago but the stories are so funny and clever I'm sure your son would get a kick out of the please please check them out I know they sell them in paperback at Barns and Nobles for around 5 buks they weer my favorites as a kid , well they still are LOL.

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As a kid, I loved the Judy Bllom books. Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing, Are You There God It's Me Margaret. Those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

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R.,
Do you know of the "Nate The Great" series? There are 22 stories in all about a boy detective and his dog that solve all kinds of kid mysteries. They are so cute and so well written. You can get them at Barnes and Noble in paperback. Start with the original "Nate The Great" and then I would get "The Big Sniff", "Undercover" and the "Snowy Trail". My 5 year old daughter LOVES this series and we often read these to her in bed.

Also, there's another book with 8 chapters called "The Puppy Sister" about a little boy who wants a brother or sister. Instead he gets a puppy who chapter by chapter turns into a little sister. Kind of crazy concept, but so cute. Written from the point of view of the puppy!

Good luck and enjoy!

F. P

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Hi R.,

My daughter, too, loved My Father's Dragon. I'm not sure exactly the age, but she loved the Boxcar Children books too, and there are a lot of them. When he's a little older he might like Encyclopedia Brown. There's Charlotte's Web, The Phantom Tollbooth (my daughter still loves it and she's 24 now), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Henry Huggins series, Winnie the Pooh, and Mathilda.

V.

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Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien (The Secret of NIMH is the movie based on the book, which is also wonderful). The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (I think). Again, there are movies based on the book, but the book itself is WAY better. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett. The Bromeliad Trilogy (Truckers, Diggers, and Wings), also by Terry Pratchett.

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