What age for chapter books?

[FreudianSlippery]

Or at least longer stories that take more than one sitting?

DD is 3.7 and the 3-stories-at-bedtime habit is utterly ingrained. She has loads of picture books (my mum is a librarian) so things like Charlie and Lola, Owl Babies, Giraffes Can't Dance etc etc.

Anyway I got her a new book yesterday, read it once and was surprised when this morning she 'read' it to DH - obviously she used pictures for reminders, but she was really accurate.

So I'm wondering if that means she's ready for longer stories, as she would remember what happened the night before if we had a quick recap.

When did you start longer books with your DCs? How do you know if they're 'ready'?

And any recommendations? I'd still want something with plenty of pictures.

[Niecie]

My boys have always had a story together before going to bed and having their own stories and I am pretty sure that DS2 was having chapter books at 3.7 yrs. He couldn't read them obviously but he was able to keep up with the story.

I think the only way to know if they are ready is to give it a a go. There are lots of 2 or 3 chapter books around although I can't think of any at the moment except maybe a couple of the Roahl Dahl ones - The Enormous Crocodile or The Giraffe, the Pelly and Me.

I think we also worked our way through a couple of compendiums of stories at that age where there were more words than the average picture book. Something like <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/Illustrated-Stories-Girls-Various/dp/0746074603/ref=pd_sim_b_1?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">this. We had the boy version so I can't vouch for the type of stories in the girl's one.

Or you could go for collections of stories where it is useful to remember the same characters but where each chapter stands alone. Something like the Percy the Park keeper collection.

I suppose what I am saying is move towards books with more words first and then chapters tend to flow out of that.

[FreudianSlippery]

Thanks :) I've got lovely collections of stories like Hans Christian Andersen, Aesop, bible stories etc, not sure if they're a bit too long though. I just ordered a Children's version of Alice in Wonderland, only £2 from the book people!

[Niecie]

Actually now you mention the bible stories, we did spend an awful lot of time reading a children's bible when DS2 was about your DD's age. I have no idea why but my two loved it for about 6mths. (DH and I kept trying to move on to something else but they wouldn't)

The stories are almost like a chapter book and yet they can also stand alone. It is a good choice as a means of branching out to more complex stuff so long as you don't mind the religious context of course!

[Fennel]

They are "ready" if they are happy to listen. Could be at 2 or 3, could be 6.

Some of the ones my dds have liked from the start of the "chapter book stage":

My naughty little sister.
Horrid Henry.
the younger Astrid Lindgrens (Lotta stories, and Bullerby children)
Dick King smith. Animals and Sophie stories.

[HopeForTheBest]

I'm going to be watching this thread for any good recommendations.
I've done a few chapter books with ds(3.10) and they have gone down so well, I'm sure we could do lots more, if I could just find something appropriate!

He's happy with a picture every few pages.

We've done some Lotta books (Astrid Lindgren), The Three Little Pirates (which had the added advantage of being about girl pirates, so ticked all mummy's non-sexist boxes :o ), and a superb version of Wind in the Willows for younger children.

I'm going to try something like Faraway Tree next, as he is v. keen on the Enid Blyton that we've done so far (short stories features fairies, elves etc), and a friend suggested Roald Dahl, so I'm going to get Mathilda for us.

[kfitz]

All my DCs loved The Faraway Tree and The Wishing Chair from about age 3 - just watch out if you have one of the older non pc versions!

[HopeForTheBest]

Has anyone read the Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osbourne? I'd never even heard of them , and then I came across a huge display of them in our local toy shop yesterday.

I got the first one, which DH started reading with ds last night. They did a couple of chapters and both seemed v. pleased with it. I will continue with it tonight, having been brought up to date on what happened by a v. excited ds :o

[Hulababy]

DD has had a few Magic tree House books in the past. I haven't read them but she enjoyed them.

We started short chapterbooks from 3ish. DD enjoyed books like My Naughty Little Sister, Mrs Pepperpot, etc.

[ShowOfHands]

Depends on the child.

DD is 3.8 and we are currently reading James and the Giant Peach to her (have done Matilda, the BFG and the Witches), also likes Enid Blyton.

Her cousin of the same age wouldn't listen to chapter books if you bribed her with percy pigs.

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

I think, though it is more than 10 years ago now, that My Naughty Little Sister were the very first chapter books we started with DD1 - she was definitely three at the time. She adored them and also Milly Molly Mandy. I would say your DD is definitely ready from the sound of it. Teddy Robinson is good too.

[FreudianSlippery]

Thanks all. Lots of nice ideas!

From your replies I think she is ready to understand them. I have no idea if she will want to listen to them though, as she reaaaaally loves her picture books at bedtime - maybe we could start reading the chapter books during the day instead!

[wearymum200]

Roald Dahl definitely a hit with DS from 3ish (twits, fantastic Mr Fox), also Winnie-the-Pooh, Paddington bear, Adventures of little Tim

[Steph40]

If you are not sure your DD wants to give up picture books, you could try some picture books for older readers like the ones listed here. They tend to have more text on each page and use more sophisticated vocabulary or have a more involved story. My 3 and 5 year old DSs like the ones we've tried, such as "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" and "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers".

In terms of chapter books for reading aloud, my 5 year DS has enjoyed the first four "Magic Tree House" books, as already mentioned (I've just ordered the next 4), "My Father's Dragon" by Ruth S Gannett, and lots of Roald Dahl. Waiting to be read are "Ramona the Pest" by Beverly Cleary and "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum. There are some more ideas for childrens chapter books here.

Finally, have you come across Jim Trealease's "The Read-Aloud Handbook"? It's a pretty interesting read in itself, but there is also a great list of suggested books at the end which are good for reading aloud. Some are a bit US-orientated, but most work this side of the Atlantic too. Chapter books are referred to as short novels by Jim Trealease, and you can see a selection of the suggestions from the book on his website.

[Elk]

Enid Blyton - The Faraway Tree or the Wishing Chair are good at that age.
My dd2 at that age loved the Rainbow Fairy books.

[cymruoddicatref]

Try Roald Dahl's The Magic Finger. It is his easiest book - quite short, with a wonderfully satisfying plot and good illustrations.