When to start reading longer books with small DCs?

[SavoirFaire]

Probably been done before, sorry, but just wondering... DS is 3 - just. His language is excellent and he absolutely loves books. Has always liked looking at them when not being read to, particularly looking at the detail in the pictures. We have tonnes of books but he has a number of particular faves (e.g. the Julia Donaldson's) which he can literally recite, word for work. I think he's got the capacity to start listening to longer stories, potentially 'chapter' books that run for more than one night. But I'm wondering if really he is still too young. When did you start reading longer books to your DCs and what's a good place to start? He's quite visual, so I think something with some pictures at least would be good. Roald Dahl?

[megandraper]

just try it and see. My DSs love books. We read chapter books to them as well as picture books. They are 5 and 3. The 5 year old likes the longer books more, but the 3 year old enjoys them too (in smaller doses).

Places to start - Roald Dahl, Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf, Mrs Pepperpot. Currently reading one called 'My Dad is a Birdman' which they like. Just got Ted Hughes's 'The Iron Man' but haven't started that yet, also Stig of the Dump. A book called something to do with 'Green Dragon' went down well. Vulgar the Viking got a mixed reception.

[maillotjaune]

My DS3 is just 3 - he isn't up for longer books yet, loses interest. We read a lot of Dr Seuss, Judith Kerr, Julia Donaldson and the like.

DS1 is an avid reader aged 9 but he was over 4 before we got onto longer books. Our first successes were the easier Dahls (giraffe and Pelly and me; twits; fantastic mr fox), Peter Pan, Wind In The Willows.

[R2PeePoo]

The Enormous Crocodile
Winnie the witch (not the picture book version, the paperback collections of three or four stories)
Laurence Anholt's Seriously Silly Stories (there are rhyme versions as well)
Kaye Umansky wrote several long poems that were published like books- The Spooks Step out and The Empty Suit of Armour are two we have.
Ladybird fairy tales-the ones from my childhood like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

DS is 3 and he loves all of the above.

[Takver]

I'd suggest 'chapter' books where each chapter is a discrete story. Teddy Robinson is absolutely perfect for a 3 year old, and still has lots of pictures. Other good oldies are Milly Molly Mandy, Clever Polly & the Stupid Wolf & My Naughty Little Sister.

[popsnsqeeze]

My dd is 4, and really enjoyed being read a chapter of "my naughty little sister" every night.

[LoveAndSqualor]

I started reading chapter books with DS when he was around the 3 mark - started with My Naughty Little Sister, as each chapter's pretty much a discrete story. He loved them (and so did I - was kind of over the repeat readings of Room on the Broom etc by that point!). We went on to Roald Dahl (Fantastic Mister Fox is a nice simple one), The Worst Witch, Astrid Lindgren, Mrs Pepperpot and so on. He's now 4.9 and we've just finished reading Watership Down, which was a bit of a punt (we went there for a walk; I told him the story; he loves ANYTHING with animals) but went down brilliantly. Started Matilda a couple of nights ago and he's entranced. Reading him stories is easily my favourite thing we do together! Have fun

[LoveAndSqualor]

@Takver crossed posts on the discrete stories thing!

[MaryChristmaZEverybody]

What Takver and Love said - you want long books full of shorter stories in each chapter.

The one all my children loved was Enid Blyton's The Faraway Tree, and also (but not quite as good) The Wishing Chair.

[SavoirFaire]

Thanks so much for these. Bit worried that the Enormous Crocodile might be a bit scary at the moment but will try some of the others for sure.

[wearymum200]

Ponder and william another oldie which is perfect for just starting on chapter books, out of print i think, but prob easy to get 2nd hand.

[Tgger]

DD loved the Enormous Crocodile at 2/3, mind you, I bought it for her older brother and he was 4/5 and it was only just not scary for him whereas DD who is a different personality lapped it up. Also the Giraffe, the Pelly and Me.

DD is just 4 and likes longer stories with pictures now, pictures still important for her. Apart from the Iron Man by Ted Huges that again we read with DS in mind but she took to it! DD also loved/loves Winnie the Pooh and will listen to those stories very well.

Don't give up picture books too soon though, DD is loving stuff like Elmer still at 4, and Julia Donaldson Tyrannasaurus Drip etc etc.

[megandraper]

Both DSs (5 and 3) loving 'Gobbolino the Witches Cat' at the moment - a chapter or two every night.