Easiest chapter books

[Wheelybug]

DD1 is about ready to start chapter books I think but I don't want to put her off.

Readability wise I think she could manage the rainbow fairies mostly but wondered if there was anything with any less volume, a few more pictures (I know RF aren't exactly dense but want to ease her in gradually). Or is RF the easiest it gets ?

[blametheparents]

DS used to like these by Jeremy Strong.
Would your DD like Pirate stories? They are quite fun, and short chapters with colourful pictures.

[Wheelybug]

Thanks Blame - I'll take a look at those. She is very girly sadly so pirates might not cut the mustard but I can try !

[ElliesMad]

Daisy and the Trouble with.....

By Kes Gray and Nick Sharratt.
Can't remember the rest of the titles though.
Kitten? Zoo?
Great books though.

[tassisssss]

I think there's a bit of a gap in the market for first chapter books. We found libraries had a reasonably sized section called "First Reads" which have bigger font, more pictures and shorter chapters. These were great for us from when ds was 4-5 and wanted us to read him chapter books but still needed pictures and now (just 7) when he wants to read himself.

[RedZora]

Magic tree house they are fab here

[squeaver]

Going to order those pirate school ones, right now. Thanks BTP.

[Hulababy]

Chose ones with colour pictures, broken up text, a larger font and nice line spacing. These make the volume far less daunting.

A lovely series to start with is Alan Ahlberg. He does 4 about the same family: The Children Who Smelled a Rat, The Man Who Wore All his clothes, The Woman who won things - and one other too. They are funny and nicely written, but in very short little chapters.

How old is your DD? Another series my DD enjoyed was Daisy and the trouble with... Again they are nicely spaced out and well presented. there are pictures too, although black and white. there are 4 or 5 I believe now. They are written in the first person - the writer being the 6y Daisy and written just as a 6y would wrrite/speak. DD really enjoyed these.

There are lots of ranges of books that are nice starters - Blue Bananas, Colour Young Puffin, Colour Crunchies, Read Steady Read, I Can read, etc.

There are lots more suitable books tht are far better laid out than RF, especially for first starting on chapter books.

My DD enjoyed Magic TreeHouse too but these are more along the lines of RF in terms of layout, so a lttle more daunting initially.

Often your local library will stock these first early chapter books. A great place to look.

[Hulababy]

Also, if she likes Horrid Henry - a few of the books have been made into Early Reader versions, split into short chapters. Many of my able Y1 children enjoy these.

[dbm]

Take a look at Michael Morpurgo's books - there are some younger age reads of his which my 6yr old is enjoying. The Trouble with Daisy ones are good too
I was personally very excited at the advent of chapter books in our house, one of those lovely development landmarks!

[Wheelybug]

Thanks everyone - that's great info !

Hula - she's 5.5 so it may still be a bit beyond her but I'd like to have a couple just to show her. She's v. determined so she'll either really want to read them or really not want to so it is impossible (thankfully) to push her (I say hastily in case anyone thinks I am !).

dbm - I agree, am v. excited about the prospect but aware I am probably trying to inflict my love of books/reading onto her . However, she is currently loving reading at the moment so there is hope !

[dbm]

also....use your local library - have a good browse together, and seprately, borrow plenty then you can see what suits

no cost to you and usually the opportunity to chat with the staff who may have good ideas too

[Hulababy]

Wheelybug - no reason for them to be beyond her. There are many 5y who cope well with chapter books, as well as many who don't. Just have lots of optins available for her and take her lead

[Takver]

There are also Winnie the Witch chapter books - same characters as the picture books.

[Wheelybug]

Thanks again for all the ideas - will take a trip to the library and have a browse.

Hula - don't worry, I've never yet been able to make dd1 do anything she doesn't want so it will definitely be led by her !

[paisleyleaf]

What are those usborne young reading books like? They look good.

[redskyatnight]

DS is liking the "I am reading" series us.macmillan.com/series/IAmReading at the moment. They have 3 -4 shortish chapters with nice pictures. A very easy step up from picture books.

[Wheelybug]

I went to the library today, armed with recommendations and have a selection. Funnily enough redsky - I have a few of the 'I am reading' books, they looked about right and they were selling some old ones off for 20p each !

Thanks again everyone.