What books would you recomend for my 5 year old DD who can't read?

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, my daughter is five and a half and is just learning phonics sounds and although she brings very basic booring books home from school for her to "read" to me, she can't actually read, she just memorises sertain words.
Anyway, she loves being read to but I think she's getting a bit old for books like The Gruffalo and other picture books. Although she still loves them, I'd like to find some that are more suitable for her age.
All the books that are recommended as age 5+ seem to be early reading books which are very simple and booring.
Are there any books you could recommend for her?

[alexw]

I have read some enid blyton to my dd (5) and charlie and the choc factory and some of the narnia series.

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

Any Roald Dahl. DD particularly enjoyed Esio Trot at that age.

[mummyloveslucy]

thank you, I'll have a look for Fancy Nancy in town later.
I used to like Milly Molly Mandy storys, are they appropriate for her age? I can't remember how old I was when I read them. I've read her some Roald Dahl, she loved some of the Dirty beast ones.

[sethstarkaddersmum]

The Naughty Little Sister books are very sweet, specially if she has any little siblings.

Flat Stanley is very funny.

Our top one atm is Pippi Longstocking - this has hooked dd like no other chapter book - who can resist a book about the strongest girl in the world, after all?

[sethstarkaddersmum]

oh yes, MMM is right for that age, though they do drag on a bit.

[mummyloveslucy]

Oh yes! My naughty little sister. I loved this as a child.
My daughter is an only child but loves the idea of having a little sister. She has several imagenary siblings so I think she'll love that.

[mummyloveslucy]

She tends to like books that drag, especially at bed time.

[sethstarkaddersmum]

LOL!
The best thing about Naughty Little Sister is that because they were originally written for the radio, the narrator often addresses the listeners directly - eg 'Wasn't she a naughty child? I'm sure you would never do anything as naughty as that, would you?' at which my dcs always shake their heads earnestly - sooo cute!

[sethstarkaddersmum]

and it's so much fun reading the one where they eat the spongy trifle and sounding more and more shocked as you do it!

[mummyloveslucy]

Sounds brilliant! I'll definatly get that one for her.

[BirdyBedtime]

I know some people despise them but the Rainbow Fairy books are my DDs favourites (she is 5.3) - we always have one from the library and now have 2 full sets at home thanks to birthday presents! As long as you can switch off from the mindless repetitiveness you'll be fine. I actually find myself finishing a book without being able to remember anything about it as I am almost reading it without it actually going through my brain IYSWIM. We do need to branch out a bit though so I'm watching this with interest. Also agree that the picture books are getting past their use. DS will be delighted to have them all passed on though.

[Chamomile]

My DD loves the Magic ballerina stories by Darcy Bussell.They are just the right length, about 6 short chapters, and we read them over 2 or 3 nights. Also if she likes them there about 20 odd so they will keep you going for a while.

[mummyloveslucy]

I've seen those Rainbow fairy books but I've never liked the look of them really.
The point of moving her on to more interestings books is partly to keep me sane. I don't think the Rainbow fairy whould help. Although she could always ask Daddy to read them to her.

[sethstarkaddersmum]

I take that view MLL - if I am going to read her books they have to be something we both like, hence no Rainbow fairies. It's not like there isn't plenty of good stuff out there. DH, OTOH, doesn't enjoy it whatever he reads, so he isn't bothered by having to read the rubbishy stuff.

[mummyloveslucy]

She loves anything with humor, especially toilet humor.

I have written several storys for her which she loves. It's a fantastic hobby for me, and it's lovely to see her laughing and saying "again, again" to something I've created.

[crumpet]

Brer Rabbbit, Faraway tree, winnie the witch, roald dahl and also non-fiction (mini encyclopedia type books/book about the body, food, animals) were all popular with us

[TheMoonOnAStick]

Cat in the Hat got my dd going on reading. They words are small and repetitive and the stories bounce along and rhyme. She loved them.

[sethstarkaddersmum]

I think Milly Molly Mandy would be improved if it had more toilet humour. Maybe you can rewrite?

[JustDoMyLippyThenWeWillGo]

I also love the Naughty Little Sister books - my dd loved them when younger, and still does at 8. Agree about the shock you can share about the badness of Bad Harry, and the naughty little sisiter herself. I got a MMM book that was a collection, with pictures, and think a bit shorter than the originals? She liked them too (tho it did have a bloody awful cd which I haven't managed to lose from my car yet). Am inspired now as to where the toilet humour should come.. Oh, and there is also Mrs Pepperpot, which also come in a brighter modern (shorter?) edition if old ones too dull. Personally, think those Rainbow Fairies books are inane. Tho dd also did love the Angelina Ballerina books for a while...

[JustDoMyLippyThenWeWillGo]

Oh, and another book that even DH enjoyed, as did whole family to join in the "who's got my curly claw...?!" bits, is Colin and the Curly Claw, by Jan Fearnley. Good fun.

[anonymousbird]

We are on secret seven right now (DD age 4 and DS age 5 both listening), after we finish this one, moving to a Roald Dahl for variety and will interchange between those and also "traditional" story books (we were given several compendiums of children's stories and they are great for variety). DS can read reasonably, but obviously not to this level, so I get him to read chapter headings and occasionally a simple sentence I know he can master and he loves that he is that little bit more involved. DD can't read at all and just loves listening.

Started an Arthur Ransome a while back, but we aren't quite ready - bit too detailed and very long books.

[Takver]

DD liked the Anna Hibiscus books by Atinuke at that age - they have one story per chapter, so ideal for bedtime reading, and nice stories for an adult too, about a little girl's life in Africa.

(I found Famous 5 & secret 7 a bit hard going to read aloud, though not as bad as Rainbow fairies)

Of old favourites, Teddy Robinson, Gobbolino the Witches Cat, The owl who was afraid of the dark, Little Wooden horse all good for that age.

[JustDoMyLippyThenWeWillGo]

O, Anna Hibiscus lovely,didn't know there was more than one - off to find!