Something between Gruffalo and Roald Dahl?

[drspouse]

DS is nearly 5 and he tends to want picture books, not too long. I've tried reading him BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but he can't pay attention for long enough.
I'd like to move on from things we've been reading for 2-3 years, with a bit more story, fewer pictures.
Any intermediate type ideas? We did just get him Harry and the bucket of Dinosaurs for Christmas (or may save it for birthday).

[Groovester]

Claude books by Alex T. Smith. They're brilliant!

[AmeliaJack]

Why not pop along to your library and have a rummage in the early readers section and see what he fancies.

[Agadooo]

Kipper books are great

[Agadooo]

Also we love all the curious George books

[drspouse]

I find Curious George a bit weird... but looking at the library selection is a good idea. He usually picks baby books at the library still, himself.
Are the Kipper books the reading scheme ones?

[MrsJamin]

Horrible Henrys are what you need, there are flippin millions of them, lots of illustrations, big text, funny stories.

[sleeplessinderbyshire]

Horrid Henry

[AgainstTheOddsNo2]

The dinosaur that pooped the...various ending.

They are gross but my daughter loved them (just don't read too close to dinner tine)

[Jenijena]

There are a few shorter Ronald Dahl books - we started with The Giraffe, The Pellt and Me, and The Enormous Crocodile.

I've bought a couple of Julia Donaldson chapter books for Christmas

Loads in the library!

Harry and the Dinosaurs have been popular here since 3, to be honest I'd put in the same category as The Gruffalo.

[BertPuttocks]

There are some 'Early Reader' versions of the Horrid Henry books. Not too many words on the page and lots of pictures.

[Poocatcherchampion]

What are the juliadonaldson chapter books? I need to know this too.

[thisismyfirsttime]

Winnie the Witch books have lots of illustration but a good story, Quentin Blake books as well perhaps?

[Backingvocals]

Try short stories instead. They are still chapter books but without one long plot that they find difficult to follow. My Naughty Little Sister, Oh Kitty, Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf etc.

[Starsaboveyou]

We are reading Ronald Dahl's The Twits and George's Marvelous medicine with DS almost 5.

We have the large print, picture versions though, would they help?

[MissClarke86]

Gosh there are still hundreds of picture books for a nearly 5 year old to enjoy! I wouldn't jump to things like Horrid Henry - they're a bit dull to be honest and aimed at 7-8 year old boys and their sense of humour. I don't think they're particularly well written and they don't stretch the imagination.

I teach Y2 and have hundreds of books...trying to think of some recommendations.

Captain Flynn and the Pirate Dinosaurs (there's a few in the series)
Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam (again, there's about 3)
The Grunt and the Grouch (there's a picture book, and very short chapter books too)
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
Dustbin Dad by Peter Bentley (actually made me laugh out loud, alone, as an adult.)


They all appeal to children (particularly boys) in my class.

[ContraryToPopularBelief]

You can't go wrong with The Faraway Tree. They are fairly long but once past chapter 2 or 3 it's a mini adventure in each chapter.

[MissClarke86]

The Incredible Book eating boy - Oliver Jeffers
Nibbles the Book Monster - Emma Yarlett
Penguin in Peril - Helen Hancocks
Traction Man - Mini Grey

I could go on...please still enjoy picture books with him while he's little, there's so much you get from them :)

[MissClarke86]

If you're going for shorter chapter books, go for Dick King Smith.

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

Horrid Henry or Ladybird books of fairytales like the Princess and the Pea etc

[mikado1]

This is a great thread! Thanks op.

We are reading the faraway tree series (4.5y) and absolutely loving it. We started with some skylarks chapter books from the library and read Charlie and Tempe choc too but he's really taken with Enid Blyton. I have got him cheery tree farm series for Christmas but hope not too much of a jump. Book shops nor great for this type of thing imo, i.e. the in between/read aloud stuff. Library great but even better with recommendations. Keep 'em coming!

[bluechameleon]

Some ideas for slightly meatier picture books:
Anthony Browne - voices in the park, the tunnel, gorilla
John Burningham - time to get out of the bath Shirley, come away from the water Shirley
Shirley Hughes - dogger, the Alfie series

[Slightlyperturbedowlagain]

There are some great Paddington picture books too.

[RatOnnaStick]

Ds loved Dinosaur Cove at this point. Also enjoyed The Faraway Tree, Flat Stanley, Paddington, smaller Roald Dahl like The Enormous Crocodile and Fantastic Mr Fox.

He still loves Mog, lots of Julia Donaldson and also those compendium books with 6 or 8 stories 'adventure stories for 5 year olds' type books

[Lilianne]

My ds is similar, chooses mainly picture books. I found he has started to have far more stamina with factual books now, e.g. castles, pirates etc and has a couple of short chapter books that he likes - mainly ones that we can still read in one go and he will try delay bedtime that way.

[CotswoldStrife]

Have a look at Jill Tomlinson - the owl who was afraid of the dark or the hen who wouldn't give up. Longer books but easy to break up.

When my DD was given free rein in the school library a bit older than that, they used to pick Horrid Henry or Funnybones books.

As your DS is under 5 I wouldn't be in too much of a rush to get rid of the picture books though, if he enjoys them and they keep him reading.