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Original poster

Series of first chapter books for 5yo girl?

41 replies

CoffeeChocolateWine · 23/02/2018 11:18

My DD is nearly 6 and LOVES reading. I would like to get her some first chapter books to read with her. When my DS was the same age we read the Dinosaur Cove books together which he loved and I loved reading with him, but my daughter isn't really interested in reading them, mainly because the two main characters are boys.

I'm trying to find a similarly gripping series of early chapter books that she would enjoy, but when I look in the library I am faced with shelves upon shelves of Rainbow Fairies and magical fluffy animals. She has read some of the Rainbow Fairies books and quite enjoys them but I would love something a bit more exciting for her that isn't fairies, princesses or magical fluffy animals! She borrowed a book from the library last week about a young girl pirate which she loves and has read it over and over again, but there aren't any others in my library with the same character...but that is the sort of thing she enjoys.

I thought about Pippi Longstocking but it's in the next age group up in the library so I think it may be a bit a bit advanced for her. Could anyone suggest something else for her?

OP posts:
Rachie1986 · 23/02/2018 14:00

Sophie books by dick king Smith?

SunsetInToulouse · 23/02/2018 13:58

My DD (just turned 6) loved the Magic Faraway Tree books (Enid Blyton), My Naughty Little Sister books, and the Horrid Henry books. I also tried the worst witch, some Jeremy Strong, and a Roald Dahl (maybe it was George's marvellous medicine), but she didn't enjoy those much.

TheUncommonReader · 23/02/2018 13:55

My 9 year old really enjoyed the Rescue Princess books when she was in year 1. They were the first books she read herself. They are princess books but the characters are not stereotypical princesses. They have adventures and rescue animals.

My other dd loves Pamela Butchart books. They are very funny: There’s a werewolf in my tent is hilarious.

NetballHoop · 23/02/2018 13:54

How about the Wayside School books by Louis Sachar? My DC's loved them.

DoraChance · 23/02/2018 13:53

I'm reading the Jill Tomlinson books with DS at the moment - we've just done The Cat Who Wanted to Go Home & The Penguin Who Wanted To Find Out. There's others in the series too. Lovely stories.

tafftum · 23/02/2018 13:47

@haba wasn't sure since I've never read them but I've seen my cousin read them. Wasn't sure if she had a range aimed at younger kids or not.
Ignore my suggestion, op. Blush

haba · 23/02/2018 13:44

No! Not Jacqueline Wilson, not for about five more years.

tafftum · 23/02/2018 13:40

Jacqueline Wilson's books - my younger cousin loves them! Not sure if theyre a bit too old for you DD though- she might have some books aimed at younger children though!

haba · 23/02/2018 13:37

Milly Molly Mandy
Johnny Duddle's Jolly Rogers
Dixie O'Day
Claude by Alex T Smith

Cedar03 · 23/02/2018 13:24

Jeremy Strong - Indoor Pirates and others went down well with DD at that age.

Milly Molly Mandy - old fashioned but lovely stories.
Books by Dick King Smith - Hedgepig and lots of other stories
Enid Blyton - Magic Faraway Tree

Original poster
CoffeeChocolateWine · 23/02/2018 12:37

Fab, thanks so much. I'm making a note of all of these. I particularly like the look of the Daisy and the trouble with books and the Worst Witch ones but will look into all of them. When I added them to my Amazon wishlist the Mr Majeika books also cames up as recommended. Any views on these? I can't remember reading them myself but they are quite old aren't they? Are they still engaging for kids now??

OP posts:
Hs2Issue · 23/02/2018 11:58

DD loved (and still likes rereading at 8) Daisy and the trouble with series.

BevBrook · 23/02/2018 11:41

How about Clever Polly and The Stupid Wolf - there are quite a few of those. I think by Catherine Storr although I might be wrong.

The Secret Seven? They are a bit easier than the Famous Five, although the girls don't get a lot to do I seem to recall.

My Naughty Little Sister?

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 23/02/2018 11:36

My 5 year old is loving Ronald Dahl at the moment. He's had The Giraffe, The Pelly and Me, and the BFG at school. We've just finished Fantastic Mr Fox and we're just starting Matilda.

Original poster
CoffeeChocolateWine · 23/02/2018 11:31

Funnily enough we picked up a Worst Witch book from the library last wekk too...but it hasn't had a look in after this pirate book and I forgot about it! I will find it and give it a go with her. Thank you.

OP posts:
NameChangeOnTheRegular · 23/02/2018 11:23

I'm always on the hunt for this kind of thing too...

Pippi Longstocking is good - but the language used and the way the characters speak etc. feels dated, and my daughter struggled to engage with it.

She does like The Worst Witch, you could try that?