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Original poster

Books for me to read to an almost 5 year old

38 replies

Dramateacher1 · 22/10/2020 11:25

Hi,

My son will be 5 just after Christmas and is getting bored of the short picture books we have. I’d like some short, funny, engaging cheaper books to read to him, preferably with some pictures. He started school in September and had started learning phonics and ‘tricky words’ and he is not very happy about this... the last thing I want to do is turn him off reading as he’s always loved me reading to him. At the moment he loves superheroes, Star Wars and Lego. Any suggestions gratefully received.
Thanks

OP posts:
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Mypathtriedtokillme · 24/11/2020 12:14

My Dd is 6 and has loved the Mable Jones book series. We read them together in the evening.
It’s funny, good pictures even though it’s a chapter book, has pirates, drama, adventures and you find out what happens to you after you do the deed (pick your nose and eat it)

Dd has also loved the Real pigeon series.

Oodlesofnoodles20 · 19/11/2020 18:34

Aliens love underpants, kids love it.

emeraldcity2000 · 19/11/2020 18:26

Same age and stage here... Dixie o'day and squishy McFluff have been hits - between 3 and 6 chapters long.
Just finished BFG, first longer book - dh simplified some bits but generally went well!

Custardslice3 · 19/11/2020 18:17

My DS is just 6; we started off on chapter books by reading the ones where each chapter stands alone as a story e.g. My Naughty Little Sister, Milly Molly Mandy. It helped him adjust to less pictures etc but still getting a whole story each night. Then we moved onto some of the Roald Dahl, The Owl who was afraid of the Dark (and all the others in the series - I didn't realise there were more until recently!), and now we're enjoying The Faraway Tree books. We've also read Flat Stanley and one of the Ottoline books, but I didn't enjoy reading those aloud so much. We recently trued The Famous Five, but he's nit quite ready for it and chose to have another Faraway instead. We read all of these for bedtime, one chapter each night, and he still loves reading picture books during the day. I’ll be following up on some of the ideas on this thread - I think he'll enjoy Dick King-Smith.

LostInTheColonies · 26/10/2020 23:08

Dick King-Smith - Sophie (there are about 6 books). Very funny for the parent doing the reading, too, which is always a bonus Grin

BritInAus · 26/10/2020 23:02

Roald Dahl
The Worst Witch series (Jill Murphy)
David Walliams

WorriedMummy2020 · 26/10/2020 22:48

The Treehouse series is books

Smellbellina · 26/10/2020 22:46

Or just jazz hands would do Hmm

Smellbellina · 26/10/2020 22:46

Funny Bones! 40th edition is out and it’s glow in the dark... (need a jazz handballs emoji)

timtam23 · 26/10/2020 22:44

Some of Jeremy Strong's books would be ok to read out loud to a 5 year old. Both of my boys have loved them, they are funny and have some illustrations.
The Hundred Mile An Hour Dog series, My Brother's Famous Bottom series, The Indoor Pirates, Batpants...were all very popular here

Duckchick · 24/10/2020 20:34

You can get colour short versions of the Faraway Tree. They have full colour pictures on each page, and are several chapter sections of the full books. The books are a series of mini adventures so it actually works well as a format, and the pictures did help DC to get into the books.

Other things DS aged 5 has enjoyed are the Magic Treehouse series, the Ottoline books, Mrs Pepperpot and Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf.

tempName101 · 23/10/2020 17:31

My DD (4) loves the faraway tree books, new adventures of the wishing chair, Ronald Dahl, stig of the dump!

Bizarrely (I think) she also loves any short stories by Enid Blyton. I find them very dull.

Samster1815 · 23/10/2020 17:23

My Dd is 5. We have just finished the faraway tree which she absolutely loved. We are now reading clever polly and the stupid wolf which is quite funny

LaurenESOLmumof2 · 23/10/2020 17:18

Hi Drama teacher, I agree the phonics books are important but we can’t forget the books for fun, imagination and adventure! I’m currently running a Kickstarter campaign to get my book published called Rocket Girl. It’s a great story aimed at 4-8 year olds and it includes fun activities. The great thing is it’s also based around a YouTube short film that my husband and I filmed staring our four year old daughter during lockdown. So there’s a film to go along with the book. Check it out kck.st/2F8NDjJ

Ginnyz · 23/10/2020 15:17

I actually wrote a book called "James and His Big Catch" that would fit his age. It's about a little boy who goes fishing with his dad and he learns about the value of patience.

Taytotots · 23/10/2020 09:48

The 'Nothing to see here hotel' series is good. Short chapters and nice illustrations. Have you looked at 'Captain Underpants' and the Dogman books for him to look at/read together/read independently later? I hate them but much enjoyed by my son.

GigantosaurusRex · 22/10/2020 18:11

Oooooh I read the Magical Faraway Tree as a child, I didn't realise it was a series - I've just ordered the first book for myself from amazon!

Original poster
Dramateacher1 · 22/10/2020 17:44

I loved My Naughty Little Sister and Romona!

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merryhouse · 22/10/2020 17:27

My Naughty Little Sister - several books - don't know if they're still available but Shirley Hughes has done other stuff too
Ramona - several books
Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf

Original poster
Dramateacher1 · 22/10/2020 17:10

Myunhappyfeet, agree with you about the full reading scheme books!

I’ve ordered a dirty Bertie, horrid Henry and fantastic mr fox to start with. If he likes these I’ll order a set for Christmas/birthday.
Remembered I have the owl who is afraid of the dark, mr Majika and the worst witch that I bought when my sons was a newborn as I loved them when I was little. I also loved the magic faraway tree so I’ll be getting him them for Christmas too. Smile

OP posts:
Coldhandscoldheart · 22/10/2020 16:40

We’ve just done the enchanted wood and before that the hodgeheg by dick king smith

Original poster
Dramateacher1 · 22/10/2020 15:13

Thanks everyone. Some lovely suggestions that I’ll check out!

OP posts:
ParadeOfRemotes · 22/10/2020 14:57

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark was a massive hit with DS (4y8m)

Also the Rabbit & Bear series are quite nice (various mentions of poo get a laugh...)

Pete the Cat stories, my nephew loved. Also look for 5-Minute Marvel stories which could work.

I agree re local charity shop!

My DS's very favourite kind of book is non-fiction, things like lift the flap questions and answers about your body, growing up, space, dinosaurs etc. He is allowed to choose a certain number of flaps per night and he can choose which ones.

one2 · 22/10/2020 14:35

The 'A Faraway Tree Adventure' by Enid Blyton are great chapter books for that age

PerseverancePays · 22/10/2020 13:31

Tashi stories. Full of exciting adventures.

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