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Children's books

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Original poster

chapter books to read to a 5-year-old-girl.

70 replies

imaginaryfriend · 26/03/2008 23:24

I'm seeking a bit of inspiration really as dd's only just got into me reading her bedtime stories which are not primarily picture books. I've had very few successes so far:

Hits:
Enid Blyton's Amelia Jane stories
The original story of Pinocchio

Misses:
Pippi Longstocking
All the Roald Dahl books I've tried so far
The Magic Faraway Tree
The Naughtiest Girl in School

Dd's not a terribly 'girly' girl although she loves 'magical' things like mermaids and Tinkerbell. I've looked at a few of the princess-type books in Waterstones and she'd hate all that pink, fluffy, friend / not-friend scenario stuff. She's mad on animals, especially rabbits.

Any / all suggestions really gratefully received.

OP posts:
Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 28/03/2008 17:31

I have a big Amazon order on its way. And my friend lent me Mathilde.

I'd still, however, like to hear any further suggestions ...

OP posts:
Pidge · 28/03/2008 16:08

Just realised we have the Dick King Smith Sophie books on our shelves, inherited from a neighbour. And we hit the library and acquired Mrs Pepperpot - I remember that from my childhood.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 27/03/2008 22:14

At the moment she's just insisting I repeat the Amelia Jane stories. She seems to love them!

OP posts:
cazzybabs · 27/03/2008 19:45

moomin books

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 27/03/2008 14:17

I tried Charlie & the Chocolate Factory first because she loves the movie so much. I've got the Fantastic Mr. Fox but she's not interested to hear it. I think one of her big problems is that she has very definite ideas and isn't terribly flexible as to what might be of interest. So if she doesn't like the look of the fox on the cover of the book she won't want to hear the story. I've also tried Matilda, BFG and James & the Giant Peach.

I think maybe the Just So stories might appeal.

OP posts:
Pidge · 27/03/2008 13:31

What a great thread imaginaryfriend - I'm also flipping back and forth to Amazon with all the ideas.

Out of interest which Roald Dahls did you try? My dd (5 1/2) has found some of them too old for her, e.g. BFG. But Fantastic Mr Fox was a massive hit some time ago. And some of the others e.g. Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory she is just getting into now. Also she received a CD set of 10 Dahl stories for Christmas and she now loves listening to those.

I think she's going to love the idea of "My naughty little sister", since she has one of those herself!!!

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 27/03/2008 13:16

Ok, I'll email you now seeker. Thanks.

OP posts:
seeker · 27/03/2008 10:07

imaginary friend - the CAT messages doesn't seem to have come through. You can email me on [email protected] if you like!

PABLOP · 27/03/2008 00:30

Chronicles of Narnia, I am reading these to my 5yo nephew and he loves them.

Really well written

hedonia · 27/03/2008 00:22

gosh though when you look at all the suggestions they are all mostly 20 years old or older.. I think harry Potter just does't compare with the old classics!

hedonia · 27/03/2008 00:20

don't seem to be able to add messages - here we go!

seeker · 27/03/2008 00:15

Oh yes, the Just So Stories - dd loved those. i still read them to her if she 's tired or sad and she's 12!

seeker · 27/03/2008 00:14

But my ds, who is 7 and much more grown up that dd was at the same age, and spends a lot of time being super-cool hasn't ever asked for a chapter book at bedtime, and still happily has The Gruffalo, Winnie the Witch - all the books he's had since he was a baby. even though he can - and does- read Harry Potter for himself. Bed time stories have lots of different functions!

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 27/03/2008 00:04

seeker, that's interesting. My dd is also drawn to the poetic. Well, she loves the poetic and she also loves things which have justice / retribution (which is why I think Amelia Jane appeals to her). I remember her being transfixed by a passage I read to her from a novel once about the sea. She kept asking for it over and over.

OP posts:
choosyfloosy · 27/03/2008 00:03

ds likes 'A Dark and Stormy Night' by the Ahlbergs though it takes a bit of resolution to embark on it tbh...

and there are lots of retellings of the Just So Stories around - maybe just go for the originals! i loved them so much as a child and ds seems to like them too.

RosaIsRed · 27/03/2008 00:02

I love Red House because it does free P&P. I spend too much there though.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 27/03/2008 00:01

The Rumer Godden is in the basket, and thanks for the link to Red House, I wasn't aware of that site

OP posts:
RosaIsRed · 26/03/2008 23:59

It is funny. She is a modern American five year old who gets into muddles and misunderstandings. My five and eight year olds both like her.

seeker · 26/03/2008 23:58

At this age, my dd loved things that were too difficult for her and which she didn't understand but had musical sounding words. She loved going to sleep to me reading poetry in a depressingly sing song voice. Yeats was a favourite. She also loved, but was seriously baffled by Alice in Wonderland. She liked Swallows and Amazons - but we are a boaty family, so it made a bit of sense to her. She also loves The Famous Five - to my chagrin.

hedonia · 26/03/2008 23:57

horrid henry although i can't see it

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 26/03/2008 23:57

seeker I CAT'd you. I don't feel at all stalked, I just think we're thinking about similar things at this point in time!

OP posts:
RosaIsRed · 26/03/2008 23:57

See here and what a bargain too.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 26/03/2008 23:56

The Dick-King Smith books look great. I'm not sure about Junie B Jones though. What's it like?

OP posts:
hedonia · 26/03/2008 23:55

velveteen rabbit

hedonia · 26/03/2008 23:54

god rumer gooden - anyone read greengage summer? didn't know she'd done books for younger

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