Books for 5 year olds? To read to them.

Thanks Binkie, I didn't know that. I don't on the whole like adaptations of books that I like (especially after hating Madam Doubtfire). But I will watch out for the reviews of that, as it's always nice to share things from my childhood with the kids.

Just William - Martin Jarvis has carefully edited these (after he did such a brilliant job with the audiobooks) so although the flavour and humour is retained, a little bit of the wordiness has gone. Ds adored having these read to him and there is nothing twee about William and the Outlaws! The story with the concert violinist and the itinerant Punch and Judy man is indecently funny, for example.
We also love Flat Stanley, Horrid Henry (well, ds does) and Captain Underpants, as already mentioned here.
And Usborne do nicely illustrated Early Readers with Greek Myths etc in them which can be read to him now and he will read to himself in the not too distant future. I rarely find Usborne books funny, they are a bit earnest for that, but the stories in this series are exciting, true to their original sources, and the right length for bedtime reading.
here's an example of the Usbornes

nooka - did you know Nurse Matilda's just been filmed - under title of Nanny McPhee

Out for half-term ...

It was a dark and stormy night - allen ahlberg is a big favourite in our house - a little boy who manages to get the better of a fearsome band of brigands. Burglar bill and cops and robbers too by the same author.

Recent successes have also been faraway tree stories, fantastic mr fox, Charlie and choc factory and we've just started wind in the willows.

Hate horrid henry books!

DS is 5 and is loving Captain Underpants! DD (7) must have been listening as I found it in her bed this evening

DS is 5 and is loving Captain Underpants! DD (7) must have been listening as I found it in her bed this evening

Yes, the pictures are by Edward Ardizzone, and they are great - one of my favourite books actually!. I've also got some Nurse Matilda's illustrated by him, which come to think of it the children would probably enjoy (all those very bad children!). We have read some of the Tim and Ginger's too, but they are a little dated at times. I like Lulu and the Flying Babies too.

What about Tony Ross's picture books Lots of them are for older children 5 and up. some actually for even older but htey ar worth a dlook and have some god humour in them too.

nooka, are they the gorgeous delicate Ardizzone drawings? - how I adore those.

hausfrau, have you any of Posy Simmonds's children's books, which are sort of half a picture book and half a comic strip, with quite a lot of text (and rather Intelligent IYKWIM)? Like Lulu and the Flying Babies and this adorable one about an exploited cat ?

binkie - I have the Land of Green Ginger with pictures. It's an ancient copy tho - I must admit I hadn't thought of reading that to the children - I'm sure that they would love it.

EricBlack - don't think she does mostly, or certainly doesn't mention it, but then she is only 4 yrs old. But I must admit to changing some words when I am reading it (apologies to Enid Blyton's estate!).

My dd (4.5 yrs) has just got into wordier books and has so far loved Amelia Jane and The Faraway Tree series (despite the 'spiffing' language which does irk me occasionally!). She also loves all those fairy books series (Rainbow Fairies/Party fairies etc) but that's probably a girl thing.

Shirley Hughes any good. Ive got tales from Trotter St at home and it looks for about that age (Actually havent read it as dss is too old for it and dd too young)

DS1 enjoyed Diary of a Killer Cat by Anne Fine (it came free with the cereal!).

Ponder and William (about the adventures of a small boy and his, um, pyjama case)

I have just spent a gratifying fortnight mesmerising children, four at a time, aged between 4 and 6, with a chapter a night of The Land of Green Ginger. It's a pantomime, though - you have to be prepared to do silly voices, and be the sinister dragon. Which makes up for the lack of pictures.

Paddington bear stories are great too and dss used to love them. Wombles are good too but then thats quite alot of text (unless they have brought out new versions )

They are great aren't they littlerach. We also have Milly Molly Mandy too. DD is nearly 3 and a half, and loves a chapter or two of these for her bedtime story.

horrid henry horrid henry horrid henry

esp for little boys, they love being aghast at how awful he is.

Also there are lots of really good Allan Ahlberg ones for that age which are very amusing stories with lots of pictures including maps so you can track where everyone is in the town etc. Try The Cat that got Carried Away (brilliant) or The Woman who Won Things. Perfect for 5 year olds.

My ds also loves roald dahl esp the Enormous Crocodile which is full of colour pictures, and George's marvellous medicine which is aimed at a bit of a younger audience than eg charlie and the choc factory. .. in case you haven't tried those ones.

We've just dug out all of my old books, so DD1 has gone to bed and read Teddy Robinson, Tales of Toyland and Milly Moly Mandy. We also found Amelia Jane and My Naughty Little Sisiter.

Not sure how they go down with boys, but other nice books to read to children of this age are My Naughty Little Sister and Naughty Amelia Jane.