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Original poster

Expanding 4 year old dd's bookshelf - your suggestions please?

31 replies

handlemecarefully · 29/03/2006 21:35

What books would you recommend? - and also brief outline of what the book is about and why you like it if that is okay?

[winning smile emoticon]

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Original poster
handlemecarefully · 02/04/2006 18:52

Thanks for that link to barefoot books Hd - looks like some great reads on there...

OP posts:
hewlettsdaughter · 01/04/2006 21:41

I have been thinking about this some more. Have you looked at Barefoot Books? They have some good ones, beautifully illustrated too eg \link{http://www.barefoot-books.com/uk/site/pages/productone.php?pid=189\The Gigantic Turnip}.

divedaisy · 30/03/2006 22:06

Hi Handlemecarefully! I have my 3 year old DS in Books For Children book club, and I find it is a great source for recommendations and suggestions. The Gruffalo series are firm favs. And anything by Dez Alborough - Where's my Teddy, Do Dogs Fly? - they rhyme and great fun! Kiss Good Night and Don't You Feel Well Sam? Lots of favs, too many to list!!

Original poster
handlemecarefully · 30/03/2006 21:24

These are great thank you all!

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Beccles · 30/03/2006 21:12

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KBear · 30/03/2006 20:56

Katie Morag?

philippat · 30/03/2006 20:52

Recent chapter books in our house (dd 4) have been

  • winnie the pooh & house at pooh corner
  • wizard of oz
  • the ordinary princess
  • lion witch & wardrobe (there are blinking thousands of those books...)
yeamam · 30/03/2006 20:27

The Gruffalo. The Gruffalos Child. Room On The Broom. she has a book called Lauras Star which she is getting read to her chapter by chapter.

Also have just bought her a Charlie and Lola book (like a novel) which I'll start to read to her soon :)

Spatz · 30/03/2006 20:24

My dd (5 in June) has just started reading 'chapter books' and absolutely loves the rainbow fairies by daisy meadows.

Roobie · 30/03/2006 19:54

Second Allen/Janet Ahlberg - just watching a report about them on the Culture Show.

PeachyClair · 30/03/2006 19:30

Moon Thief: I got it in Early learning for a present, it's about a bear who steals the moon to give to his love, and all the things they could do with it. It's so lovely.

hewlettsdaughter · 30/03/2006 19:27

The Teddy Robber - Ian Beck. How about books by Nick Butterworth?

If she likes Winnie the Witch she'd probably like The Fish Who Could Wish (also illustrated by Korky Paul).

juliab · 30/03/2006 11:06

Another vote for John Burningham and Shirley Hughes! Also, there is a fab book called Billy's Bucket which is a winner for all four and five year olds - very funny poke-fun-at-parents book.

Bink · 30/03/2006 11:01

Oh, and as an enduring fallback, The Hutchinson Treasury of Fairy Tales.

Beatrix Potter, too. All of them, but for a wee girl especially the Tailor of Gloucester and the Tale of Two Bad Mice.

Bink · 30/03/2006 10:57

Moomintroll, too. Sort of cosily eerie, which appeals.

Bink · 30/03/2006 10:56

The younger-aimed Roald Dahls (Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Enormous Crocodile, The Giraffe the Pelly and Me) are good for moving onto chapter books. Especially the Enormous Crocodile - I'm not so much a fan of FMr.F, it's a bit ideological.

Gobbolino the Witch's Cat is lovely (it's one of that rich vein bakedpotato mentioned).

zippitippitoes · 30/03/2006 10:29

pippi longstocking or Mrs pepperpot

Enid · 30/03/2006 10:28

3 and a half dd2 loves My Naughty Little Sister

bakedpotato · 30/03/2006 10:20

Yes, we've just started on 'chapter' books too. Relieves the monotony... I hunt hard in 2nd hand bookshops: there's a rich seam of Puffins, from when Kaye Webb was editor, just right for this agegroup. DD is loving 'The Penny Pony'. Also commend 'Five Dolls in a House', which is still in print (though I'm finding the different voices a bit of a strain) and 'Ponder and William'

My top fave is A Golden Land, a collection of stories edited by James Reeves. Anyone else grow up with 'The Baker's Daughter'? The plaster cake? The bead-sucking? DD loves it.

JackieNo · 30/03/2006 10:09

DD started liking slightly longer stories, and being able to cope without too many pictures, I think at this age. Loves the \link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/075341211X/qid=1143709574/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/026-0791233-6108444\Teddy Robinson} stories - about a little girl and her toy teddy bear. Written in the 1950's, so a little bit dated, but not as much as Milly-Molly-Mandy (IMO), which I found rather hard going. Just set in a lovely innocent world, and nice gentle, amusing stories.

yoyo · 30/03/2006 10:02

Nice to see John Burningham on this list as I think he is brilliant. My children love them all - The Magic Bed is a huge hit with DS and I'm working uo to Courtney. They really spark their imaginations and lead to fascinating discussions.

foxinsocks · 30/03/2006 09:58

aww I love these threads - we too are fans of Winnie and co

Have you thought of any non-fiction? Usborne do a fantastic range of starter non-fiction books for children - I think they are called Usborne Beginners and they have them on all sorts of animals (caterpillars and butterflies, eggs and chicks, dogs, under the sea, night animals).

Dd was fascinated by those at around age 4 and they are great for reading together (lots of pictures)

LIZS · 30/03/2006 09:55

dd's favourite is Dear Bear - a girl is frightened of a bear hiding under the stairs but makes friends with him by writing letters. Also enjoys stories like Room on the Broom, Peter Rabbit, Mog the Forgetful Cat, Osborne Apple Tree Farm stories, Spot.

MrsMaple · 30/03/2006 09:45

We're big fans of Shirley Hughes' books here - perfect for four-year-olds - Dogger, The Alfie Books etc. Lots to talk about, lots of great pictures. Charlie and Lola books by Lauren Child, were also very popular.
Definitely John Burningham, my kids liked the dark edges to his stories.
Anything written by Alan Ahlberg always popular and in demand - personal favourite is Burglar Bill - but the Gaskitt books are great too. Qhat else?
Am currently reading my dd also 4 the Milly-Molly-Mandy stories (and will move on to My Naughty Little Sister next), which are very old-fashioned but she's fascinated and deeply reassurred by them.
She also likes the Angelina books, but I'm less keen. . .

zippitippitoes · 30/03/2006 07:54

\link{http://www.thechestnut.com/towser.htm\ towser}