What were the first chapter books you enjoyed reading aloud with your DCs?

[Asparaguses]

DD1 is nearly 5 and I have recently started reading chapter books to her at bed time. We started with my childhood favourites: the Milly-Molly-Mandy series, My Naughty Little Sister, and the easier Roald Dahl books (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory went down a storm, Matilda was too much for her). Now I need inspiration. What would you recommend we read next?

[mizu]

Definitely Pippi Longstocking, so funny. And The Enormous Crocodile, an easier Roald Dahl, mine both love this.
The Worst Witch
Faraway tree
My Naughty little sister
The Witches
Amelia Jane

[wearymum200]

Wishing Chair, my naughty little sister, Dinosaur cove, Dick King-Smith, Twits, Fantastic Mr Fox, Astrosaurs
Moving on to Mr majeika, worst witch, George's Marvellous medicine

[CDMforever]

My DS2 aged 4.10 adored The Enchanted Wood, we've just started The Faraway Tree.
Luckily I really enjoy reading them to him too!!

[TheOnlyWayIsEnfield]

Ten in a bed by Allan Ahlberg is great. It has lots of other familiar characters in it, which is fun.

[hdoodle]

Oops, forgot about Toys Go Out - a perfect first chapter book, it is about toys who have a life of their own. Each chapter can pretty much stand on its own.

[hdoodle]

For a different twist, here are some American classic first chapter books, perfect for the 4-7 crowd.

1. Mr Popper's Penguins - Published in 1939, this is an old fashioned story about Mr. Popper, who receives a penguin in the mail...then another and another until his house is full of them!
   
   
2. The Cricket in Times Square - Written in the 1960's, this is a charming story of a country cricket who finds himself in New York City, and survives by befriending a variety of animals. Look on Abebooks for a used copy
   
   
3. Catwings - Avery special litter of kittens are born with wings. They set off to find a new home and encounter adventures on the way.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

DS was Roald Dahl too and Paddington.

DD was given some Rainbow Fairies books when she was 3.9. Not sure if they are what you are after as to say that I enjoyed reading them would be a great stretch of the truth but DD bloody loves them.

[CocktailQueen]

My dd loves Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree, Wishing Chair and Enchanted Wood books then Famous Five ones. Also the Rainbow Fairies at that age too....

[ScatterChasse]

Ooh, my favourite from when I was small, Mrs Pepperpot.

[ScatterChasse]

vanimal, it goes The Enchanted Wood, The Magic Faraway Tree and The Folk of the Faraway Tree.

They are re-printed, but I prefer the original ones. If you end up with ones from each set, the names have changed, which is a bit confusing.

[jongleuse]

Worst Witch, Mr Majeika, Horrid Henry, Ramona and Beezus, Giraffe Pelly and Me, now onto Mr Gum which he loves-quirky humour. Also Greek myths Lucy Coats and Pippi Longstocking

[BlueChampagne]

If you can get hold of them, Eric Thompson's Magic Roundabout books. "Dougal's Scottish Holiday" a particular favourite with DS1 (4) and I loved it as a little girl too. Having Scottish relatives to visit gave/gives it particular relevance.

[beachbliss]

Dick King-Smith especially 'Lady Lollipop' and Jill Tomlinson 'The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark' etc went down a storm with my four. They also loved a book called 'The Magician's Child' by, I think, Susan Cooper.

[clemetteattlee]

DD will only let me read the Daisy Meadows books with her (Daddy gets to read Roald Dahl). She and her friends (going into year 2) are unrelentingly obsessed with those Rainbow Fairies. We have just finished book 32 and it shows no signs of diminishing...

[vanimal]

I have just ordered the Folk of the Faraway Tree, and the Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton for my 4yo.

Does anyone know the names of the other books in that series?

[SybilBeddows]

Pippi Longstocking, definitely

[munstersmum]

Mudpuddle Farm by Michael Morpurgo
Faraway Tree
Paddington

[carrotgold]

Georges marvelous medicine! Its brilliant ;) Rohld Dahl

[bartonian]

The Worst Witch
The Hodgeheg by Dick King Smith (in fact any of his, the Sophie series is also really good, about a 6 year old who wants to be a farmer)
Paddington (I find myself snorting with laughter at some of his escapades, DC look at me strangely!)
Pippi Longstocking is always good too.

[midnightexpress]

My DSs are 4.7 and 5.9 and we are currently working our way through the Moomins. They are wonderful - even more magical than I remember them being as a child. The last 2 (Moominpappa at Sea and Moominvalley in November) are, imo, more for adults than children and perhaps a bit much for a 4 and 5 year old, so I probably won't bother with those at the moment, but the rest are just brilliant.

They are quite hard for ds2, but he loves all the characters and is thrilled and horrified in equal measure whenever the Groke appears.

They're also enjoying the Little House books. I threaten them with Crispy Pig Tails for dinner whenever I'm feeling particularly mean (I even have a recipe for them, if anyone's interested...)

LOL at DeWe's DS and his reading preferences. I feel your pain. I could have JCBs as my specialist subject on bloody Mastermind.

[Meglet]

I read 'The Twits' to DS over Xmas, he had just turned 4. I was suprised at how much he enjoyed it actually .

Glad I saw this thread I've been meaning to track down some other simple chapter books for him.

[Colyngbourne]

The Enchanted Wood
Teddy Robinson stories (loved by all mine)
Gobbolino
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark
Little House in the Big Woods
All About the Bullerby Children by Astrid Lindgren (not easy to find but excellent)
Danny Fox by David Thomson

[mk3]

Mine really enjoyed the Faraway Tree series. The first one is 'The Enchanted Wood.' Also Teddy Robinson. I love reading my dd some of the books by Rumer Godden like 'The Fairy Doll' and another with mice in the title. Some of them eg the Diddakoi are too old.

She might like Daisy Meadows fairy books - my dd certainly does - but I can't say I massively enjoy reading them to her!

[Takver]

YY to Teddy Robinson - how could I forget them!