Bedtime reading for 3yo-musn't be scary!

[Fckthis]

We need a new book or collection of stories for ds bedtime (3yo) who doesn't like books in which anything scary happens, he doesn't even like the grufalo! So must be as gentle as possible, and not in verse (like dr seus) as I read to him translating and translating verse is a pain. There must be some wonderful, gentle stories we just don't know about! Anyone?

I don't think any of the Elmer stories are upsetting.
Would he cope with the Oliver Jeffers books such as To Catch A Star, or Lost and Found? My DS loved these at that age.
The Mole Who Knew it was None if His Business is funny.
The Mr Benn books are nice. Maybe a bit wordy - depends on what he's like.
Ummm

And the Little Red Train books by Benedict Blathwaite are lovely, unthreatening stories and fabulously detailed pictures, and none of the inane writing of Thomas the Tank Engine.
The Alfie stories by Shirley Hughes are also good.
Can't think of any more off the top of my head, but I hope these help...

Thomas the Tank Engine
Mr Men
Winnie-the-Pooh

All fairly safe I should think

I had the same requirements when DS was that age. We had to skip over the wizard sequence in Superworm and the fate of the poor little duck from Peter and the Wolf. Are you looking for longer picture books? The Lighthouse Keeper series, Richard Scarry books, If I built a ... series by Chris van Dusan, Maisy series, and Little engine that could were some of our favorites. We also read a lot of non fiction books about animals and cars/trains/things that go. Personally, I found the Thomas books tedious to read.

My DD loves the Shirley Hughes books, especially Dogger and we also have the Alfie collection which is great. Simple real stories about things that matter to children. :)

You Choose should be good as its not scary in the slightest and he can choose from each page. 'Twas very popular in this house when Dd was that age

My 3 year old loves the Mr Men at the moment. They're definitely not scary but a bit tedious after reading them for the 100th time!

Hairy Mclary books (Linley Dod)

Thank you all for lots of new suggestions. He does love the Oliver Jeffers but we are looking for longer stuff, we just finished the little prince (which sends him to sleep nicely...)
I hadn't thought of Winnie the Pooh but I'll get that next and then look at other suggestions, thanks!

P.s I am relieved he isn't alone in this antiscary phase, I am sure he will grow up to love all the gore as everyone else, but right now even t.rex is a vegetarian

Hairy Maclairy is in verse, though.

Richard scarry is very good. DS used to be obsessed with Thomas the tank engine, they aren't scary.

I used to like The Flying Postman :)

The Flying Postman? I don't know anyone in real life who remembers this book. My dad was made to read it to me every night for months as a little girl. It was my favourite story.

Anyway, DS1 likes the Apple Tree Farm books, also The Bad Tempered Ladybird, Postman Pat and The Little Red Train.

Yes Hairy Mc is in verse, Thomas the tank E also has too many language based stuff (all the railway related sayings, expressions etc, too much work!) he does love the trains though.

Bob, Story of a Spaceman by Simon Bartram- gentle and funny. Winnie the Witch? She is a very pleasant witch!

The Big Big Sea - Martin Waddell. Avoid Owl Babies as he might find it a bit frightening.

Also, "And if the moon could talk" by Kate Banks or "Goodnight moon" by Margaret Wise Brown

Bust my Buffers! Cinders and ashes!

We were working our way through some Dr Seuss books, and got to 'Oh the places you'll go'

Both our faces fell when it got to the 'Well, of course life is shit, and not everyone will like you...' parts... (paraphrasing!)

DD is three. Current favourites include any Elmer books (nothing scary), The man on the moon (by Simon Bartram), The baby who wouldn't go to bed (by Helen Cooper) and The true story of Humpty Dumpty (by Sarah Hayes).

The Usborne phonics readers are good, big pig on a dig, etc. otherwise go to a good independent bookshop and ask for recommendations, mine always come up trumps. There's a lovely book called one night in the zoo, by Judith Kerr which is lovely. Stanley's stick is a good read too.

but green eggs and ham is brill.

Mr Men is great, with loads of great words for expanding vocabulary. But avoid 'little miss lucky' that shit is scary!

Oh No George! is a particular fave with my boy (and I) and funny with great illustrations too. A few more by the author (Chris Haughton) might also be good.

You Choose is great! My 3 yr old DS loves it and I also gave it to a friend's daughter whose mum speaks to her in French and Dad speaks English. They said it was the perfect bilingual book.

If you are looking for slightly longer stuff (early chapter books?) then My Naughty Little Sister is a great series with very gentle stories. Or how about Milly Molly Mandy? Sophie's Adventures by Dick King Smith? All similar to the shorter Shirley Hughes books in that they are realistic gentle adventures of children and although they are chapter books each chapter is an individual adventure. Oh, what about Katie Morag, they are longer picture books with gentle realistic stories. Anna Hibiscus is also suppose to be fab but it's sitting in the 'to read' pile so I can't fully comment.

The Little Princess I don't want........ series are nice books that I would think would be easy to translate. Dd like Blue Kangaroo series too.

There are 2 books which were firm faves with my ds at that age I can remember the authors but: love monster (not scary- really sweet), and what does daddy do?

Just remembered:
Troll Swap - Leigh Hodgkinson
Mr Pod and Mr Piccallili - Penny Dolan