Book recommendations for 4 year olds.

[AwfulBeryl]

My Dts are 4 and are interested in most things that other 4 year olds are interested in - space and rockets, Knights and Princess's, bin men.
They have out grown their toddler books now, but are still a bit young for chapter books. I think they really like to have colourful pictures along with a story.

I picked up an abridged version of The Lion the witch and the wardrobe at a book sale that they loved, but I don't really want to do that too much because I think it would be nice for them to read the full version in a few years time. I remember the first time I read books like Rebbeca's World and The Magician's Nephew and being mesmerised by the story. I don't think it would have the same impact if they already read the basic story.

Can anyone recommend other books they might enjoy ?

Tia

I don't really know what you mean by toddler books - do you mean picture books? DD is 5 and we still mainly read picture books - favourite series include Alfie, Angelina Ballerina, Katie Morag, The Fairytale Hairdresser. These are all picture books but with quite a long story. We also read quite a few of the Labybird traditional fairy tales which are again quite long in length.

Not sure what you mean by toddler books either. How about Dr Seuss?

Stick man
Tiddler
Zog
Tabby MCtatt
Topsy and Tim series

I assume the OP thinks Julia Donaldson as toddler books? DD1 is nearly 4 and loves them still. (Zog, gruffalo, tabby mctat etc). But she got her first Dr Seuss for Xmas (green eggs and ham) and she loves that too. The picture looks more grown up though I don't think the content is!

Frog & Toad
Another one for Topsy & Tim.

We get through loads of books on a weekly basis thanks to our local library.
Most recent favourites have been:
Bob, the man on the Moon
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
The Night Pirates
Not now Bernard

I'm about to start reading DD (just 4) Luna Moon Hare, but I'm sure she'll have plenty of questions for me, so it'll be quite slow-going.

The Jolly Postman is fun at that age.

What about reading the Magic Faraway Tree books to them? They do still seem to grasp little imaginations.

Some of the Seuss books are great, good illustrations.

My 4yo is a big fan of the Milly-Molly-Mandy stories. Some 4yos get on with the Moomin books and Winnie the Pooh, but mine hasn't so far - too flowery/wordy.

I have recently drawn inspiration from this list and will be getting some of them.

Also another vote for Frog and Toad, and also the Little Bear series.

My Naughty Little Sister was a big hit when DD was 4.

Mercy Watson (on OMG's list) was also a big hit with DD.

Time to get out of the bath Shirley
That's not my hat
I want my hat back
This moose belongs to me
Rosie's walk
Voices in the park, or any other Anthony Browne
The day the crayons quit

Definitely the Magic Faraway Tree
Iggy Peck Architect
Magic Shoebox Farm
Tim Ted and the Pirates

Jill murphy books - the large family series, whatever next, mother knows best
Katie morag
Angelina ballerina
Oliver Jeffers - lost and found
Spot
Anything by the Alhbergs

Thanks for all the suggestions, they are great. We have been meaning to join the local library for ages and will have to now.

I used to love the my naughty little sister books when I was younger, I will definitely get them for the Dts, thank you for reminding me about them.
By toddler books I mean picture books with a very short basic story, something like owl babies which is lovely (one of my favourites) but I think they want something with a bit more of a story to it.

I have a copy of the magic faraway tree trilogy, I tried to read it to them but they were not that interested. Maybe when their a bit older.

Thanks again.

Anything by Richard Scary is a hot for us at the mo. They are old (50years!) and American but really detailed pictures and silly stories seem to really capture DS imagination

The book with no picture's.
It makes the reader say silly things.

My DS likes Charlie and Lola books at the moment - he will be 4 in April.

awfulberyl I see. Then many of the Julia Donaldson mentioned in the thread would be great.

I tend to buy books from the big authors since I buy them from Amazon sight unseen. I take DD1 to story time in the local library and it is great for discovering new books. Our local one reads a range of difficulties, from owl babies/dear zoo type one line per page type to something like the gruffalo. They even do one on Saturdays. Cant recommend the library enough!

Hmm actually I can't remember what owl babies is like.... I might have confused it with another book. Too many of these I've lost my mummy ones

Mine like:

• the magic faraway tree - the shortened ones with pictures every couple of pages but chapters still
• the roald Dahl books - same type as above.

I understand what you mean, the Julia Donaldson type we have been reading since weeks old so getting a bit bored now!

I love owl babies! My DS is 4 too and I think he's starting to outgrow Julia Donaldson et al, or maybe just bored as he's had them since he was a baby and now his little sis has adopted them! He got a dr Seuss book for Christmas, a fly went by, and loves it.

The book people are great for ideas, I searched for 5+ and got him the seriously silly colour series which he's really enjoying.

No direct experience but would have thought Winnie the Pooh and Beatrix Potter suitable for this age? Slightly longer stories (and words!) but still have pictures and are individual short stories not chapter books,

DS is 6 now and likes a mix of books - he still goes back to some longer picture books - things like charlie stinky socks, captain Flynn and the pirate dinosaurs, the Pirates next door, mandated the baddie...

There are some nice versions of roald dahl books with colour illustrations - the twits, fantastic Mr fox and the giraffe, pelly and me.

He loves Dr Seuss books which I hate

He'll still read some julia Donaldson - superworm and the highwayman one (I forget what it's called).

Flat Stanley books (colour illustration version) also a hit.