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Children's books

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A chapter a night bedtime books for 4 yr old - ideas please

30 replies

Othersideofthechannel · 18/05/2007 21:28

DS is 4 and until now bedtime routine has included a whole short picture story (about the length of the Gruffalo.)
We'd like to start reading longer stories to him and having a chapter a night as part of the bedtime routine.
I look forward to your recommendations.

OP posts:
eatyergreens · 18/05/2007 21:38

Hi there,
I've just finished reading the Wind in the Willows to my DS, who is also 4.

We were given a picture book that's about the same large size as the Gruffalo books, it's a lovely edition, and I think the size/pix helped as tbh I didn't think he would be old enough for it and wouldn't have understood a book with fewer pix. He really enjoyed it. And we enjoyed reading it to him.

Hope this helps

cazzybabs · 18/05/2007 21:40

the owl that was afraid of the dark and others in the series

Horrid henry

Olga da Polga

colditz · 18/05/2007 21:40

The Little Prince is lovely
House at Pooh Corner may be a little old, but maybe not.
The old Enid Blyton books are full of racism and mysogyny but children love them. You can filter them.

popsycal · 18/05/2007 21:49

faraway tree

emkana · 18/05/2007 21:54

My dd loved Magic Faraway Tree and The Wishing Chair.

Also Mrs. Pepperpot.

milge · 18/05/2007 21:58

Have just finished Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Ds has been called Mike TV for a while, due to his love of the box, so wanted to show him where it came from
Just about to embark on teh magic faraway tree.

Othersideofthechannel · 19/05/2007 10:59

Thanks, have got some of those in a box somewhere leftover from my childhood.

Keep 'em coming!

OP posts:
gigglinggoblin · 19/05/2007 11:03

astrosaurs by steve cole. dinosaurs in space

RustyBear · 19/05/2007 11:10

Elephants Don't Sit On Cars & the other Jeremy James books by David Henry Wilson - very funny both for the child & the adult reading.

dotcom · 19/05/2007 11:13

Ooh yes Enid Blyton.

I wouldnt recommend Horrid Henry! DS1 was vile after reading some of the books and the phrases he came out with were straight from the TV series so we avoid it now!

TheMoistWorldOfSeptimusQuench · 19/05/2007 11:38

I second Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. Just finished reading this with DD - I'd forgotten how dark Roald Dahl is, & how thrilling that is to a child. We're now reading the Revolting Rhymes (one a night) which are equally fab - the word play is really appealing to little ones.

Bink · 19/05/2007 22:52

Fantastic Mr Fox (also Roald Dahl) is a great first chapter book.

Maybe the Flat Stanley series too.

KerryMum · 19/05/2007 22:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

oops · 19/05/2007 22:54

Message withdrawn

Bink · 19/05/2007 22:57

Oh yes I agree about 101 Dalmatians. My two loved Starlight Barking (the sequel) even more.

oops · 19/05/2007 23:00

Message withdrawn

imaginaryfriend · 19/05/2007 23:01

I second all the Roald Dahl books.

(depends slightly on the nature of the child of course, my dd is a bit of a goth and loves the darkness of his tales)

And for a lighter read dd really enjoys Enid Blyton's Naughty Amelia Jane stories. You can't beat a bit of naughtiness and justice in the mind of a 4-year-old.

oops · 19/05/2007 23:05

Message withdrawn

hana · 19/05/2007 23:16

sorry, haven't read thread, so these may be repeats, but chapter books that I've read to my 5 year old are
My Naughty Little Sister
Charlotte's Web
Milly, Molly Mandy
Alice in Wonderland

about to start Little HOuse on the Prairie

hana · 19/05/2007 23:19

sorry - I have a dd, and jsut saw you have a ds

luciemule · 19/05/2007 23:21

Have just finished reading The Enchanted Wood and The Magic Faraway Tree to DD again as we've already read them once and they were mine from when I was little so you can imagine how bored I am! However, DD loves them - they're so ful of adventures, although yes, they're not very politically correct but the kids don't seem to notice.

imaginaryfriend · 19/05/2007 23:35

Hi Oops, I've lost your thread from my list, will try to find it again. That sounds great! Dd had a bit better week too though nothing quite so impressive.

oops · 19/05/2007 23:47

Message withdrawn

imaginaryfriend · 20/05/2007 09:16

That's fantastic, oops! That may be a friendship that lasts 50 years - you never know!

Nemo2007 · 20/05/2007 21:22

DS is 3.7yrs and we have read a couple of roald Dahl books and also one paddington bear book.