Books with pictures - not picture books - to read a 4 year old

[BigGreenCookieMonster]

My 4 year old loves books but is starting to get a bit bored of picture books. We have started reading longer books which have some pictures but longer narrative arcs and chapters (the sign of a real big girl book!)

We've so far had success with the Usborne Greek myths and legends of King Arthur, and the Princess in Black stories have been a huge hit. I don't remember this phase of my own reading history, so would appreciate any recommendations. 4 year old girls being what they are (or, at least my 4 year old girl...) bonus points awarded for anything involving princesses, unicorns, fairies and magic 🙄. Thank you!

Have you got a library near you? Check out the younger readers section. It’s full of fairy / unicorn / cute animal chapter books with pictures 😁 Zoe’s Rescue Zoo, Unicorn Academy and Animal Arc have been favourites here, but there’s loads more (and you’ll want to mix it up for your own sanity).

How about some of Roald Dahl’s shorter books or his ones with shorter chapters. The Enormous Crocodile, The Twits, George’s Marvellous Medicine, Fantastic Mr Fox off the top of my head.

Also Nosy Crow Classics do a line of shortened classical stories which are lovely. My daughter loved the Velveteen Rabbit at age 4/5

The enormous crocodile is usually a hit at this age. Also, the Claude the Dog books are good early chapter books.

Ahlbergs Happy Families, all brilliant. We love Mrs Wobble the waitress most of all.

Julia Donaldson has a range of short chapter books for younger children which my 4 year old enjoys. They have pictures on quite a few of the pages but also a decent amount of text. ‘The snake who came to stay’, ‘Mr Birdsnest and the house next door’ etc.

I second the Happy Families Series. Absolute classics.
My daughter liked a series called Pirate School by Jeremy Strong. They were funny and silly.

My 4yo daughter loves the Unicorn Academy books

There are so many chapter books out there now which are full of colourful illustrations throughout. Definitely visit your local library or book shop to investigate for yourself, but Isadora Moon and Kitty books sound perfect for her interests right now. Rabbit and Bear are great too. Wighlesbottom Primary, Claude etc. There are so many lovely series out there for this in between stage where they want longer stories but still have the comfort of colourful illustrations throughout.

Recent hits with mine:

Lizzie and Lucky (series)
A Heart for Ruby
Princess Mirror-Belle (series)
The Zebra's Great Escape
The Worst Witch (series - little bit longer)

DD5 is currently devouring the Rainbow Magic Fairies books. They have 6 chapters so quite quick to read, and a picture of some sort on most pages. She's also read the Unicorns of Blossom Wood and a few of the Unicorn Academy books, all quite easy going with predictable plot and just the right length.

Thank you all so much. Some excellent suggestions here. Off we go to the library!

Has she already enjoyed classics like cockatoos and the tiger who came to tea? Or are they too picture book?

I loved the giraffe, the pelly and me as another Roald Dahl book.

Winnie the Witch book series and Claude books were the winner when mine were that age.

Teddy Robinson
My Naughty Little Sister
By Joan G Robinson
The original books not the newer picture books, great for reading aloud. I also find them quite entertaining which is a bonus.

Also
Milly Molly Mandy

Joyce* Lankester Brisley- *
very dated, my mum read them as a child in the 1940s!
My granddaughters aged 3.5 and 5 will happily sit and listen to them now.

@Ineffable23 yes, we now look on those books with teenage-like disdain - who knew 4 year olds could be so haughty!

You have all reminded me of several books I read as a child, so thank you. I will nudge her towards the Ahlbergs and the Dahls, but we will no doubt end up with piles of unicorns and fairies. Oh, for the day she can read to herself!

I don't think I have ever grown out of those picture books so I am clearly not the best judge!

@Ineffable23 fully agree. At least the little one will still let me indulge.

@MmedeGouge I used to read Milly Molly Mandy when I was a child! I'll look them out and see how they land.

I'm really looking forward to the library trip this Saturday, so thank you all

The friendship fairies

My 4yo DD loves the Catwings books by Ursula Le Guin.

Mr gum books are fun to read together.

Katie Morag - short stories

@BigGreenCookieMonster see if you can get hold of the Shifty McGifty books. These were a vastly underrated series that my DD loved. They transition from the early picture books to chapter books with pictures and were invaluable at the stage your LO is at. Great stories, little mysteries solved by two intrepid hounds with dubious pasts. It's starts with about 4 or 5 picture books and heads into chapter books thereafter. Well worth it!

https://amzn.eu/d/5g879X4

Others that landed well were the Worst Witch series, Fantastic Mr Fox, Dick King-Smith and a series called Sophie Mouse.

All lovely.

Enjoy. I miss these days.

Oh I loved the “My Naughty Little Sister” books when I was younger and my three age 5-8 love them now!! That’s a great suggestion.

Also seconding the Claude books.

Try graphic novels. The Narwhal and Jelly series are fun. A Day In The Life of a Poo, a Gnu and You is a factual graphic novel style book that’s a bit different . Grimwood is good too. Polly and the Puffin is a gorgeous short chapter book with pictures.