Chapter book recommendations - 5 year old

[MamaTrois]

DC (5 years old, year one) is very happily reading chapter books alone, and loves telling us about the characters and what adventures they've been on. We're really keen to keep that love of reading going. We're looking for recommendations for ages appropriate stories, that are in the longer chapter book format. Favourites so far have been Tom Fletcher books. Bonus points if it's a book that includes dragons.

Are there any books that your DCs have absolutely loved? Any recommendations are truly appreciated.

Our DS is 3, he doesn’t read them himself but he absolutely love the Jill Tomlinson animal stories books. The owl who’s afraid of the dark is his favourite.

They’re chapter books with a few illustrations, well written and quite funny to. Bigish font.

The Boy Who Grew Dragons series by Andy Shepherd? It's very loved here from. Its generally 7 yrs ish age range but you will struggle to find any chapter books aimed at much below that

Both of mine started reading chapter books around that age and sometimes it can be so hard to find something that's appropriate for their ability AND their age!

DS is nearly 6.5 and in the last couple of years he's read to himself:
Daisy and The Trouble With...
Winnie & Wilbur (chapter books)
Knight In Training (there's a dragon in the first one!)
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark (and variations of, by Jill Tomlinson)
My Brother's Famous Bottom (these were DD's favourite)
Minecraft Woodsword Chronicles
Marv the Superhero series
The shorter Roald Dahl books

Others we've read (but they probably could've read themselves!):
The Faraway Tree
Flat Stanley
Toto The Ninja Cat
Most of the longer Roald Dahl books

My six year old is currently loving the Carbonel books by Barbara Sleigh (adventures of a witches cat and two children trying to free him). No dragons, but lots of magic.

E Nesbit has a lovely book of magical short stories, some of which include dragons.

It's tricky isn't it when their reading ability is a long way ahead.
My parents mainly just let me loose on books

My son was quite a sensitive soul so we had to be a bit careful, but he liked

• swallows and Amazons (the series)
• the rabbit and bear series
• the Claude Books
• 13 storey treehouse
• wimpy kid books
• captain underpants

Oh and the Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam books (the chapter books not the picture books although the picture books are lovely too)

Charlie and the chocolate factory and magic faraway tree.

Wonderful! Thank you so much. We have ordered a few and created a to buy list with some others too.

To the PP who mentioned how hard it is to find books suitable for both age and this reading ability, it really is tricky. DC was five in the summer, and can be quite sensitive, so picking the right reading material is definitely a challenge.

DC has lots of shorter books (and magazine subscriptions) which they love to read, but is really craving those longer stories.

At 5, I was given the Mrs Pepperpot Omnibus, which I loved.

I suggest look in the secondhand bookshops and go for some classics.

I've written book with a help of my 7 years old daughter which is also inspired by both my children and our 2 cats. I have also design cover in my own. This book was my first step into publishing on amazon so you can find it there. It has 10 short stories inside with not so many images, only one image at the beginning of every story. Every chapter is telling different imaginative story about siblings and their 2 cats. My children loves coming back to this stories, hope for more little readers to enjoy it.

There are some lovely suggestions here. Can I add Pugs of the Frozen North? It might be slightly challenging (we read it with Y3) but it is tremendous fun.

DD loved the Claude books.

How about Jasper the Space Dog?

Isadora moon - Harriet Muncaster
the owl who was afraid of the dark
Books by Jessica Ennis-Hill
books by Anne Fine
books my Dick king Smith
Daisy and the trouble with
anything by Jeremy strong
The house at the edge of magic
Milly Molly Mandy
Meet me by the steelmen
Mrs Pepperpot
Gobbolino the witch’s cat

I've seen the Faraway Tree mentioned - don't forget The Wishing Chair. I must have been around five when I read both of those.

The Secret Seven is aimed at younger readers. And Enid Blyton also did a series about Mr Galliano's Circus - three books, I think.

the beast quest book

The Hodgeheg.

Dinosaur Cove series
Geronimo Stilton - funny, illustrated and more complex structure
Mudpuddle Farm - Morpurgo age appropriate
How To Train Your Dragon would come a little later
Don't forget A Bear Called Paddington!

Mine is 5 and has absolutely loved the Secret Explorers series…they’re fictional but also include lots of facts so best of both worlds.

That's wonderful that your little one is so into chapter books already—especially at just five! It’s such a magical stage when they start to really get immersed in stories and characters. If they’ve enjoyed Tom Fletcher’s books and are into dragons and adventure, one story you might want to check out is The Enchanted Library. It’s got that imaginative, whimsical vibe and is age-appropriate for young readers—plus, it's available to read online for free.
You can find it on the Bedtime Stories website here: stories for 4 year olds. It’s not a traditional published book, but it’s presented in a nice storybook format that works well for readers at that early chapter-book level. Might be a fun one to read together or let them explore on their own!
Also, for more dragon-themed chapter books, some others that tend to be popular around this age:

• Zog by Julia Donaldson (a bit simpler, but still fun if they’re into dragons)
• The Dragon Sitter series by Josh Lacey (short chapters, funny and engaging)
• How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (might be a stretch for some 5-year-olds, but good for reading together)

Hope that helps keep the reading excitement alive!

Happy to report back that The Boy Who Grew Dragons and Pugs of the Frozen North have gone down particularly well. Thank you @onwards2025 and @Earlyattheairport.

The Boy Who Grew Dragons was finished in little over a week...

I think DC is planning on starting The Secret Explorers next @Gemstar3 - it definitely appealed and is up on the bed time shelf ready.

We have bought quite a few of the recommendations from the thread so thank you to everyone who has contributed.

@Bedtimetale the Dragon Sitter series have been read previously and tend to be read very quickly!

DC has started writing a little book review after each chapter book, it's a very basic review, with a drawing of a character, which they then put in the book it relates too. Definitely an avid reader!

My 5yo isn’t reading themselves but they have enjoyed having read to them the Series of Unfortunate Events books.