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Original poster

Recommend me a non picture book for me to read at bed time to my 5 year old

57 replies

Mypopcornface · 08/10/2012 20:47

So, dd is 5 and still struggling with phonics and reading. I'm the only one reading to her and with her as everybody else from the family isn't interested. It is really sad as my accent is atrocious and even tough I can read very well for myself I have to make a big effort and pronounce very careful land slowly to not say the words wrong. Anyway, picture books are fun but I want to start reading a longer story to her, maybe one chapter each night? I'm thinking the wizard of oz or the secret garden, what do you think? Please reply with your suggestions. Thanks.

OP posts:

sugarfoot · 09/10/2012 11:18

My daughters loved Pippa Longstocking at that age.

Fuzzymum1 · 09/10/2012 12:19

The owl who was afraid of the dark was a favourite of mine and my older children, I think I will dig it out and read it to DS3

lynniep · 09/10/2012 12:22

We've started on the Roald Dahl books. He's seen both versions of Charlie and the Chocolate factory films and he's enjoying the book form now. They also have some illustrations, which is a nice 'in-between' rather than a big jump from picture books. We read him 2 chapters usually after he's read his reading book to us.

moonbells · 09/10/2012 12:27

I'm reading the Moomin books to my DS at the moment. Pics every few pages so enough to give his imagination a boost.

FaintlyMacabre · 09/10/2012 12:31

Milly Molly Mandy books are lovely. They might seem a little old-fashioned but my nearly 5 year old DS who is otherwise obsessed with Star Wars and Power Rangers loves them.

MordionAgenos · 09/10/2012 12:54

Or, Faintly The Phantom Tollbooth?

OP - how about 'How to train your Dragon'? As the series progresses it gets a bit darker and more complex but the first two or three books are ideal for a 5 year old. Another series of books that would be ideal are the Harry Horse 'Last' series - but they may be out of print now (The last polar bears, the last cowboys, the last gold digger, the last castaways).

moonbells · 09/10/2012 12:55

at FaintlyMacabre your name comes from one of my very favourite books and I'm looking forward to the day I can read it with DS!

FaintlyMacabre · 09/10/2012 13:58

I'm so pleased that 2 people 'got' my name!
I agree (of course) that the Phantom Tollbooth is great and am looking forward to reading it with my boys. I think they'll need to be quite a bit older to understand all the wordplay though. As a precocious early reader myself I'm aware that I spoiled some books by reading them before I was mature enough.

Wigeon · 09/10/2012 14:05

Dh and I are currently fighting over who gets to put DD to bed, because we both want to read the next chapter in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to her! She's 4. I would definitely recommend it for a 5 year old.

We have also just read EB White's Charlotte's Web. Another lovely book from my childhood. She wasn't at all traumatised by the fact that Charlotte dies at the end .

I can't wait to make my way through all the lovely recommendations on this list!

gabsid · 09/10/2012 14:16

What is your DD into? Mine loves ballett and I have just discovered the Magic Ballerina books by Darcey Bussell. Its a bit old for my DD (just turned 4) but we read, chat about it and she listens really well as she is obsessed with ballett.

From your post I am assuming that your first language is not English - if so, then the one thing I would suggest is to read to her in your native language! I read to my DD in German (almost always). I only read English when the books are too hard to translate.

And your 5 year old DD is still struggling with phonics and reading? Well, she is 5 and just learning it, isn't she?

fuzzpig · 09/10/2012 14:19

The phantom tollbooth is brilliant. I was in a play of it with my local theatre when I was 10 - I was the spelling bee and had a big fluffy costume. I can still spell antidisestablishmentarianism in under 4 seconds

nailak · 09/10/2012 14:30

Dahl definitely,

My dd is 5 loves Matilda, and fantastic Mr fox

happygardening · 09/10/2012 18:14

I 2nd the audibook comment you can download them from Audible onto a ipod etc and listen to them in the car. At your DD's age we had Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories the language is quite complex but even at 3-4 yrs old my children were incorporating it into their conversation and the stories are really magical. Both my DS's are teenagers now and we were talking about which one was our favourite only the other day.
We personally loved Carlie and the Great Glass Elevator more than Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and other is Just William again downladable from Audible we listened to them all the way to Italy many years ago and as adults we love them too.

JollyJack · 09/10/2012 18:17

Mr Meddle is fantastic - Enid Blyton is the author. We have the Noddy books too. They have pictures but quite a lot of text.

At that age, Roald Dahl would be good but you may want to go with audio books for some of it.

Cs Lewis Narnia books are good too.

magichamster · 09/10/2012 18:22

Lots of people have suggested audio books already, but you can also borrow these free at libraries.

My ds's liked the Humphrey the Hamster books at that age as well as the usual Roals Dahl

colditz · 09/10/2012 18:28

Winnie-Ther-Pooh!

colditz · 09/10/2012 18:28

Oh oh oh NAughty Amelia Jane - she was So Damned NAughty

CaseyShraeger · 09/10/2012 18:34

DH insisted on reading The Phantom Tollbooth to DS when he was far too young to appreciate it and as a result and exactly as I predicted it left him entirely cold. I'm rather hoping that he may have forgotten the experience by the time he's a more suitable age and will be prepared to give it another go.

fuzzpig · 09/10/2012 19:22

DD was really disappointed we did not have time to read more of her first chapter book tonight - George's marvellous medicine seems to be a hit :)

fuzzpig · 09/10/2012 19:23

yes do go and borrow audiobooks from your local library :o

Original poster

Mypopcornface · 09/10/2012 20:26

Oh thanks so much for great answers. Yes my 1st language is not English I always read to her in my own language, but I was asked to make a bit more effort supporting her English. She will maybe be assessed for dyslexia by Christmas. I tried to audio books today: Winnie the pooh which she didn't pay much attention than the tiger who came for tea and that was a success. I know it is a short story but I don't drive so did in the house before dinner. I didn't go to the book fair today because I decided to send my husband instead later in the week, in the hope for him to see how supporting reading is important and I pray the teacher have a chat with him. I went to the library too and got few books but tonight we read a picture one about good manners and sharing and another good one about bees and honey (lots of vocabulary and info there) brilliant. I will be buying all the books so she can keep to read again when older and get the audio ones from the library.

OP posts:

Original poster

Mypopcornface · 09/10/2012 20:27

Oh, and dh claims he is dyslexic himself and that is why he is not interested in books.

OP posts:

TalkinPeace2 · 09/10/2012 20:34

OP
Go to charity shops too - there are LOTS of good kids books there and if you allow a weekly budget of £3 you'll have shelves heaving with books in no time ...

Original poster

Mypopcornface · 09/10/2012 20:57

Oh sure. Charity yes.

OP posts:

WidowWadman · 09/10/2012 21:16

Has Pippi Longstocking been mentioned yet? Or any other Astrid Lindgren for that matter? Easily readable chapter by chapter, timeless (and I've only recently reread so am not just nostalgic) and fun.

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