Books for a 4 year old fluent reader

[tooearlytobeup]

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post, so please feel free to tell me to move along!

My daughter is 4. She was a September baby, so is not yet in Reception class. She does attend the nursery attached to a Primary school for 2.5 hours a day.

She has taught herself to read, pretty much without input from me. I mentioned this to the nursery teacher a couple of months ago because it hadn't been picked up on in class and they have monitored it since.

Last month they started giving her a 'reading scheme' book once a week and have listened to her reading in class. They have increased the level each week, as she has found them all easy.

She is now bored of them as although she can read and understand the books, the stories left are not appealing to her. Both her teacher and I are having trouble finding books that will keep her interest, but challenge her.

The best match we have found is the Storyworlds fairytale type books, but she has now read the higher level ones, and does not like the fantasy/sci fi type ones that are left.

At home I have tried Enid Blyton and the Rainbow Fairy books, which she can easily read, but does not really enjoy and am at a bit of a loss where to go from here.

Does anyone who had an early reader have any suggestions of books which will be enjoyed by a very little girl but are likely to challenge her?

Oh and for comparison, the last book she was given was 'Voyage into space' which is Storyworlds level 9. She can read the text easily, but wont finish the book because she says it's boring

Has she read all all those crap rainbow fairies? They are usually the first place a pink early reader fetches up.

There are vast numbers of them, swiftly backed up by magic ponies, magic kittens, magic puppies etc.

For a bit of variety, shove in flat Stanley and horrid henry, then on to the Cressida cowell's.

Realistically, just take her to library and let her choose whatever she wants. Easy come, easy go.

Pointless wasting loads of money on books that she reads in twenty minutes and never looks at again.

Could she read an Enid Blyton or a Rauld Dahl book?

Are they boring or content-wise too difficult? Does she still like picture books more? Could she read those?

Are they boring or content-wise too difficult? Does she still like picture books more? Could she read those?

Sign her up to your local library so she can read and read to her hearts content.

I started reception as a Free Reader, meaning I had the run of the school library rather than picking books of a certian colour and thankfully we had a local library on our doorstep.

How about Ballet Shoes and that series? The Jolly Postman. Anything bu Shirley Hughes and anything by Janet and Allan Alhberg and as a pp said, Roald Dahl.

Second vote for Roald Dhal, so many fabulous stories all with engaging illustrations to boot. I loved them from a very early age.

Mr Mageika or animal ark- i agree that the library is the best bet

We have a huge amount of the rainbow fairy books (via my older daughter and the Book People) and all my old Enid Blyton, but she wants to read the sort of books with colourful pictures.

I think what I need are storybooks but including longer words if that makes any sense.

Biggest hit recently has been 'How do dinosaurs get well soon?' because she had to work at making sense of the dinosaur names. I am trying to avoid making her feel that she has to read

Oh sorry, lots of cross posts! I was thinking maybe Roald Dahl, will dig them out. Mercibucket that is exactly my problem. She likes picture books best and fairytales and familiar themes but is not challenged by them at all.

I am happy for her to read anything, and am honestly not pushy or worried about reading levels, but would like her to continue enjoying books and reading, not get bored of it

Ive just checked out Allan Ahlberg too which I think she will love, thanks for the suggestions, and for not laughing me out of this section

How about the princess poppy series? They are a good mix of lots of illustrations but some longer text than picture books.

Definitely a vote for the library. My daughter is the exact same and it has been my life saver over the last four years!

Roald Dahl is a good suggestion.
My daughter hated the rainbow fairies but loved tiara club and there is loads of those. Bit shorter than rainbow fairies and have pictures.
Daisy and the trouble with ...... My DD2 really likes.
Beatrix potter have cute stories, nice pics and big words, I was surprised how well they went down!
Also Usbornes reading scheme books have lovely colourful pictures and bigger print all the way up to Macbeth! Might be worth a look and they have a non-fiction section that you may find good.

Hope that helps and Good luck

How about Winnie the witch, the picture books and they have early reader chapter ones: www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&productId=184737

And Daisy, also has picture books and chapter books www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&productId=184737

Graham Oakley's church cat books? I liked those when I was small.

Quentin Blake books?

Has she tried angelina ballerina books lovely pictures.
What about some poetry books Michael rosin was very popular with my daughter when she was that age.

Thanks all for the suggestions. She loves Winnie the Witch, not keen on Angelina Ballerina. I have all the Beatrix Potter ones here, but hadn't thought of trying them, so will give those a go.

Most of the other recommendations I haven't seen before, so will take her to the library tomorrow and join. I've been putting it off because we dont get much time to get there.

I think I need to get out of the mindset of needing 'reading schemes' and just carry on letting her read whatever she fancies. At least we have manged to skip Biff and Chip altogether this time

Thanks all

I think letting your daughter choose her own books from the library really helps. Don't forget to try and steer her to the non-fiction area. Discussing what she has read will give you some idea of whether she understands what she is reading too. My dd4 loves trying to write and illustrate her own books atm.

Dick King- Smith .

Fabulous books for readers of all ages. Various lengths and formats from, " all pigs are beautiful" which is a picture book of sorts about his greatest passion, through shortish chapter books (read "George Speaks " yourself and you will need freq loo breaks to prevent wetting yourself- it's hillarious, about a "Gifted and talented " baby who can talk and uses his sister to organise his world so the boring bits of babyhood- like nappies,mushy food, and icky relatives are dealt with swiftly!).

Mostly animal themed.

Also his Sophie books about a "small but very determined" 5yr old who is plotting constantly in her ambition to be a lady farmer when she grows up.

I second the Sophie books!

There are a whole host of early reader series, though, which sound like just what you are after right now - like colourful picture books but with chapters. Our library had loads, of which DD's favourites were Jeremy Strong's Pirate School and the Geronimo Stilton ones. They're the same kind of level as Winnie the Witch. There are also some Horrid Henry early readers which might be good.

Thank you for the new ideas

Sorry to not come back, a sickness bug hit the house and I haven't had time to come online.

We have hit the library and she chose a stack of books. We are planning to go once a week now, and I will let her pick her own

flat stanley is good for long words.

silver street farm series may be too easy for her but are ok content for a 4 year old.

non fiction books are very good.

are you doing the comprehension type stuff?

Dd very able and read well before 4. She read my old Enid Blyton books and i also had some old Topsy and Tim and Mark and Mandy. And yes she did read and collect the Rainbow Magic books. A book is a book in my opinion. I was told by dd's reception teacher not to give books to a child unless they understand what it all means and she said that i should ask dd questions after each book. Things like "who did this" or "what do you think might have happened if xxx". She was only 4!! I didn't bother with that much because i thought it might put her off books. It hasn't though. Good luck with your children everyone. x x

"Pippi Longstocking" ? I read it when I was 4 , absolutely loved it !

With my DS I used to get his interest up by reading at bed time an then he would get into the story and would read on himself.

Moomintroll books were another favourites.