What books do you read with your 4 yr old boy?

[IWillOnlyEatBeans]

DS1 is 4.2. From being tiny he has loved sitting and listening to stories, but lately he seems less keen. I think he is bored of the books we have (stuff by Julia Donaldson, Martin Waddell, Tony Mitton, Giles Andreae etc) and that he has outgrown them.

So I was just wondering what books your 4 yr old boy loves?

Our local library closed down, so I am a bit stuck for inspiration.

The only books he requests now are his Disney Cars Encyclopaedia, a Transformers annual from the 1980s and his Usborne See Inside Space book.

Thanks!

At Christmas DS1 got some Roald Dhal (Twits, James and the Giant Peach), and some Blyton (Faraway tree). The Dhal has been very popular. Blyton was OK, but not as much of a hit.

Have you considered going for longer stories?

Mr Men is also very popular.

Roald Dhal! Of course!! :)

I can't bear reading the Mr Men books, they drive me mad!

Forgot to say thank you - thank you!

He is definitely ready for longer stories. I think he will love George's Marvellous Medicine...

DS (4) is sat at this moment reading Winnie the Witch. He also likes Fantastic Mr Fox.

Have you tried the Richard Scarry books. They are ancient (I read them as a child) but they are a nice mix of fact & fiction with loads going in the illustrations. DS still loves his and he's nearly 6 and reading roald Dahl & David walliams. You can get them on www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_10?k=richard+scarry&sprefix=Richard+scAmazon what people do all day is a favourite.

Another vote for Dahl and Winnie the Witch here with ds1 (4.9). He has got into Blyton's far away tree because his teacher at school has been reading it aloud so we are reading it at home too. We recently finished reading Wind in the Willows too, though it took us several months as it's so wordy. When I get tired he listens to Dahl on audio books, especially Fantastic Mr Fox, the Twits and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We still read picture books too, he loves some by Johnny Duddle (I think) called The Pirate Cruncher and The King of Space.

Sorry to hear your library has closed down. Have they replaced the service with a mobile library? Have you got any charity shops, sometimes we can pick up good books in ours.

Will second Richard Scarry. At 4 my DS loved his books.

How about Dr Seuss, Horrid Henry, the Claude books by Alex T Smith and Funnybones.

Book Peoplw Horrid Henry for younger children. Also Usborne Young Readers or Corgi Pups. DD loves these "chapter books".

Roald Dahl
Johnny duddle (enormous fan here!)
Can't remember the author - but just read "fortunately the milk" which was great.
Just finished the magicians nephew - one chapter a night.

A couple of suggestions to add to Winnie the Witch:
www.amazon.co.uk/Ants-Your-Pants-Julia-Jarman/dp/1408305259/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398516262&sr=1-1

www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Pirates-Peter-Harris/dp/140521161X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398516424&sr=1-1&keywords=night+pirates

thomas the tank books... over and over and over again. I know the characters way to well.

We still like the julia donadlson type too occasionally and tradidional ones like the ginger bread man

Fortunately the milk is by Neil Gaiman. Not sure what its like though, my 9yo read it in one go.

My DS was Thomas mad at that age too.

I second Claude books also Dixie o' Day. How about the Penguins Progress and The Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark?

Does your library service loan out ebooks or audio books too? Ours does and it might help to keep down the cost for you

My own son loved Peter Pan, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Postman Pat. He's never really enjoyed reading books himself (dyslexic) but loved having stories read to him. Peter Pan and Charlie still give him happy memories (he's 18 now)

Oh yes, Richard Scarry -I'd forgotten that till I saw it above!! Rod Campbell's books are also great for that age. "Dear Zoo", the Buster books, etc.

One of son's favourites was "Danny and the Dinosaur" but for the life of me I can't remember the author - I've probably still got it somewhere, but would take a while to find it. It was about a young lad called Danny who befriended a dinosaur in the museum and the dinosaur followed him home. Son absolutely loved it, for a very long time.