so what books do you recommend BEFORE Horrid Henry?

[blackeyedsusan]

I am looking for something to bridge the gap between ORT stage 5 and Horrid Henry for a sensitive age 4-5ish girl. I have some Animal Crackers books and have discovered Horrid Henry Early Readers, but still need something a little easier and a little harder. (preferably quite cheap) We buy stuff from The Book People but it is difficult to tell what you are getting from the descriptions. We also go to the library and borrow stuff from there, but it is difficult to spend lot of time reading/ researching with a toddler who has discovered that he is able to climb onto the book boxes.

I need to be able to reuse the books for ds who's reading ability we haven't a clue about yet as he is more interested in climbing on the books at the moment!

Ladybird and Usborne do lots and lots of early reader type books that are simple versions of fairy tales and other well-known stories. My DD reads these in conjunction with her reading scheme - I find them very good for reinforcing tricky words.

Jeremy Strong was what DD loved. He is amusing and his books are well written unlike HH. DD was not allowed to take them out of the school library

The book people have a number of books that answer your description. The Leap Frog collection, Walker stories collection and the Kids & Co. Learn to Read Collection would be fine, and are all under £10 for a set of books.

However, when my children were this age I tended to just grab a few books off the shelf of the library and sort them out when I got home. Usually some of the books were no good, and some were fine, but as there was no cost, it was not an issue. Children love a trip a library, and it is a good way to fill a rainy afternoon.

I've just bought DD (4) lots of books from the book people. If you go on Amazon you can 'look inside' some of them which gives you an idea on how difficult/easy they are.

DD chose the Winnie The Witch collection and I bought a few others too

Mine loved the rainbow fairies and famous five at that stage.

Not sure for a girl, but ds loved the Captain Underpants and the Super Daiper Baby books.

Watch out though - I would say that all of these otherwise good suggestions are too advanced for ORT level 5. I don't go onto a big "chapter book" (ie jeremy strong, dick king smith, astrosaurs, jack stalwart, spy dogs, horrid henry etc) until ORT level 10 ish

I agree with Michaelahpurple some of these suggestions are too difficult for your DD's level.

I've found the Usborne Reading Bands documentation really helpful for finding the exact right level books. www.usborne.com/catalogue/book-bands.aspx

I tend to borrow any Usborne I see at the library and sort it out at home, but a more organised person could turn up armed with a list and ask the staff for help.

You could also consider www.readingchest.co.uk for hiring books. Even if you don't use the service, it's great for "converting" between reading schemes

Dr Seuss books are very good -- Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, etc.

Madsometimes. we have just moved on from leapfrog to hopscotch, and there are loads of those in the library and we are making good use of them.

ort 5 are the read at home series which I think are longer and cover 3 stages of the ort normal books. we are still reading through those. I have no problems with "harder" we can move onto them when we are ready.

Julybutterfly, oo I like your thinking... off to Amazon.

I was debating Ricky Rocket. they have one or two at the library but I wasn't sure about the black and white pictures. Debating whether they will be a good bridge to chapterbooks (eventually)

Would you expect a child to read one or two chapters at a time?

Dr Seuss books are quite longish for picture books and sound a good idea.

I have been investigating the bookshelf. We are currently reading some Charlie and Lola books

walker books look like the thing i am looking for. I haave scrolled past them a couple of times without noticing. they have those at the librry so will go and have look when I am next there

DS really enjoyed the Dr Seuss books when he was bridging ORT and the more in-depth books.

He also really liked the Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne. They're in normal paperback form, but lots of pictures and clear text. They're about a brother and sister who discover a treehouse that transports them back in time and to different places where they have mini-adventures.

Dinosaur Cove was also great but if DD is sensitive, maybe not? Rainbow Fairies were raved about by the girls in his class at the same age.

Jeremy Strong, Jack Stalward books etc a bit more advanced, and only read once he got confidence from the books above.