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Original poster

Can anyone recommend a series of books for ds to read at home to support his school reading?

28 replies

Carrotsandcelery · 23/03/2011 21:53

Ds is currently reading stage 5 of Oxford Reading Tree at school but can easily read stage 8 at home. Hmm
I bought a few ORT for at home but I don't want to buy more as it is boring enough for him having to trudge through every single book available in each stage, without having to do those ones at home too (and I can no longer get ORT Read At Home books at these levels.)
I have hunted around the bookshops and library for a series that he could read at home without reading ORT but which follows a similar progression.
I am overwhelmed by the choice out there and wondered if anyone could recommend a series to keep him interested?

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Original poster
Carrotsandcelery · 23/03/2011 22:10

Anyone?

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lovecheese · 23/03/2011 22:15

Have a look at www.readingchest.com, they grade loads of different types of books into the national book banding scheme.

ORT have their place but there are so many better books out there.

OwlMother · 23/03/2011 22:19

My daughter is on stage 10 of ORT. A few months ago (probably equating to when she was on level 8) she was reading the horrid Henry Books, Daisy (a bit girly I know!) Astrosaurs, and some of the thinner enid blyton like secret seven. She is currently reading Pippi LongStocking - so pleased she is onto proper books!!!

OwlMother · 23/03/2011 22:24

At a certain point you have to abandon the idea of stages. They vary wildly from scheme to scheme. Makes more sense to find "normal" books he can manage and work from their. Ds2 can read level 4 ort and is managing basic Dr Seuss, which he much prefers to Biff, Chip etc!

OwlMother · 23/03/2011 22:24

And it should be "there" not "their" !

Original poster
Carrotsandcelery · 23/03/2011 22:46

Thank you! He read the Dr Seuss and enjoys them - I will maybe just dig out more of the ones we used to read to him. He tries to read the chapter books we read to him but it is still fairly agonising. We are on the cusp but not quite there yet iyswim. I am off to look at the readingchest to see what it suggests.

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goodbyemrschips · 24/03/2011 07:37

Spy dog

max flash

jack stalwart

dikkertjedap · 24/03/2011 09:55

I would just offer a wide range of different books, including Usborne First Readers, Ladybird, Songbirds and any other books your son likes. I think it is really worth while spending some time in a bookshop together (on a regular basis) to get a range of books to suit him. You can then always buy more online if necessary, but part of the fun for the child is choosing themselves I think (with a bit of help).

curtaincall · 24/03/2011 10:24

Ds is reading Pippi Longstocking too. Seems to work for both girls and boys. There's a new ORT series called the Time Chronicles with an older Biff, Chip etc. Proper sci-fi and really interesting with links to RL inventors, artists and discoveries. Don't know if you can just order them online, but try Amazon. My dh and I read them after he's gone to bed!

Original poster
Carrotsandcelery · 24/03/2011 14:06

We looooove Pippi Longstocking in this household. I loved it as a child myself too and my dcs read my ancient copy of it. It is not a girly book other than the fact the main character is a girl. You couldn't accuse her of being a very girly girly though Grin

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I will dip into all of the above.

We do spend a lot of time in the library together but ds struggles to choose suitable books. He is being examined as a possible ADHD or similar sufferer and it is quite tricky sometimes to get him focused in somewhere exciting like a library or bookshop.

I really like the reading chest suggestion as ds really loves it when he "moves up" a level with his reading. I think that motivates him just now and will help to make him a regular reader.

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kowloonmum · 24/03/2011 14:18

Cut and paste from a school website.

Paddington series Michael Bond
Flat Stanley series Jeff Brown
Fantastic Mr. Fox and others by Roald Dahl
George Speaks and other titles by Dick King Smith
The Hundred Mile an Hour Dog and other titles by Jeremy Strong
The Butterfly Lion and other titles by Michael Morpurgo
Tumtum and Nutmeg series by Emily Bearn
How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell
Jack Stalwart series by Elizabeth Singer Hunt
Roman/Egyptian/Greek Tales by Terry Deary
Raven Mysteries series by Marcus Sedgwick

Also a list from the Guardian

Original poster
Carrotsandcelery · 24/03/2011 18:17

Thank you Sarah that was really helpful. Smile

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Mashabell · 26/03/2011 07:22

The main thing is to find 'normal' books that your child likes, capitalising on his or her interests.

mrz · 26/03/2011 07:47

It's not often I agree with Masha but reading scheme books are for developing and practising skills once a child can read independently help them to read all those lovely stories you read to them...
Read Aloud to your child
Encourage your child to Read Along (now they can read some words)
Now your child can Read Alone

Bonsoir · 26/03/2011 08:01

You want to get your DC reading "normal" books ASAP, but I have found Ladybird and Usborne good sources of simplified books that make the transition from fully-decodable reading scheme books to normal books.

Original poster
Carrotsandcelery · 26/03/2011 09:56

We got 2 ladybird books: The Wizard of Oz and The Pied Piper and he reads them no problem and seems to enjoy them. He has started to read himself a Jeremy Strong book called Cartoon Superheroes or something similar to that so it is coming gradually.
Thanks everyone.

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ragged · 26/03/2011 10:27

Many (?Most) public libraries have an early readers section, have a lengthy browse?

Original poster
Carrotsandcelery · 26/03/2011 14:00

Ours does and we borrow a lot from it. It doesn't provide a consistent progression though.
Ds's Reading Chest books arrived this morning and they are perfect for the gap we were trying to fill. We will still borrow from the library and read the chapter books with him but the Reading Chest books will build his confidence I think.

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ragged · 26/03/2011 14:48

I'm not sure you need a "consistent progression", their reading skills don't improve in a consistent way. But glad you found something you like.

mrz · 26/03/2011 14:58

If he can read chapter books he certainly doesn't need Reading Chest!

ragged · 26/03/2011 16:57

I think she said he found it agonising to read chapter books?
Sorry, you did say some more about the library up there, fair enough if you've had a good browse.
At age 6-7 I had months when I couldn't get DC read anything but comics... but that was fine, as long as they were better quality comics, we just rolled with it.

seeker · 26/03/2011 17:03

Beast Quest. Honestly - look no further.

And in my humble(ish) opinion, you don;t want to do schemes or levels at home. They do that at school. At home, just have books. Loads and loads of books, from the library, the Book People, from charity shops and book fairs. Just let him rummage and choose. My ds loved tto read his old picture books once he could read them for himself. And don;t forget that even though he canread, you can still read to him.Keep reading to him until he begs you to stop!

Original poster
Carrotsandcelery · 26/03/2011 18:15

I still read to my 10 year old. My mum read to me until I was older than that and I loved it. I then read the books myself when I was able.
I didn't follow this route with my dd but ds seems to love the idea of moving up a level etc. He has been having a tough time and anything that boosts his confidence is good in my book. The chapter books will happen as well though so he will get that experience too and we will read to him for as long as we possibly can - it is often my favourite part of the day - I snuggle in under the duvet with them and cuddle them and read - it is also often when they tell me things that they haven't told me at other points in the day.

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mrz · 26/03/2011 18:21

Try comics and graphic novels