In between picture books and chapter books

[Liveforthehols]

Y1 DD 6.2 has gone off choosing picture books at the library and is choosing chapter books instead, but after me reading a page to her she loses interest and doesn't want me to continue that night or the next night either.

She reads her school reading scheme book to me every night, which she loves, but I understood it is important for me to continue to read to her too, but am now at a loss for reading material.

What to do?

Have you tried the usborne books? They are like mini chapter books so the stories are short enough to hold attention. They worked for us for a while until DC developed enough listening stamina.

We used short stories for this - or the usborne first reading level 1-3. Usborne have helpfully levelled their books, you can see the list here if you wanted to match up with her home readers from school or anything.

At that age my dd loved Milly Molly Mandy and also the My Naughty Little Sister stories.

We've had various colour young puffin books from the library that seem to fit this niche - they're a bit longer and have little chapters, but still have nice colour pictures and not too many words.
Current favourites are Pirate Penguins.

In less picturey things for being read to him, DS has enjoyed some classics like Winnie the Pooh, Pippi Longstocking, My Naughty Little Sister (but gosh it's dated even more since I was little), Just So Stories.

And he loves nature so often chooses information books about animals.

Oh yes, definitely pippi...

I agree with Usborne. I think the negative about most chapter books is that there are hardly any pictures and if then only black and white drawings. A huge step from picture books.

Also, while in a picture book a lot of the story is covered in one or two pages you need to learn to stay on and finish the chapter.

In the early days we often read together, a page each, then DD two pages while I did one etc. it is all about getting into the habit.

Do you read chapter books to her for bedtime? I found that learning to wait for the story to continue also helps to tackle them herself. And I also found her reading in bed as she wanted to know how the book continues. We normally read books to her a step up from what she can do herself. So while she was on Usborne series 1-2 I would read Pippi Longstocking or Famous Five.

I agree, there are lots of different 'colour young reader' type books. DD loves the Colour crackers series. Thrre are also Colour young hippos, Early Readers, First young puffins, and so on. The library should have a section for 'young readers' or 'starting to read'. Just have a flick through some until you find one that interests her.

There are longer picture books such as the Lighthouse Keeper stories by Rhonda and David Armitage (these are published in chapter book dimensions too but with lovely colour pictures), Laura's Star books (both the picture book versions and the Early reader versions - different books not the same ones in different format), Colour young readers, dick king smith has some shorter animal stories with sketched pictures in, usborne young reading very popular here, Milly Molly Mandy, Mr Benn, Paddington, Alfie and My Naughty Little Sister are also enjoyed. Mine liked The Naughtiest Girl in the School when we read them that at 4 and 5 (I think that was the first chapter book we read them and they loved it), Enchanted Wood and Magic Faraway Tree, Olga Da Polga and the Worst Witch oh and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The copies of Milly Molly Mandy, Alfie and Mr Benn that we have are big hardback books with colour illustrations rather than chapter book sized which makes them really nice for sharing. There is a Winnie the Witch book called something like the Misadventures of Winnie the Witch which includes 8 of the Winnie the Witch chapter books in it but again is more of a sharing book than a small chapter book if that makes sense.

DD1 loved Rainbow Magic Fairy - there are line drawings but there are also little clues to look for whilst you read the story (hidden letters that spell a word - when you solve it you can write in for prizes - very nice prize packs).

DD2 loved Sally Gardner's Early Reader Fairy Stories - lots of sweet illustrations and familiar stories (Snow White/ Princess and the Pea) but slightly different stories and nicely retold.

Both girls liked Winnie the Witch: winnie-the-witch.com/ and Roodica the Rude: www.richardandjudy.co.uk/childrens-books/Roodica-the-Rude-and-The-Famous-Flea-Trick/77 (there are others in the series.

HTH