What books would you recommend for a 4 1/2 year old reader?

[mankyscotslass]

Ds is now reading on his own, fairly competently but obviously still struggling with some words. He gets reading books from school, but these are mostly ORT, and he finds them easy/gets bored. He is far happier with the Lynley Dodd books, but we have gone through them all. They have in the last week started to bring home teacher recommend books to read with us, but these are more of the "hairy Maclairy" style, or similar. I would like to give him something challenging but straightforward, as he now says he wants to read on his own. I dont want to hothouse him, just keep him interested and show him that books are great fun...any ideas please..we can haunt the library if req! .thanks..
I also dont want to keep asking the teacher as i dont want her to label me "pushy"...

My four and half year old DD3 is similar. She started school last week and they are using Rigby Stars which aren't bad reading scheme books as these things go. Can boast here because don't dare tell any of her classmates mums that she has been put straight on to the reading scheme at year one level. Was really pleased that the teacher has figured this out for herself as I didn't want to acquire the pushy label either!
However I would steer away from schemes completely if I were you. Once he has the basic vocabulary he should be able to cope with 'real' picture books. DD likes Topsy and Tim - they are a bit of a yawn for grown ups but they are pitched at a good level for new readers. Also good old Dr Suess - definitely worth checking out at the library - some titles more beginner-friendly than others obviously but Green Eggs and Ham, Are you my mother and suchlike are ideal. I find books with a lot of rhyming going on are good, if you read them together then the child quickly picks up how to predict the sound of the words. The Red Nose readers (Allan Ahlberg) are terrific.
Hope that helps a bit.

Mothers and we are still scared of what teachers think or will say. They should be pleased that most of us do work with our children at home. My Ds now 5, was reading OLT before he went to school. I have now had to slow down with him, because he wasn't learning all the phonics first from me, but was reading from memory. You think your doing right, and are proud of what your child learn, then you have a knock back.

I thonk i will look at the DR Seuss books then, thanks for that!
Ds knows his phonics fairly well, has done all the sounds from Jolly phonics at home. In school they are about halfway through (i think), he has not brought sheets home for a while. He wanted to learn more so whe have done them on the occasions he has asked. So he is fairly comfortable, and when stuck on words will sound them out or ask me to sound them out with him......someone suggested the Horrid Henry books, but i am not really sure about them

Curly, I know what you mean, we are always trying to do the right thing, get the balance right. Had to laught at what you said about teachers, it was very true, maybe we are all still schoolchildren at heart.

Curly, I know what you mean, we are always trying to do the right thing, get the balance right. Had to laught at what you said about teachers, it was very true, maybe we are all still schoolchildren at heart.

I'm even afraid they'll come out to the playground in front of all the other parents to tell me something my DS might have done that day. Which they have done.

You can always tell when the teacher wants to speak to a parent at home time....they have that look on their faces....takes me back a bit....

Dr Seuss are fab! What about Dick King Smith - think they're liked by boys and girls, although they may be slightly too advanced... Mr Men?

Not sure what his interests are, but Mr Men books are a good suggestion. We also liked at this stage the Colour Young Puffins, which our library has lots of - they have lots of colour illustrations which young readers often like, as they break up the text a bit.

Usborne Young Readers are great - there are 2 series, and they have a good mix of fact and fiction, as well as some retellings of myths and legends etc. They also have lots of pictures. Allan Ahlberg Happy Families are good too.

DS2 also liked the shorter Dick King-Smith from about this age; he read Flat Stanley about then. Beatrix Potter was also good for him as it has challenging vocabulary with simple plots and not too many words per page.

Oh great, thanks everyone, lots of ideas here! He came home today with another Hairy maclairy book from the school library, it's one he didn't like before, but he is keen to read it now...and if not dd loves hearing the flow of words!!
Will be heading to the library after school tomorrow, had good intentions but got sidetracked by a scooter, a cat and his friend (long story)
Thanks again

Have you seen these ? The Book People have great offers on book sets

ooh, just seen they have 16 Red Nose readers for £8.99 + postage here

Have you thought about non fiction? My dd (who is a real tomboy) loves non fiction as she learns lots about things, mainly animals etc then can regale us with lots of 'did you know'

have a look at these

the sprinters ones are brilliantr - linked below
particulary the finger eater
they are more for parents to read to children at this age though - is that what you are looking for?

My ds loves these

Dd1 likes Apple Tree Farm books, the idea is the child reads the top line and the adult the bottom; however dd1 now reads the whole lot with very little help - some nights she reads them to dd2 for her bedtime story! Also if you look on Amazon there are loads of new Thomas the Tank Engine books inc. first readers that dd1 loves.

We are in just the same position as you. My dd (will be 5 in June) is reading past Level 10 ORT. Just focussing on 'real books' now. How about the This is the bear series, by Helen Craig and Sarah Hayes. They have a really good rhyming structure to help with fluency and guessing unknown words. My dd loves Mr Men at the moment and the Julia Donaldson books are great e.g.The smartest giant and gruffalo etc. Also love Harry the dirty dog. The Non fiction series suggested below might appeal more to a boy, and you can dip in and out of it! We also have a set of books bought from the book people I think 'Leapfrog'. Oh and almost forgot Percy the Park keeper stories. These are all books she reads to herself. We try and read a real variety of themes, styles and genres to keep her interest and the library is great. I just wish her teacher would acknowledge this rather than just sending home boring purple GINN!

Ooh, sorry about the rant then, didnt realise I felt so strongly about this!

Oh and we have started buying the occasional comic which she reads to herself and completes the activities by reading the instructions. Reading for a purpose I guess. Just have to keep dd2 away from it!

The school books that dd1 gets are abysmal. I'm always being reminded to read them with her so that she gets another one. . Waste of time but it's my fault for letting her be part of the system I guess.

Don't even get me started on 'the system'! We thought we could dodge it by going private. HAH! that how wrong we were. Still we just play lip service to the 'school book' and read everything else of interest! (I used to hate parents like me when I was teaching!!!)

The Red Nose Readers are very good, DS1 really enjoys those. We got the set from the Book People and really enjoy them.

mrspink, I think I am a teacher's nightmare! For some reason dd1 is quite happy to go along with the rubbish books in class and so I don't think they've caught on yet. I refuse point blank to do that bloody key ring thing with the flash cards on it though. Have a feeling we will be found out once she is in Yr 1...Dh much keener on going along with it than me. Still, he did join me in militant refusal to sign the home/school contract!

A key ring with key words? What is this hideous article of which you speak????? Slightly smug here, dd1 has been moved to y1 (not our decision) which I guess is the beauty of the private system and we now have th scourge of spellings in the book bag. One list appeared on Friday, and another list today. No explanation of how/when they will be tested or any suggestion of how to learn them. Makes me so mad, atleast I have th strategies but not every parent does. Gosh, I need to stop ranting tonight it's not good for sleeping later!

Something to do with ERR, whatever that may be. Next year I believe she will be tested on the spellings. . I'd like to burn the wretched thing.

Dd1's school is pretty good as state schools go - only 90 pupils, 14 in Reception and a very dynamic male head. Dd1's teacher is v.v. young but v.v. good, and Early Yrs have their own specially designed room and outside play area with role play, nature and sensory areas and ride-on toys. It was featured on our regional telly a few weeks' ago. Dh and I are saving like mad to send the dcs to a fee-paying school at secondary level although whether we'll be able to manage all three is debateable.