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Original poster

Short chapter books to read together for KS1?

64 replies

TheLittleOwl · 12/02/2021 17:35

As the title says really.

DD is KS1, but really struggling with reading. School have said the constant in and out of school due to lockdown isn't helping.

They don't want to put her off reading so have suggested taking the pressure off her learning and just enjoy short chapter books together.

But I don't know where to even start, whats suitable for this age that we can enjoy together?

DD loves animals particularly jungle/zoo animals, she likes dolls and dressing up, but is also a big fan of spiderman. So whats suitable for us to read together? I don't want to be bored to tears by the book.

Also suggestions for bedtime stories which are shorter? We love Julia Donaldson and Judith Kerr any other suitable authors for bedtime?

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Original poster
TheLittleOwl · 12/02/2021 18:36

DD absolutely loves being read to, at bedtime it's always "one more story perleaasee" in that whiney voice kids do.

Some of these suggestions are brilliant, I will look through them all.

Our library is open for click and collect, you can order the books online and then when they're ready you pick them up.

OP posts:
minipie · 12/02/2021 18:43

To add to the excellent suggestions above, the Isadora Moon books went down very well recently with DD who’s in y1. Also Fairy Unicorn series (better than it sounds...)

We’re about to move on to Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf.

Thingywhatsit · 12/02/2021 18:57

The mummy fairy and me series (only 4 books) but they are engaging and are chapter books. They are also great as a first self read when venturing into chapter books.

Thingywhatsit · 12/02/2021 18:58

Oh and the trouble with daisy books too - they are fun too! Usually you can get a good deal on 10 of the books if you have a search.

KeyboardWorriers · 12/02/2021 19:01

I came on to recommend the Claude Books and the Rabbit and Bear series. Both excellent and really enjoyable to read as an adult. My children love both series'.

bakingcupcakes · 12/02/2021 19:08

The boy who grew dragons is a great series. I think the fifth one that's just out is the last one.

I'd 2nd Claude and 13 storey treehouse too and also the longer Shifty Mcgifty books. They come as 3 short stories per book. There's also Enid Blyton short story compilations that we like but they don't have any pictures.

bakingcupcakes · 12/02/2021 19:09

Clever Polly and the stupid wolf is one of the only longer books DS has asked me to read to him again. They're brilliant stories.

megletthesecond · 12/02/2021 19:09

The Twits.

The Daisy and the trouble with... collection.

megletthesecond · 12/02/2021 19:11

Tom Gates too. They're proper funny.

furrycat1978 · 12/02/2021 19:16

Squishy McFluff! Lovely little chapter books, all in rhyme, about a mischievous invisible kitten 😄😄😄

bellagogosdead · 12/02/2021 19:21

I used to like reading George's Marvellous Medicine and doing silly voices for the granny.Grin
My Brother's Famous Bottom by Jeremy Strong is good fun too.
I also recommend who next? You can log in with your library card.

LetterFromLorah · 12/02/2021 19:31

DS is 6 and loves Noddy, Isadora Moon, Faraway Tree (there's a lovely new illustrated version) and Dr Seuss (I read a few pages at a time).

Keyperfect · 12/02/2021 19:34

Cat and the king by Nick Sharratt

Tiramumsu · 12/02/2021 19:46

If your DD likes Julia Donaldson, she has written a longer book called The Giants and the Joneses.

Marmite27 · 12/02/2021 19:49

We’ve been reading the Enid Blyton 30 short stories books. We got the Christmas one for advent, and then an animal one and a fairies one.

Each story is one chapter length which we find perfect for bedtime.

caringcarer · 12/02/2021 19:54

DH read Famous Give to D's and he loved it. I bought Oxford Reading Tree books (Biff and Chop) for child to read.

BikeRunSki · 12/02/2021 19:59

The Sophie books by Dick King-Smith are short chapter books, perfect for KS1 parent/child reading.

amgine · 12/02/2021 20:06

Favourites here;
Famous Five (short stories)
Fairy Unicorns
Fairy Ponies
13 Storey Treehouse books
Worst Witch

Snuzzle · 12/02/2021 20:19

DD 6 is really enjoying isadora moon and mummy fairy and me.
When we started on them we’d each read a chapter but now she just sits and reads them alone.

spookycookies · 12/02/2021 20:22

My 5yo DD is super into George's marvellous medicine. I bought a Roald Dahl collection for Christmas and this is the favourite so far.

EcoCustard · 12/02/2021 20:32

Ds1 is ks1 and struggling with reading. However he is thoroughly enjoying the Rabbit and Bear books, Roald Dahl ones like Pelly and me, The enormous crocodile. I have also read Charlottes Web to him ( a chapter or two every night) which he loved and really engaged with. We are just about to start Tarka the Otter. He loves listening and pictures and talking about the stories but less keen on reading.

Justjoinedforthis · 12/02/2021 20:40

I love Flat Stanley so much I called my son Stanley!

Original poster
TheLittleOwl · 12/02/2021 21:00

Thank you everyone some brilliant suggestions, I’m very excited for this next half term now! No more boring Biff and Chip for us!

OP posts:
cashooo · 12/02/2021 22:24

Just remembered The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark - that's a nice book for a child that age who likes animals.

ineedaholidaynow · 12/02/2021 22:41

@cashooo there are other books in that series too (the author is Jill Tomlinson)