Short chapter books to read together for KS1?

[TheLittleOwl]

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?

Julia Donaldson has a couple of books in the Little Gems series, the stories are short chapter books and the font is meant to be easier for dyslexic readers, we just bought them as Julia Donaldson fans and needed something before jumping into longer books, we had The Snake Who Came to Stay. Dd loves Isadora Moon and Hannah Shaw’s books, The Scruffs books and the Unipiggle series, she is eagerly awaiting the third book.

Ones that have gone down well both with DS in year 1 and also my 4 year old DD are the Winnie the Witch early chapter books (by Laura Owen not the picture books by Valerie Thomas), the Magic Treehouse, and fairy tale anthologies.

With the Winnie books, read with Oxford do simplified versions of the same stories for a child to read. They have been a huge hit with DS - they first time he's voluntarily sat down and read a longer book.

My 6 year old DD is enjoying me reading the Daisy books by Kes Grey. Very relatable and funny for their age group.

Sophie books by Dick King-Smith
Worst Witch series
Rabbit and Bear series
Mr Penguin mysteries by Alex Smith
Anna Hibiscus stories

We are currently reading all the original Paddington stories - longer but brilliant (we always try and guess ahead what trouble Paddington will get into!)

DS loved Paddington books, we also read the Wombles series to him

Another vote for Rabbit and Bear here too

My Naughty Little Sister books too. A little dated in places, but not detrimentally so.

Winnie the witch
Laurence Anholt fairy tales
Roald Dahl
Dick King Smith

Elmer Stamp - the secret diary of Pig books. They are funny and engaging with short chapters. My son loved them.

Flat Stanley,
My naughty little sister,
Roald Dahl - his shorter books are good starters such as Esio trot,
Captain underpants,
Battersea dogs home series,
Rspca also do a series.

Any books suggestions for an year 1 child who is a reluctant reader and is interested in art? He is mega reluctant to read anything so needs something that engages him quickly. Really appreciate any suggestions!!

Asterix or Tintin might be good.

Update:

Picked up a copy of Rainy Day Stories by Enid Blyton over the weekend and have read a few stories to DD. She loved them, she definitely understands and can follow the story, she laughed at the funny parts and said "oh no not again" at times in the story so she's definitely struggling with the reading bit not the actual comprehension.

For bedtime I'm still doing Julia Donaldson and similar.