dd (reception) just getting excited about reading - what next?

[snickersnack]

dd (just 5) has done really well with her reading since starting reception. She hasn't found it particularly easy but has tried really hard - since she got all the letters sorted, she has been great with words that can be sounded out phonetically, but she has struggled with the non-phonetic words. I think she doesn't have a particularly strong visual memory, and therefore struggles to remember the words she's being asked to learn, particularly when they are presented in a list, and therefore out of context.

However, in the last couple of days she's come to me a couple of times and asked whether she can read something to me. She obviously gets books sent home from school but they are very dull, and she doesn't get them every day. I really want to harness her enthusiasm - she loves being read to, has a very vivid imagination, and I think will, in time, really enjoy reading to herself. I love books, and although I'm conscious of not imposing my own tastes on her, it's something I'd like to encourage.

Anyhow, my question is can anyone recommend some suitable books for a beginning reader (I think the school use the Ginn 360 books (with Liz and Digger and she's nearly finished the orange ones) to build her confidence? She did a blindingly good job on Meg and Mog yesterday, but most of our very easy-to-read books are of the baby book variety, or she knows them by heart. I'm going to the library this afternoon for some more Meg and Mog books, but I can see they may wear a bit thin fairly soon.

Aww, congratulations to your dd, its a happy day when they realise that they can read and want to do so for pleasure. I think reading and enjoying books is one of lifes most important skills. Anyway, enough blurb from me, practicalities; My own dd2, now yr1, loved the Oxford reading tree stories, especially when the magic key ones kick in at about level 5? might be wrong with level there, but she loved them, also she chose next level up books from the reading schemes used at her school that we found in the library; Usborne do a great series levelled 1 to 3 of classic stories, quite easy to read but "proper" books, also Charlie and Lola; as she increases with confidence Id recommend the easier, thinner Roald Dahl books and the "Rainbow magic" books, formulaic but girls love them; are you a member of a book club? they often do great offers on sets, and dont forget to let her sometimes choose what you would say are baby books to read to you, my own dd2 has recently found were going on a bear hunt tucked away somewhere and reads it with super expression. My dd loved playing reception with her teddies and reading a story to them too. Enough waffle from me, happy reading!

All those lovely picture books you probably already have we read those sometimes her reading everything and sometimes see saw reading with me doing one page and her doing the next. We now (year 1) read anything road signs, menus.

The Superphonic book collection is great for new readers. I got mine from Book People I think (or maybe Red House?)

I'd avoid Charlie and Lola books personally. They're AWFUL to read as they're written exactly how the show is on TV and also HaVE a LoT oF tHIs gOiNG oN WhiCH CoUlD bE cOnfUsINg for her

Hi

I got my ds some red nose readers from the Bookpeople £4.99 for12 books. Also got loads of ladybird classics, Peter & Jane, Puddle lane off ebay. Usborne phonics £9.99 for 12 from redhouse books are good ds gets these as extra reading from school.

What I do wiht my DD2 who is in Rec. as well, is ask for her help when I read a book to her. She can read CVC and other short words, so I pick a book (kids book of course) and ask her to read the words I know she can read, and ask her if she can try to sound other short words. If I missed words that I know she can read but I don't ask for her help, she will let me know that she could have read that word, so we go back and do it.