A little while ago, I asked you–and a bunch of librarians in another online community I frequent–for chapter book ideas. Noah’s four, not yet reading and certainly not the target age for most chapter books, but he really likes for us to read him more extended (and more complex) narratives. He’s ready for very-few-or-no pictures. But he hates cruelty and real danger and tragedy; he chooses not to watch or hear things like that right now, and I respect that. Ideally, we’re also looking for books that are well-written and interesting, feminist or at least non-sexist, non-nationalist/classist/heteronormative/racist/etc., and not focused heavily on hunting/taxidermy/meat/dead animals (hey, you’d be surprised–I’m thinking The Animal Family and Charlie Muffin’s Miracle Mouse, for instance; Noah knows some animals eat other animals and some other people do too, but we’re not interested in a story that goes ON and ON about it …).
I’ve collected a list of Books to Try here. These ideas come from your recommendations, various librarianfolks’ recommendations, and my own research. We’re working through them and will let you know what we think!
- Annie Barrows, Ivy and Bean
- Jeff Brown, Flat Stanley
- Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux
- Edward Eager
- Anna Fienberg, Barbara Fienberg, & Kim Gamble, Tashi (1st book in the Tashi series)
- James Howe and Deborah Howe, Bunnicula
- Ursula Le Guin, Catwings
- Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy
- Michael Morpurgo, The Sandman and the Turtles
- Donna Jo Napoli, Sly the Sleuth books
- Dietlof Reiche, I, Freddy
- Cynthia Rylant, Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea; Henry and Mudge: The First Book;
The High-Rise Private Eyes #1: The Case of the Missing Monkey; In Aunt Lucy’s
Kitchen; Poppleton (all 1st books of their respective series) - Dick King-Smith, The Water Horse
- Gertrude Chandler Warner, 1st 16 Boxcar Children books
- Patricia C. Wrede, Dealing with Dragons (the Enchanted Forest Chronicles)
- Jane Yolen
Any other ideas? Any opinions about these books? Let me know …
5 Comments
If he likes Edward Eager books, you could try him on E. Nesbit … most famously the author of Five Children and It but she wrote others that me and my siblings enjoyed immensely, such as the Treasure Seekers series. They’re a little old-fashioned, having been written in the 1910s … but worth checking out yourself to see if he might like them.
Ditto for Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” series when he’s maybe a year or two older.
Astrid Lindgren is another one — obviously known for Pippi Longstocking, but she wrote a number of other series as well, some of them about younger children (such as the Lotta on Troublemaker Street books, Children of Noisy Village, and the Emil stories). These are often episodic, so make good chapter-a-night books. I remember the Emil stories (particularly) having some scary moments, but they are always resolved in the end in good “everyone well and together” sorts of ways.
I’ll keep thinking and let you know if others come to mind!
~Anna
The Frog and Toad books (Arnold Lobel) have chapters, and they never fail to keep kids interested and make them laugh. It is two male characters, but the focus is on friendship and companionship.
Me again … here are some other ideas that Hanna and I came up with last night on the walk home from work:
the Nicholas series (about a French schoolboy), 1950a-era (I think), translated, authors Goscinny and Sempe.
Beverly Cleary books (known for the Ramona Quimby books, but there are also the Henry books, about Ramona’s neighbor, and his dog Ribsy).
Judy Blume … Hanna particularly recommends the “Fudge” books
.
My mother also recommends a series about a boy named Magnus by Hans Petersen. Titles Magnus in the Harbor; Magnus and the Horse Wagon; Magnus and the Ship’s Mascot.
Also Catwings … although I remember those being a little scary at times!
Ooooh! Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle! I loved those books–though maybe they’re sexist. I wasn’t thinking about it at the time.
And I would definitely second Pippi Longstocking for SURE. Funny, strong, weird, cool and unusual. Definitely Pippi.
Happy reading!
Kaethe
I’ve been looking for similar recommendations for my 7 year old. Secret of Droon got thumbs up from my homeschool group and Magic Treehouse too. I’m going to look up Dealing with Dragons from your list, because that sounds right up his alley!