Beyond early readers?

Eleanor · October 18th, 2009, 11:03 PM

Anyone have any good suggestions for chapter books that are a little more challenging, but still age appropriate for younger kids?

Isabelle can read at a 4th grade level, but a lot of those books are too long for her not to get frustrated. And I worry about things that might be inappropriate, if I haven't read them myself.

We've read tons of the Magic Treehouse and Geronimo Stilton books, her teacher last year read all the Junie B. books to them (and I wouldn't get those for her anyway!). She's slowly working her way through Little House on the Prairie.

We've also read one or too of Ivy and Bean, Frannie K. Stein and My Weird School Daze.

Other suggestions?

kalm · October 18th, 2009, 11:25 PM

Horrible Harry is one both my kids love and can get through in an evening. Lilly loves those Rainbow Magic fairy books (but man are they repetitive plotwise). She adores the American Girl books (and so do I -- good stories and a history lesson), but they're longer. We've read Mary Poppins and the Little House books, as well as Charlotte's Web, all of those are longer, but we'll read a chapter aloud and then she'll read one or more on her own. Ramona and the Clementine books are good too. I don't love Junie B, but haven't kept the kids from getting them from the library either.

Cami · October 19th, 2009, 07:46 AM

Horrible Harry.

Nancy Drew (either the old ones or new). All the Beverly Cleary. The puppy series-- Puppy Place?-- those are pretty easy.

Jayne · October 19th, 2009, 07:55 AM

Spiderwick? My best friend teaches 4th grade I can ask her!

MamaGoofy · October 19th, 2009, 08:36 AM

What about Harry Potter? David loves them (he's in 2nd grade) and has started Chamber of Secrets. He reads a little each day and he's not overwhelmed.

Girlo · October 19th, 2009, 08:47 AM

Alex loves the Goosebumps books.

Of course, he also loves anything scary. I know he's the exeption with this....but if she also loves scary stuff, she might like them too.

Dennis · October 19th, 2009, 09:14 AM

I've heard good things about the Warriors series - http://www.amazon.com/Warriors-1-Int...5958021&sr=8-9

gulp! · October 19th, 2009, 09:38 AM

We just picked up this book at the store this weekend: Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand It capitalizes on her interest in fairies, but is much more challenging than those damn Magic Fairy books. There's a few others in the series, and the guy at the store told us they are going to make movies out of them.

ETA: Amazon says only the hardcover is available, but the one we bought in the store (B&N) had a soft cover.

Kimberly · October 19th, 2009, 09:56 AM

Horrible Harry
Nate the Great (might be a bit too easy for her, but they are still great)
The Boxcar Children
Judy Moody
Sarah, Plain and Tall
Spiderwick Chronicles ( I read these aloud to my first graders every year.)
The Babysitters Club (not sure of the reading level, but I loved these)
Magic Schoolbus has a set of chapter type books that might be fun if she likes science.

If you want me to ask some of the 3rd/4th grader teachers at school for more suggestions, just let me know.

Bonnie · October 19th, 2009, 11:51 AM

Bailey School Kids
Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew
A to Z Mysteries
Cam Jansen series

Eleanor · October 19th, 2009, 12:09 PM

Cool! Some of those are new to us, and we'll have to give them a try.

Part of my trouble with Isabelle and books is that her school does the accelerated reader program, and they're required to do a quiz a week. She's required to read books between 3.2 and 5.2 for them to count...and so of course, she likes the lower 3's because she can read one in a day or two (compared to some of the 200+ page books that are 4 and above). This is why she's read just about every Magic Treehouse and Geronimo Stilton book out

(some of them we read last year too). I'm trying to encourage her to expand her horizons a bit, though

Kristen · October 19th, 2009, 12:54 PM

Animal Ark series by Ben M. Baglio (about a girl who's parents are vets.)
Addie series by Laurie Lawlor (historical fiction)
Princess Tales series by Gail Carson Levine
Pony Pals by Jeanne Betancourt
Saddle Club series by Bonnie Bryant

MamaGoofy · October 19th, 2009, 02:12 PM

Diary of a Whimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (there are 4; but one is a do it yourself diary). They are fun books and I believe they are "4th" grade level. They are for the 8-12 year range.

Bev · October 19th, 2009, 02:13 PM

Mason barely reads! It irritates me SO MUCH!!

He was reading some of a Terry Fox book out loud to me the other night and he reads okay but he's just reading the words. He has no comprehension of what he's reading. I tried to tell him it doesn't matter what he reads if he can't tell me about it later! He is so not a reader.

Cami · October 19th, 2009, 02:17 PM

My kids' school does AR too and Addison has been doing a lot of the Horrible Harry for that recently.

I just logged on to their AR website to see what Addison has been doing that I could tell you about-- today she did Biscuit Finds a Friend

which is so freaking annoying because that's the book Aubrey was planning to do today and Addison is all about beating her little sister. But Addison only got 4/5. Ha.

Anyway, Horrible Harry isn't high enough for Isabelle. Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary both are, Bailey School Kids, Boxcar Children.

Eva · October 19th, 2009, 02:31 PM

Many I have thought of have been mentioned but here are some others:

Mermaid SOS series
Disney Fairies chapter books
Pony Crazed Princess
Princess Poppy chapter books ( I just started getting Emma the chapter books versus the picture book ones. hard to find but she loves them).
Scooby Doo books...not sure if your girls are into scooby doo but Emma likes them.

We just got some Jigsaw Jones books from my niece. She hasn't read them yet so I don't know how they are.

Kristen · October 19th, 2009, 02:40 PM

Poppy series by Avi

Girlo · October 19th, 2009, 09:03 PM

Ah yes, the AtoZ Mysteries have also been a big hit in our house.

Alex has read about half of them.....

**sheila** · October 19th, 2009, 09:43 PM

Maggie loved the A to Z mysteries. She also loved the Capital Mysteries (same author, Ron Roy, but those weren't AR). Cam Jansen was a hit, too.

Mandi · October 19th, 2009, 10:03 PM

Bev, I wouldn't worry. He'll pick it up when he's ready. Lots of kids aren't big readers or have trouble with comprehension.

Both girls are very advanced readers and love a lot of what you guys have mentioned. I'm going to get Micayla one or two of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books for Xmas. Seems up her alley.

October 18th, 2009, 11:03 PM	#1
Eleanor is quite possibly nuts. Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 3,906	Beyond early readers? Anyone have any good suggestions for chapter books that are a little more challenging, but still age appropriate for younger kids? Isabelle can read at a 4th grade level, but a lot of those books are too long for her not to get frustrated. And I worry about things that might be inappropriate, if I haven't read them myself. We've read tons of the Magic Treehouse and Geronimo Stilton books, her teacher last year read all the Junie B. books to them (and I wouldn't get those for her anyway!). She's slowly working her way through Little House on the Prairie. We've also read one or too of Ivy and Bean, Frannie K. Stein and My Weird School Daze. Other suggestions? __________________ Eleanor Mom to Isabelle and Rebecca

October 18th, 2009, 11:25 PM	#2
kalm 6x2+3=my kiddies! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 4,156	Horrible Harry is one both my kids love and can get through in an evening. Lilly loves those Rainbow Magic fairy books (but man are they repetitive plotwise). She adores the American Girl books (and so do I -- good stories and a history lesson), but they're longer. We've read Mary Poppins and the Little House books, as well as Charlotte's Web, all of those are longer, but we'll read a chapter aloud and then she'll read one or more on her own. Ramona and the Clementine books are good too. I don't love Junie B, but haven't kept the kids from getting them from the library either. __________________ Kelley Mom to Connor, Lilly & Brendan My journal

October 19th, 2009, 07:46 AM	#3
Cami making plans for fall Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston TX Posts: 8,034	Horrible Harry. Nancy Drew (either the old ones or new). All the Beverly Cleary. The puppy series-- Puppy Place?-- those are pretty easy. __________________ My three and me, living across the sea *Addison 11202* *Aubrey 42203* *Brady 112604*

October 19th, 2009, 07:55 AM	#4
Jayne Super Nanny hard at work! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nov. Post count 16,312 Posts: 19,788	Spiderwick? My best friend teaches 4th grade I can ask her! __________________

October 19th, 2009, 08:36 AM	#5
MamaGoofy My daddy is coming for Thanksgiving!!! Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 18,981	What about Harry Potter? David loves them (he's in 2nd grade) and has started Chamber of Secrets. He reads a little each day and he's not overwhelmed. __________________ It's true! Boys CAN'T fly!! Until my 9 year anniversary.

October 19th, 2009, 08:47 AM	#6
Girlo I am complete...... Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Kitsap, WA Posts: 10,763	Alex loves the Goosebumps books. Of course, he also loves anything scary. I know he's the exeption with this....but if she also loves scary stuff, she might like them too. __________________ Shannon & Paul 26 August 2000 Parents to Steve the Cat and Greta the Dog Proud mommy of Alexander Paul Martin...October 30, 2003 - and Grace Elizabeth Maile...June 12, 2009

October 19th, 2009, 09:14 AM	#7
Dennis . Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 19,604	I've heard good things about the Warriors series - http://www.amazon.com/Warriors-1-Int...5958021&sr=8-9 __________________ Check out my journal

October 19th, 2009, 09:38 AM	#8
gulp! between here and there. Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 10,874	We just picked up this book at the store this weekend: Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand It capitalizes on her interest in fairies, but is much more challenging than those damn Magic Fairy books. There's a few others in the series, and the guy at the store told us they are going to make movies out of them. ETA: Amazon says only the hardcover is available, but the one we bought in the store (B&N) had a soft cover. __________________ This Castle Has Rules

October 19th, 2009, 09:56 AM	#9
Kimberly Edy's slow churned pumpkin ice cream = yummy! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: TN Posts: 1,490	Horrible Harry Nate the Great (might be a bit too easy for her, but they are still great) The Boxcar Children Judy Moody Sarah, Plain and Tall Spiderwick Chronicles ( I read these aloud to my first graders every year.) The Babysitters Club (not sure of the reading level, but I loved these) Magic Schoolbus has a set of chapter type books that might be fun if she likes science. If you want me to ask some of the 3rd/4th grader teachers at school for more suggestions, just let me know. __________________ Alison Mackenzie 102602

October 19th, 2009, 11:51 AM	#10
Bonnie Busy Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: crazytown Posts: 6,096	Bailey School Kids Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew A to Z Mysteries Cam Jansen series __________________ 3 Crazy Sisters Caroline Anne 6/24/02 Courtney Lee 1/21/04 Tatum Eileen 9/20/05

October 19th, 2009, 12:09 PM	#11
Eleanor is quite possibly nuts. Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 3,906	Cool! Some of those are new to us, and we'll have to give them a try. Part of my trouble with Isabelle and books is that her school does the accelerated reader program, and they're required to do a quiz a week. She's required to read books between 3.2 and 5.2 for them to count...and so of course, she likes the lower 3's because she can read one in a day or two (compared to some of the 200+ page books that are 4 and above). This is why she's read just about every Magic Treehouse and Geronimo Stilton book out (some of them we read last year too). I'm trying to encourage her to expand her horizons a bit, though __________________ Eleanor Mom to Isabelle and Rebecca

October 19th, 2009, 12:54 PM	#12
Kristen Fa la la la la...la la...la...la Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 2,799	Animal Ark series by Ben M. Baglio (about a girl who's parents are vets.) Addie series by Laurie Lawlor (historical fiction) Princess Tales series by Gail Carson Levine Pony Pals by Jeanne Betancourt Saddle Club series by Bonnie Bryant __________________ Camille Elisabeth - 5.4.05

October 19th, 2009, 02:12 PM	#13
MamaGoofy My daddy is coming for Thanksgiving!!! Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 18,981	Diary of a Whimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (there are 4; but one is a do it yourself diary). They are fun books and I believe they are "4th" grade level. They are for the 8-12 year range. __________________ It's true! Boys CAN'T fly!! Until my 9 year anniversary.

October 19th, 2009, 02:13 PM	#14
Bev Hmmm..... Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ontario, CANADA Posts: 14,305	Mason barely reads! It irritates me SO MUCH!! He was reading some of a Terry Fox book out loud to me the other night and he reads okay but he's just reading the words. He has no comprehension of what he's reading. I tried to tell him it doesn't matter what he reads if he can't tell me about it later! He is so not a reader. __________________ Me and my boys!

October 19th, 2009, 02:17 PM	#15
Cami making plans for fall Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston TX Posts: 8,034	My kids' school does AR too and Addison has been doing a lot of the Horrible Harry for that recently. I just logged on to their AR website to see what Addison has been doing that I could tell you about-- today she did Biscuit Finds a Friend which is so freaking annoying because that's the book Aubrey was planning to do today and Addison is all about beating her little sister. But Addison only got 4/5. Ha. Anyway, Horrible Harry isn't high enough for Isabelle. Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary both are, Bailey School Kids, Boxcar Children. __________________ My three and me, living across the sea *Addison 11202* *Aubrey 42203* *Brady 112604*

October 19th, 2009, 02:31 PM	#16
Eva Back from vacation and fighting the heat Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 12,519	Many I have thought of have been mentioned but here are some others: Mermaid SOS series Disney Fairies chapter books Pony Crazed Princess Princess Poppy chapter books ( I just started getting Emma the chapter books versus the picture book ones. hard to find but she loves them). Scooby Doo books...not sure if your girls are into scooby doo but Emma likes them. We just got some Jigsaw Jones books from my niece. She hasn't read them yet so I don't know how they are.

October 19th, 2009, 02:40 PM	#17
Kristen Fa la la la la...la la...la...la Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 2,799	Poppy series by Avi __________________ Camille Elisabeth - 5.4.05

October 19th, 2009, 09:03 PM	#18
Girlo I am complete...... Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Kitsap, WA Posts: 10,763	Ah yes, the AtoZ Mysteries have also been a big hit in our house. Alex has read about half of them..... __________________ Shannon & Paul 26 August 2000 Parents to Steve the Cat and Greta the Dog Proud mommy of Alexander Paul Martin...October 30, 2003 - and Grace Elizabeth Maile...June 12, 2009

October 19th, 2009, 09:43 PM	#19
sheila Seriously Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: right by Lisa's side Posts: 16,175	Maggie loved the A to Z mysteries. She also loved the Capital Mysteries (same author, Ron Roy, but those weren't AR). Cam Jansen was a hit, too. __________________

October 19th, 2009, 10:03 PM	#20
Mandi Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 14,413	Bev, I wouldn't worry. He'll pick it up when he's ready. Lots of kids aren't big readers or have trouble with comprehension. Both girls are very advanced readers and love a lot of what you guys have mentioned. I'm going to get Micayla one or two of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books for Xmas. Seems up her alley. __________________

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