Reading with Kids (lower elementary)

quickstepstar · October 2013

I am struggling with this a bit. I feel that for my kids' age there are very few books that are not too easy and not too difficult. My DD1&2 are in Kindergarten. Other than the Magic Tree house, which we read, what are some other great books for kids, that are more complex (read -- interesting to me) than picture books?

Also how much and how should I emphasize comprehension at this age? I feel like some books are way over their heads, but do I still read those to them (i.e. Ivy & Bean), or read easier books and really hone in how well they understand? My girls are very good readers in that they can read all the words in books like Little House on the Prairie, but have absolutely no idea what happened in it. So i am trying to decide what I should be reading with them.

jkfranklin · October 2013

Some of the Roald Dahl books are probably approriate for that age. I remember reading some of them in 1st and 2nd grade.

Also, Mrs. Pigglewiggle jumped into my head as something I remember reading/being read to me at a early elementary age.

Adjudi-Kate · October 2013

Stuart little and Peter Pan are great books to read at that age. I did have to explain a bit of Peter Pan after each chapter, but my daughter still really liked it and asked for a new chapter every night. Maybe take turns reading pages if your kids are good readers? My daughter just likes to be read the chapter books and she reads me the easy books like Brown Bear, Brown bear. The clementine books by Sara Pennypacker are a new hit with my 5 year old.

Ali2b1g · October 2013

My daughter loves the Junie B Jones books (Barbara Park) and the Ramona books (Beverly Cleary). We started both series when she was a kindergartener.

Also, I found out that Nancy Drew has a series meant for younger readers: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew. Awesome! She loves it!

Luckystar2 · October 2013

Dd is in kindergarten. We just started reading the Never Girls series. It's totally up dd's alley and I like that there isn't anything too bad in it. We had been reading Ivy and Bean but I really disliked some of the language and behavior. Not that it is horrible but I'd rather something different. I guess I used it more to say, ok well you know you shouldn't do or say that.

We also read the first 2 Fancy Nancy older chapter books. Dd really loved the mystery one and trying to figure out what happened. It was great for comprehension. There's a new one out now too. I liked them because she already knew the character but was kind of past the little fancy nancy kid books.

Honestly I kind of wandered around B&N one day. Ours has a section for chapter books for this age range. That was how I found Never girls. I was going to the library but everything is by author and I found it impossible to find new things. You had to know what you were looking for.

Jen748 · October 2013

Fancy Nancy has a chapter book series that my DD (4.5) loves!

moroccojade · October 2013

Another vote for Ramona!

InLovewSB · October 2013

We've been reading to our preschooler from a series of books labeled as "Great Illustrated Classics." Every few pages they have a pencil drawing. The font is larger than a mass paperback. They are abridged. However, we find that G really enjoys them. So we've read "The Jungle Book," "Swiss Family Robinson," and "Journey to the Center of the Earth" so far. G looks at the pictures while we read and we stop to let him ask questions about the story. Here's an example of the Swiss Family Robinson book. All the covers have this similar look to them.

Edited to say - they simplify the story a little bit to remove some of the scarier aspects or more complicated interpersonal drama. It really is classic literature modified to be more child compatible. I still highly recommend it.

NicoleAnne416 · October 2013

My first grader loves Junie B also

josie402 · October 2013

Gavin is in first grade. Last year we read the Magic Treehouse books constantly! He likes Junie B Jones as well. We've read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as well. We are currently working our way through Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, but we won't go further into the series until he's older.

As far as comprehension, I honestly don't know. I don't think Gavin retains a lot of what he reads! Before we start each night, I do a really quick recap of what we've read.

sweetrhythms · October 2013

It's great that you're reading so much with them! As a former Kindergarten teacher, I'd say it's more important that they comprehend what they're reading. So really focus on that even if it's easier/sort of boring for you--it's what more important for them to become good readers.

Something that is more difficult that might be interesting to you is non-fiction books. I've found that kids really love books about animals and nature (rainforest, ocean, weather etc). Also, non-fiction will be on standardized test eventually, so it's good to have them used to reading that type of thing. It's more challenging in general because of the language used.

booknerd226 · October 2013

Ditto Ramona, Nancy Drew Clue Crew, Junie B. Jones.

I'd also add Roald Dahl books (Matilda!!), Fancy Nancy (or something like that), maaaybe HP #1 and the movie, but I wouldn't go farther than that, the Mouse and the Motorcycle books (Ralph Mouse), and Shel Silverstein poetry.

Pebble_Cafe · October 2013

I love Henry & Mudge, Mr. Putter & Tabby, Poppleton all by Cynthia Rylant for that age. They are inbetween or early chapter books, basically step/level readers. We alsodid a lot of those square books you find on a spindle at bookstores.

My 3rd grader is really into Rainbow Magic and Kitty Corner series. My 1st grade is into Curious George.

Mo Wiilem's Elephant & Piggie, and Pigeon series are awesome! I'm never tire or bored reading those to my girls or when I do storytime for work. You get to be expressive; yell, pout, the kids love it.

Pebble_Cafe · October 2013

Ohh and Amelia Beldelia. The original and new chapter books written by Parish's nephew.

Eta: I would also suggest nonfiction. Every week I asks my girls what or who they would like to know more about and we check out titles on that subject. There are nonfiction books geared towards primary grades with pictures and simple sentences.

And I'll shut up now

cnthrdlywt2bwZ · October 2013

I liked Ramona, Peggy Parish (Key to the Treasure), Lois Sachar (Sideways Stories at Wayside School). I think non-fiction is a great idea too.

quickstepstar · October 2013

So many great suggestions! Thank you very much, everyone!

lab7979 · October 2013

I have two fourth graders. The last few years their teachers have really been stressing reading comprehension. So personally I would suggest having them read easier books to you and then ask them questions about what they read. At that age my kids would usually be able to tell you a general idea about what happened in a book but couldn't give very many specific details. I think that just comes with age and practice but its going to be easier for them to practice it on a book they can read rather than a more difficult book where they are too focused on individual words to focus on what the story is about. I don't think we started in with chapter books until at least 1st or 2nd grade.

Reading with Kids (lower elementary)

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