Last week my 3 year old and I started a new bedtime tradition — we are reading our first chapter book!
I’ve been looking forward to this day for quite some time: the day when she was eager to listen and not get stressed that there were fewer or no pictures. I’m thrilled to adventure through our first book, Charlotte’s Web, and move on to many, many more great pieces of children’s literature.
We’re only a few chapters in, but I’m already thinking of our next chapter book. I turned to my crew of trustworthy mamas for some recommendations and here are some of their ideas for preschoolers and young elementary age kiddos …
- Magic Treehouse series
- All of a Kind Family
- Little House on the Prairie series
- The Trumpeter Swan
- Twenty One Balloons
- Ramona series
- The Fudge series
- The Boxcar Children series
- The Jungle Book
- James and the Giant Peach
- The Chronicles of Narnia
- The Adventure of a South Pole Pig
- Nate the Great
- No Flying in the House
- Mrs Piggle Wiggle
- Peter Pan
- Mercy Watson to the Rescue
- Stuart Little
- Hank the Cowdog
- Roverandom
- Pippi Longstocking
- Freddy Goes to Florida
- Wizard of Oz
- The Magic Bicycle
- Freckle Juice
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle
- Tales of Desperaux
- Because of Winn Dixie
- Hi! Fly Guy
- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
- Two Times the Fun
- 101 Dalmatians
- Heidi
- The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet
- The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
- Amelia Bedelia series
- Junie B. Jones series
- Ballpark Mysteries
- The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh
Reading is such an important part of language development. It enhances vocabulary, grows imagination and provides a great opportunity for parents to connect with their little ones in a meaningful way at the end of a long day. If you think your preschooler is ready … or even if you don’t, give a chapter book a try – you might be surprised at how well a chapter book can hold their attention as you read aloud.
Plus, reliving childhood favorites is pretty magical for us parents too 🙂
What other books would you recommend for evening chapter book reading for the 3-7 year old range? We’d love to hear your input!