https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:47:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800994 Wed, 31 Jan 2018 09:48:14 +0000 Adira 2800994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another vote for Magic Tree House! We've read at least 20 of them and I think we have all 28 of the first series. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800981 Wed, 31 Jan 2018 08:51:07 +0000 honeybear 2800981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: I'm not a fan of homework, so I would skip extra worksheets, to be honest. Maybe ask that those be discontinued so whatever time you do have at night can be devoted to reading with your son. </p> <p>My main thought after seeing your response is that you probably need to have him read aloud to you rather than read a chapter on his own. I don't really know how else you can check for things like fluency and correct phrasing (by which I mean the child is able to make the sentence sound right and pronounce the words correctly) unless you do that. It is time-consuming. </p> <p>As for comprehension, my point was that in an early reader, the child generally doesn't need to know the concepts that are the topic of the book, because they're usually explained directly or indirectly in the text. If a child isn't picking up the main plot point, I'd worry about comprehension. Asking open-ended questions that require the child to use the information in the book to tell you about the ideas in the book like the ones @Mrs Green Grass: mentioned will help you figure out if he's picking up on those clues in the text. That said, if your child knows a lot about a subject already, like dinosaurs or trucks, then books about those topics will generally be easier for them to read. So maybe pick up some that align with your son's interests as a 'reset,' ask questions about them to ensure understanding, and then move on to new ideas/concepts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800910 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 16:29:14 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2800910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (out loud) and are now reading Harry Potter. I couldn’t help myself. We got the illustrated version and he’s loving it.</p> <p>As far as comprehension goes it’s totally different than deciding, but it’s also different than just vocabulary. I’d keep it focused on questioning the text. Like “what do you think a lottery is?” “What parts can help us figure it out? Etc. so many kids think decoding is trading when hey aren’t making meaning. ( I teach HS English.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800741 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 09:51:43 +0000 irene 2800741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: I have told the teachers a hundred times about my concerns (comprehension), but then they sent us extra homework - on top of a chapter book a week they sent us a book report kinda thing that asks DS to describe the beginning/middle/end of a story...etc. We are in kindergarten and I am not crazy about having a ton of homework, but I feel bad to say something as it was me who brought that up. I think at some point they forgot (haha), and now the extra work sheet is much easier - which is now something about freestyle writing / illustrating. So now we are OK.</p> <p>The A-Z mysteries is sent-home extra reading (every week is a different book, not just A-Z mysteries). So no they are not reading it at school. Yes I would ask him to read a chapter on his own, understand, and then tell me what the chapter is about. Usually I'd have to read the chapter also so I can lead him with questions. But that's only when I have time and when he is willing to read. There was a time they sent us a completely pictureless book and that was quite miserable as DS has no interest to read. One chapter book a week at this age is so much work I think.... I guess I will say something about it and maybe we need to fall back to something easier.</p> <p>At school they do really easy stuff with the entire class. While I don't know exactly if they do anything special with DS, I highly doubt it (They are doing sight words like car, bar, jar...etc). So no they don't talk about what lottery ticket is on the sent-home reading.</p> <p>At the same time, I didn't want to bug the teachers too much about this as I am sure they have real problems on hand. There are kids struggling with reading / possible dyslexia. I am not expecting DS to move on to read McBeth right now lol so I am OK at the moment. Just that I wish there were books that he can work on decoding at his level, and at the same time have simpler concepts that he can enjoy reading and understanding on his own.</p> <p>@looch: I forgot what it is, I think it is somewhere around K or M? DS has a problem communicating what he understand / what he read. Sometimes I asked what was the chapter about? He can not quite articulate what he just read back to me in his own words. He could answer me if I were to ask very specific questions (after I read the chapter). And yes I agree with what you say. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800718 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 08:33:24 +0000 looch 2800718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Do you know the level that your son's school has him placed at? My son is similar in that he can decode really well, but he can't always provide written explanations of the text that he has read with accuracy, so while it seems on the surface he should be reading more complex texts, he's still working on easier texts and providing written answers. I looked up the level of those texts and compared it to where my son is and I wouldn't have him read those just yet. I am sure he could read the words, but I am not sure he'd get the concepts.</p> <p>At the end of the day, I think it's really important not to skip kids too far ahead because they can decode or sound out words. They will eventually need to read to learn and this is where I think we as parents need to let kids take their time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800715 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 08:10:11 +0000 honeybear 2800715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Off topic, but I'd talk to his teacher about your concerns and try to address them now. It sounds like he does fine with decoding, but comprehension is what makes the exercise reading. I'm surprised that in an early reader they didn't explain/drop enough hints about what a lottery is for a child to figure it out, but I haven't read that book, so maybe that knowledge is assumed (I'm guessing that's unlikely... early readers tend to spell things out to the point of tediousness). Anyhow, if he's not comprehending the text, I'd intervene.</p> <p>Maybe back up and read even easier books--and have a discussion about them where you make him tell you what they are about--and then I'd hit the parent reading aloud time hard and with complex books, not early readers (Magic Treehouse is an early reader/early chapter book, so pick something harder and more interesting). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800708 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 07:50:30 +0000 hilary 2800708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: Same list here! We read most of the Little House books and had to have a lot of discussions about their treatment and how they spoke of Native Americans. Currently reading A Little Princess and then probably will finish out the Little House series. Just yesterday we were talking about Penguins randomly and I told her that we'd read Mr. Popper's Penguins soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800659 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 20:07:27 +0000 irene 2800659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Oh I have to check out "Goofballs" -- and ditto with Magic Treehouse too. I wonder why.</p> <p>Our challenge at the moment is, while DS (turning 6 in 2 days) can read, the chapter books he is given (at school) has concepts that he doesn't understand at his age. We just finished the A-Z Mysteries "Lucky Lottery" (I read it with him and I loved it lol). While he can read the whole thing word for word, he couldn't understand some of the concepts when he read by himself. He didn't understand what a lottery ticket is, and the concept of winning lottery or cashing in the lottery ticket and why do people want to steal a lottery ticket (he kept thinking it was a ticket for a show regardless of the 10 times I tried to explain to him). And he repeatedly asked what is "proof" and "evidence". So in a way, when he reads on his own, he couldn't comprehend what he read 100% because the concepts were foreign to him. That happens a lot with the chapter books we came across with, I am not sure if it was him having comprehension problems or if he didn't yet have experience with things/concepts the books were talking about. I wish I could identify chapter books that have simpler concepts for younger brains! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800632 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 17:25:28 +0000 honeybear 2800632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only read aloud stuff that I want to read, 'cause we haven't got time for boring books! :silly: We read Charlotte's Web, The Trumpet of the Swan, Babe the Gallant Pig, and The Cricket in Times Square early on (which was by design...it seems to me that children are very unlikely to remember the details of books you read at ages 3/4/5 when you hand them to them again at 8/9/10, and if they do, great! It never hurts to reread a good book.). </p> <p>Winnie the Pooh is one of my absolute favorite books, but it's actually quite sophisticated, so I'd plan on reading it now and then returning to it in a few years. I don't know why it seems to be considered a babyish book, because it's certainly not...I blame Disney. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800601 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 15:18:01 +0000 erinbaderin 2800601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is great! I picked up the first Magic Treehouse, Winnie the Pooh (that one is more because I wanted it), the Princess in Black, and the Bad Guys. </p> <p>@Beehive: Oh, thanks for this reminder! We have this box set too but I was only thinking of the Witches and the BFG (the other day I had to give my husband a brief overview of the BFG because he wanted to read it to B) - I’ll try the ones you suggested! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800598 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 15:04:06 +0000 CObee 2800598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The Dragon Masters series has been my almost-6-year-old’s all time favorite thing to have read to her for probably 2 years - she can’t wait to be able to read well enough to read them on their own, which is super cool. :) pics on every page and a very exciting story. we also just read the first Zoey and Sassafrass book so I give another vote for that - it was magical! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800588 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 14:33:47 +0000 Beehive 2800588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son loved James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mister Fox, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when he was 4. We have a Roald Dahl set, and although some of the stories are kind of inappropriate for such a young age, those three are good (with minor editing). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800555 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 13:27:42 +0000 Silva 2800555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just finished reading Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Prairie to my 4 1/2 year old. She loved both. I did a little bit of minor editing, and we had some chats about the experiences of Native Americans, but it was an incredibly enjoyable experience.<br /> We are either going to read the next Little House book or A Little Princess, maybe The Secret Garden, after we take a little break. My husband is going to read her something next- Pippi Longstocking or Mr Poppers Penguins are on the short list. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800526 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 12:06:33 +0000 PinkElephant 2800526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jape14: This! I was just going to suggest it and saw you beat me too it. :)</p> <p>We also like Zelda and Ivy, and any of the Kevin Henkes books (Penny and her Marble, Penny and her Song, Penny and her Doll) - but I'd say those all have more specific girl appeal, and might not be appreciated quite as much by boys.</p> <p>@yoursilverlining: I've been thinking I need to get some vintage Babysitter's Little Sister books for DD1 :) :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800507 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 10:53:18 +0000 ElbieKay 2800507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom got my son (who is almost four) Flat Stanley and he loves it. (I find it tedious.) My MIL got him a book of Grimm's Fairy Tales over the holidays and he just started to get into it this weekend. Both books have a few small illustrations but the pages are mostly text.</p> <p>Thanks for starting this thread, it will give me some ideas for additional books like this that he might enjoy. We have mostly stuck to more complex picture books to date. I did purchase a copy of Alice in Wonderland and might try that again sometime soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800504 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 10:49:39 +0000 tinyperson 2800504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: my 5yo loves Zoey and Sassafrass! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800497 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 10:24:53 +0000 catlady 2800497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a girly girl so our reading list is a bit different but we liked (ok, she liked) the Mercy Watson series, the Princess in Black series, the Wellie Wishers books, and we just started Princess Pink (which is not really about a princess). </p> <p>We also just started a series with longer books and fewer pictures but we all really like it - Zoey and Sassafras (about a girl who helps monsters and magical creatures, it's well written and has lots of science). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800486 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 10:05:27 +0000 yoursilverlining 2800486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We read the first 20 or so Magic Treehouse before we burned out on them (well, DH and I burned out on them long before LO did).</p> <p>For a few months now we've been reading the Boxcar Children books. They are somewhat similar to Magic Treehouse in that it's centered around adventures, but a few steps up in quality/storyline. </p> <p>We also read several of the original 80's/90's Babysitter's Club books and my daughter LOVED those. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800469 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 09:32:35 +0000 looch 2800469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jape14: Yes, my son is reading the spinoff series about Deckawoo Drive now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800463 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 09:13:54 +0000 jape14 2800463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 3 year old is obsessed with the Mercy Watson series. There are six main books (I think) and then some spin-offs with minor characters from the original books. They are pretty funny! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800461 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 08:59:51 +0000 looch 2800461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Oh, I am going to look into Cam Jensen.</p> <p>Goofballs is another "detective" series. I like the stories, they're funny enough for adults but the content is understandable.</p> <p>Geronimo Stilton is one I would love for my son to get into, but he hasn't shown interest yet. Also, Magic Treehouse, everyone raves about it, but my son is lukewarm to it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800459 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 08:54:02 +0000 irene 2800459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love the Cam Jansen series since we were 4-ish. And one time DS discovered Captain Underpants at the library that was one of his favorite. It cracked me up to go into his room in the morning, and found him reading a chapter book quietly by himself lol (He was 5) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800455 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 08:29:52 +0000 mediagirl 2800455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: we have been reading Magic Tree House books since age 4. My daughter is 5.5 now and still loves them so much. We read them but also listen to the audio books. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chapter-books-for-four-year-olds#post-2800450 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 07:58:44 +0000 erinbaderin 2800450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For Christmas I got my son the My Father’s Dragon series, and he LOVED it - we’ve basically been reading it on a loop for the last two weeks. I think he’s really enjoying the serialized aspect of it, reading four chapters a night instead of four smaller books. Can anybody recommend some other simple chapter books that would be good so we can take a break from Elmer Elevator? </p>