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Posted By: Aslan Jan 26, 2005 - 06:34 am

I just moved in with my wonderful girlfriend and her five year old son. We read stories together every night. I'm always on the lookout for new books.

Any recommendations?

Favorites right now include "The Lorax" and "The Rainbow Goblins". There are other classics, like "Where the Wild Things Are."

If any of you have some old favorites or something your kids have been enjoying, let me know. I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks!

Posted By: Magus Jan 26, 2005 - 01:23 pm

My favorites as a youth includes:

The Lorax

Hortan Hears a who

Hortan Hatchs an Egg

Oh, The Places You'll Go

Go Dog Go

Hooray for Diffendoofer Day (Unsure of the exact spelling)

The Butter Battle Book

Yertle the Turtle (Quite possibly the best book ever written on the subject of Turtle stacking)

Hands Hands Fingers Thumbs

There's A Wocket in my Pocket

The Cat in the Hat

The Sneetches

Scramble Eggs Super

Green Eggs and Ham

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Fox in Socks

Norma Bean the Jumping Queen (O.K., This was my sister's favorite. But I thought it would be good to include)

Where the Wild Things Are

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig

The Stinky Cheese Man

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

The Giving Tree

Posted By: Magus Jan 26, 2005 - 01:26 pm

Now, granted, the Dr. Seuss books are probably already done, right? So I'd have to say, not including the good old Dr., the best books are

Where the Wild Things Are

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig

The Stinky Cheese Man

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Go, Dog Go!

ANd I'm unsure if Hands Hands Fingers Thumbs is Dr. Seuss or not. But, if not, then it belongs on the list.

When my mom get's home I'll ask her what ones we liked a lot.

Oh, and any of the Little Critter books are awesome too! Man, I loved those things as a kid.

Posted By: Magus Jan 26, 2005 - 02:25 pm

I just talked it over with my Mom. She's a speech and Language Pathologist for young Autistic children, so she's up to date with the latest children's books.

She said that ANYTHING by Eric Carle will be perfect. Two of his books include The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Lonely Firefly.

Other good books include:

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Chicka Chicka 1 2 3

Who Hops?

The Frog Prince Continued (I can't believe I forgot that one. It was one of my favorites too)

She agrees that \iThe Little Critter} books are excellent as well.

Posted By: ProfCrash Jan 27, 2005 - 09:38 am

If you go to a good book store (I prefer the independent bookstores but that is me) you will be able to get some good recommendations in the childrens section. I have found some great books just by browsing. The good thing about books for that age range is that the books are easy enough to leaf through so you can find books that will interest who you are shopping for.

If the boy is 5 years old you can start reading chapter books. It seems to help with the bedtie routine in my brothers houses now that the kids know that they will read another chapter in whatever book it is that they are reading.

My 5 year old nephew loves the Magic Tree House books. A couple of kids hang out in a tree house that transports them to different times. Somehow Merlin is involved. My brother reads a chapter from the Chronicles of Narnia to Peter each night. I think that might be a bit advanced for 5 but who knows. Peter will also pick up books on pirates throughout the day.

My 6 yeard old niece and nephew are both big into science books. They have great pictures and a fair amount of info in them (Books on fish, insects, dinosaurs, animals and the like)

The one thing that I have noticed in both houses is that the books that are not chapter books are more advanced then basic picture books. They contain a fair amount of info even though they are accompanied by lots of pictures of sharks, octipi, treasure chests and the like.

Posted By: Aslan Jan 27, 2005 - 12:39 pm

Good suggestions, all.
We're just starting to move to chapter books, but he still likes picture books and I want to make sure we get the best of them before he thinks they're too babyish. The ones I've introduced have become big hits.

Narnia is a good suggestion (especially considering my moniker here). I think he could handle them.

And we ARE missing some classic Seuss. Thanks, Magus! Yertle the Turtle is a fantastic turtle stacking story. And the Sneetches and Horton books are must-haves as well.

Keep 'em coming!

Posted By: Magus Jan 27, 2005 - 01:03 pm

If you want to start the little tike down the Pre LOTR path then I suggest The Hobbit. I'd also suggest teh West Side Stories From Wayside School books, I believe there are three. Those are very good as well.

I remember those Magic Tree House books! I got involved in them but grew out of them quickly, having just started when I was going into more adult, but not quite adult, books. Those would be good.

And yes, Narnia would work very well. The Magician's Nephew, the first book, would be quite appropriate for that age, I believe. I've read it several times myself.

There's also Cycles of the Werewolf by Stephen King that would be good. It's a picture book, 100 pages long but the vast majority being pictures, that takes place over the course of a year. It might be a little violent depending on how the kid is, but I think it might work decently enough.

Posted By: ProfCrash Jan 27, 2005 - 07:12 pm

Don't be afraid of comic books. The Archie series are a good place to start for kids. Comics can engage kids and are something that they can read on their own. I highly suggest that an adult accompanies a child into the comic book store to choose which titles to buy as many will not be appropriate for a 5 year old due to violence and the like. A good comic book store will be able to provide you with some great stores.

I know many people look down on comics but I think they are great. Kids enjoy them and will read comics on their own time with no arm twisting. As kids get older they will discover many different genres and art styles. As long as parents pay attention to the titles the child is buying, it can be a great introduction to reading. It could also be what keeps the childs interest in reading. Heck I am an adult (well at least in age) and I collect around 25 titles.

Posted By: MerleZ Jan 28, 2005 - 05:10 am

Aslan, take a look at the Caldicott Medal winners. The Caldicott Medal is awarded annually to the best picture book. Later, when the child is ready for chapter books, look at the Newberry Medal winners and honor books. There are some awsome books listed there.

Posted By: Aslan Jan 28, 2005 - 06:01 am

Good suggestions!
And thanks for the link, MerleZ!