Good First Chapter Book Read Aloud?

[Chris D.]

So my daughter (6) is going into first grade in the fall. She really doesn't like chapter books with no pictures. She will listen to stuff like Scooby Doo mystery chapter books with lots of pictures and such if I read to her while she's eating, but I've tried a few of what I'd consider better chapter books and failed to get her hooked to where we could finish them. This summer we are doing school a few days a week but more on a maintainence of skills/ doing fun stuff that didn't fit into the school year kind of way, so I thought it would be a good time to just make reading from a good book and stretching the attention span a bit part of the routine. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good book to start with. Something that a 6 year old almost couldn't help getting hooked into? Don't worry about it being a "girl" book. My daughter's ideal story would have superheroes rescuing ponies or something.

By the way, I do let her play quietly or draw while I read within reason, but she's still quite the wiggler.

[Melissa Crabtree]

My Father's Dragon!

[Chris D.]

You know, I've not read that one but when I taught public school one of my 5th grade students was actually related to the author and the child's mother arranged to have her come speak at our school.... so that would be extra neat to read!

[JenniferMason]

Would she enjoy the original Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder? My daughter requested to have some of the titles read to her a few times. No superheroes. But I think almost any little girl would relate to Laura. They really are timeless books, and there are a few pictures.
If your daughter is not a sensitive type, she might like The Chronicles of Narnia series. My daughter enjoyed the ones we have read. Although one parent commented to me that some of the vocabulary was difficult for her son (age 9) to understand when she read aloud. I suppose it is what the child is accustomed to.
By the way, would your daughter happen to be a fan of WordGirl? That is what came to mind when I read your description of superheroes and ponies!

Right now, my daughter is enjoying the Tiara Club chapter books. They are light with short chapters. I find that there are profitable lessons in each one about how a person should treat others (being kind, being a good friend, being brave, doing the right thing, etc.) Probably would be rejected as twaddle by most Charlotte Mason followers. But they are fine for us!

[Chris D.]

I think we'll hold off a little while on Little House. They were my absolute favorites growing up, as was the show, but when she watched an episode on DVD with me, she decided she didn't like Laura because she slapped Nelly! I explained that Laura was wrong but that she did it out of deep hurt and trying to defend her Pa (Nelly was trash talking about him), but to her Laura is just plain old naughty. So since I want to do a Little House unit study around 3rd or 4th grade with her, I think I'll hold off a bit and not potentially ruin Laura for her forever!
Come to think of it, we do have a thinner Narnia chapter book that she was given during a summer reading program. It's not one of the originals... I think those might be too much for her right now... but it's either an excerpt or rewrite of a smaller portion. I set it aside at the time she got it but maybe I should pull it out and preview it to see what it's like.

[Paige P]

Quick, easy chapter books are The Magic Tree House books. They're fun, full of historical information, have some pictures interspersed.... My dc really enjoy them, and once they're reading, they're books that can be read by them

Once she's just a bit older (or is used to chapter books), The Doll People trilogy is fabulous My dc could not wait to keep reading.

[Donna H]

Charlotte's Web

[RachelRentas]

My Father's Dragon is a good one, that was one of our first ones.

Straps the Cat by Claudia Lewis was one of our first ones as well.

[Melissa Crabtree]

You know, I've not read that one but when I taught public school one of my 5th grade students was actually related to the author and the child's mother arranged to have her come speak at our school.... so that would be extra neat to read!

That's fun! It really is a fun series. Really short chapters too.

[Chris D.]

Thanks for all the responses. I put My Father's Dragon on hold at the library since it was mentioned so many times, and it looks like it has at least some drawings. Plus.... dragons. Seems like a good match for my kiddo. Then we'll work our way into some of the other suggestions!