Book Series?? - New Braunfels,TX

One thing that helps keep my daughter (she's 5) interested is getting to pick out her own books at the library. She loves to pick them out and she doesn't get bored with them because we can take them back and she can pick out a new one.

Go to the library and get him Bob books. He is probably ready to start reading and these books are great! Google them or ask the librarian about them.

Get him a library card and take him to the library.
My kids SO loved getting to go and pick their own books and they were very anxious and willing to have them read to them. While I read to them, I had them "read" along and taught them to identify words. We did as much discussing as reading when it came to things like, "What do you think about that?" Was it funny? Silly?

Let him pick out books that interest him.
My daughter was in kindergarten at 4 and she actually loved Nancy Drew. She was able to retain everything from chapter to chapter.
If you are looking for a series, you might try Nate the Great books. I think they are recommended for kids a bit older, but my children loved them. And, there's a simple mystery to solve in each one with very interesting characters. He might enjoy you reading those.

My kids were raised on books that had been my mother's when she was a child. They contained stories and poems and fables. My kids loved them.
Visit the library. It's an experience in itself and it helps kids foster a love for books and finding them, being responsible for them, and returning them.

Best wishes!

What does he like? Yu-Gi-Oh? Pokemon? Sports? Find something that speaks to what he likes. That's how to capture his interest.

Take him to the library for reading circle time. It's important to get used to that before kinder anyway.

Dawn

Many boys gravitate towards non-fiction. I am a voracious reader and none of my kids is. My oldest is a really reluctant reader but always liked those Discovery Kids books and other book like those on things he was interested in - sharks, dinosaurs, the Titanic, natural disasters, hockey etc. My middle boy liked easier books because he was really interested in learning how to read, so we did a lot of pre-school books and board books (the "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie" series, Sandra Boynton board books, the Llama Llama or Little Critter books, and classics from Maurice Sendak, Dr. Seuss etc. with some Sponge Bob and Scooby Doo thrown in. My youngest likes a bit of both - he is in Kindergarten and is proud to "read" the board books that he has memorized like Tumble Bumble but also likes to lay in bed and listen to bigger-kid books like those from Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, the Junie B. Jones or Captain Underpants books, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, etc. One of our favorite things to do on a summer night is for them to lay in bed while I sit on the floor and read chapter books.

I definitely recommend taking him to the library to let him pick out what he wants - when they choose, they're more engaged.

My son loved captain underpants. He is more interested in Encyclopedia type books and comics. I figure as long as he is reading. A couple of months ago we went to a book signing for a kids book and now he is reading anything by that author. Maybe it needed to be personal for him, I don't know.

What are his interest? dinosaurs, trucks, bugs Read books about these topics.

Take a trip to the library and let him pick out books he thinks he might like.

My kids loved the Berenstein Bears and also the little monster books. But honestly, boys seem less interested in books that girls. My sons tended to like books about things, like bugs, cars, planes than the 'fun' books. And even if he's not showing an interest now doesn't mean he wont ever develop one. My husband did not start reading for pleasure until he was about 15, up till then it was strictly because he had to. I'm still waiting on my 14yods to start reading for pleasure. So don't panic, just keep a variety within his reach and he'll come 'round.

My four-year-old son loves the Froggy series, and Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie, Knuffle Bunny, and Pigeon books. He also is really into Wacky Wednesday by Dr. Seuss. Books about vehicles interest him as well. Shark vs. Train is really cute. It's not a series though. Not many words, but some 4-year-old boys may relate to the charaters.

comic books, super hero, police type hero books. let him pick out some too. he might be getting over the toddler type cookie cutter sweet books. :( i know mine is!!!

Clifford, Froggy, Biscuit, & Curious George. For chapter books...Ready Freddy is my idea of a boy Junie B. and the character is obsessed with sharks. Totally agree with getting books that about non fiction stuff he is interested in. We have a bunch of transportation books at my house. Not my idea of fun, but my four year old likes them.

You know, not everyone is a verbal, reflective learner -- though lord knows I am, and you probably are too :)

If your son is more of a visual or kinesthetic thinker, try to look for books that appeal to those parts of the brain. A Where's Waldo - type book, where kids have to find someone or something, could be great. Or a book with kid-friendly diagrams of machinery, do-it-yourself science experiments, puzzles -- anything that appeals to his desire to *do.*

That said, a general list of 4-year-old-friendly books/authors is:

Anything by Arnold Lobel (Frog and Toad, Owl, etc.)
Henry & Mudge (Cynthia Rylant)
Pickles the Fire Cat
Anything by Mo Willems (these are great for very-beginning readers, too)
Those super-hero beginning readers (I know there are Batman and Spider-Man books -- there may be others as well)

My granddaughter loved science themed non-fiction books. She looked thru the book at the pictures long before she could read. She spent hours with the books and didn't want them read to her, either.

At 4 I would read him fairy tales and Dr Suess books and the Disney Fairy tales.

That worked for my kids and their kids at that age.

Good luck to you and yours.

Frog & Toad series, Froggy books, Clifford, Thomas....
Hey--if you're going to read to him (say, every night) why not start a classic chapter book? The first O. I read to my son was Treasure Island -- he loved it and begged for "another chapter!" every night.

And some kids do prefer non-fiction. Mine was/is like that. Does he have an interest/hobby/obsession?

Have you read him the laura numeroff books?
If you give a mouse a cookie
If you give a moose a muffin
If you give a pig a pancake
If you give a cat a cupcake
I think there are more but my kids loved them
they also love the jolly postman books (had little secrets throughout the book. little flaps that opened and things that were hidden inside.

If you go with non-fiction, as suggested below, I highly recommend any books photographed by NIC BISHOP. He's GREAT and the books I've read are quite informative/interesting with the exception of one that was too wordy and boring for my son (Snake Scientist).

My son (just turned 4), likes:
- FLY GUY by Ted Arnold. There are a few books including Fly Guy, "Meet Fly Guy" being the first.
- Superhero books - level 1 or 2 easyreaders. Batman, Captain America. There are some new ones called Marvel Super Hero Squad
- Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems. I love these books too. We do voices and we just read them over and over again.
- Pigeon books by Mo Willems. "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus" "Don't let the pigeon stay up late." "The pigeon finds a hot dog" (our fav one).

If he reads a Mo Willems book and likes it, try Mo Willems website and let him play or watch a video or something on there. Next book, get on the internet again and play/watch something. Perhaps showing him that one book can open more opportunities to him would be good and make reading more interesting.

added: We have always read two books at bedtime - one from dad and one from me. Perhaps if you make it a happy time "stay up 5 more minutes" part of your evening routine he may get into it more?

My suggestion- don't push it. A love of reading will come naturally when he starts to read himself.

My boys started on Captain Underpants- comic style bathroom humor! Hank the Cowdog- western adventure, The Magic Treehouse- what ever topic the book was on. My hubs also read them all Harry Potter. Now, they can all read it themselves (and have, several times!).

I suggest that your son reads the "Fifty Shades of Grey" series. It would be a great learning experience for him. I enjoyed the books very much.

Cheers!
D.

You have gotten a lot of really good suggestions already. One more I would like to add is the Scaredy Squirrel series by Melanie Watt. My boys just discovered them this year and they are really cute. My 4-year old daughter loves them too.

My son just turned five. He likes the Froggy books, Arthur (there are actually two different characters named Arthur and both are great series) and all of the Little Critter books. He also likes the Star Wars readers, though I don't really enjoy reading them.

What's he into besides books? Maybe you can find some good nonfiction books about something he loves (baseball, dinosaurs, trucks, etc) A librarian can help you!