My 4.5 year old girls LOVE LOVE LOVE the Magic Tree House series of books. It's taken almost a year, but we've read all 50 of them. Now what? Are there any other good chapter book series out there that are age appropriate (ie - not about princesses getting married, or about dragons fighting to the death)? What we like about the Magic Tree House books is that they're long enough to take several days to read at bedtime, Jack and Annie work together to solve problems, and they're educational and fun with each one being about a different historical topic.
We tried Pony Crazed Princess and that was good too - but only six books. Junie B Jones drove me nuts- she's a brat and speaks incorrectly. The Secrets of Droon was a bit too scary.
Please tell me there's another series we'll like?
My girls have loved the Rainbow Magic books by Daisy Meadows. Not nearly as educational as the Magic Tree House but appealing to young girls. Lots of titles such as the Jewel fairies, Pet fairies, colors, holidays, animals etc.
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Geronimo Stilton books by Geronimo Stilton
Judy Moody books by Megan McDonald
The Cam Jansen series is very good!
There's also a series called Animal Ark, by Ben M. Baglio...The general plot of each book features Mandy, the daughter of the local veterinarians (her mom & dad), finding animals in trouble and trying to help them with the assistance of her best friend James, and other people.
There is another good series called the Boxcar Children, by Gertrude Chandler Warner...has over 100 books in the series. tells the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They get permission to stay overnight at a bakery but run away when they hear the baker's wife say she will keep the older three and send the youngest, Benny, to an orphanage. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest. They fear their legal guardian, their grandfather, believing him to be cruel. They enjoy their freedom, but need to seek help when Violet becomes ill. They eventually meet their grandfather, James Alden, who is a kind and wealthy man. The children agree to live with him. James moves the beloved boxcar to his backyard so the children can use it as a playhouse. In the subsequent books, the children encounter many adventures and mysteries in their neighborhood or at the locations they visit with their grandfather. The majority of the books are set in locations the children are visiting over school holidays such as summer vacation or Christmas break.
Best wishes on your next adventure selection!
My son loved the Puppy Place series and all the scooby doo books (soooo many).
I'd try the first few books in the "Little House on the Prairie" series, starting with Little House in the Big Woods. (Laura Ingalls Wilder) You'll find that the text is pretty simple and I still love the Garth Williams illustrations. One thing I would suggest, however, is prereading, just because there are some small parts of the books that might be confusing to a child. (There are talks of 'whippings' (spankings, back in the day) and wild animals which could be scary for some kids. My son is the same age as your daughter and he was okay with the content, and he's a pretty tender guy. He loved the descriptions of life on the frontier.
There's also a one-book James Herriot collection of Animal Stories which is very sweet and dear. Perfect for this time of year.
I feel the same way about Junie B Jones, too. Another mom friend tells me her granddaughter loves the Cam Jansen books (there's a mystery involved, and Cam is more intelligently written than Junie).
The A to Z Mysteries and Capitol Mysteries have been a favorite of my daughter's.
We read Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web (reread the beginning yourself if you have not read it recently). I don't know if the Beverly Cleary books are a little too old or not (Ramona and Beezus). My son LOVES Homer Price by Robert McCloskey (of Make Way for Ducklings) but I believe the only other one is Centerburg Tales. But it does make 10 stories. We also love the Frog & Toad books.
Have you tried A to Z Mysteries?
Lots of good suggestions so far - Boxcar Children and Little House were going to be two that I would suggest. What about the American Girl books? Each Girl has her own five or six book series that relates to her own historical period - y'all could pick a time in US history that interests you.
Horrible Harry series
The Wayside School series
The romona the pest series
Amber Brown series
Hank The Cowdog series
The Box Car Children
Junie B. Jones is a great series.
I also love Judy Bloom books.
