Kids Chapter Books

[kklawiter]

Anyone have any suggestions for children's chapter books? I have a 9 yr old son, and a 7 yr old daughter, and every night before bedtime we read a few chapters together. Problem is, I never seem to remember to hit the library, and sometimes they forget to pick up a new book from school. So I'd like to start a back up collection on the Kindle. They like series such as, The Magic Tree House, Michigan Chillers, I Survived! and some of the "scary stories" that tend to be more funny than scary.

Any suggestion?

[4eyesbooks]

Here are a few that came to find that might fit the bill:

Araminta Spookie by Angie Sage
Harriet Bean by Alexandar McCall Smith (this one may not be available on kindle)
Mostly Ghostly by R. L. Stine

Hope this gets you started!

[kklawiter]

Here are a few that came to find that might fit the bill:

Araminta Spookie by Angie Sage
Harriet Bean by Alexandar McCall Smith (this one may not be available on kindle)
Mostly Ghostly by R. L. Stine

Hope this gets you started!

Thanks! I'll look into those

[Steven Stickler]

At that age, my son LOVED the Magic Tree House books. A few others come to mind:

Anything by Beverly Cleary or Andrew Clements
How to Train Your Dragon (a series and, yes, now a movie)
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins (the first in a series; perhaps a bit advanced for a 7 yr old to read, but fine to listen to)

Just a few thoughts. Good luck!

[Beth Balmanno]

My kids are 12 and 10 now (and a 6 yr. old) so the two older ones read to themselves (sniff, sniff!) but we were all over the place with our nighttime read-alouds.  Some of our favorites were:

The Little House series.  The stories were warm and cozy, perfect for settling into bed.  Even my son enjoyed those -- he would say, "It's like traveling back in time!"

As he got a little older, we read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.  Brilliantly funny (some boy bathroom humor, but nothing too bad) and it was always fun to go to bed giggling.

My kids also adored The Percy Jackson series.  We read the first one out loud and then they each graduated to the other titles in their own time and read them independently.  The chapters aren't terribly long and the stories move along at a great pace. 

I'm a sucker for kids books (real and virtual bookshelves *full* of them) so let me know if you'd like more suggestions!

[MadCityWriter]

Are you talking about books you can read to them? Or books they can read alternate chapters? 

The Boxcar Children still hold up after all these years.
For something more contemporary, Ivy and Bean is quite popular. 
Nate the Great series
A to Z Mystery Series
Stories Julian Tells (and others about Julian and his friends)
Mercy Watson series
The Mouse and the Motorcycle; and Ralph and the Motorcycle
Charlotte's Web (and other E.B. White books)
Flat Stanley (and other Stanley books)
Encyclopedia Brown series
Capital Mystery series

If you are looking for something to read to them, don't forget the Narnia series.

Happy Reading!

[sammykay]

How about Goosebumps from RL Stine?  I use to love those!  And I still do...

[marianneg]

If you haven't read all of the Oz books, they are fun for kids of all ages.  There are something like 12 or 13 in the series.  And best of all, you can get them for free from your favorite public domain site.

[tamaraheiner]

I was going to recommend the Magic Tree House!

They might also enjoy Fablehaven. It's excellent, but more middle grade than chapter book. I plan on trying it w/ my six year old after the one we're reading.

[jumbojohnny]

I've never got to grips with 'chapter books', what does it mean? If it just means a book with chapters then it seems odd to highlight it, but I am guessing it means a certain type of book?

[Ann in Arlington]

I've never got to grips with 'chapter books', what does it mean? If it just means a book with chapters then it seems odd to highlight it, but I am guessing it means a certain type of book?

I think it's mainly to distinguish it from the shorter books for younger readers.  When you get to be at a certain skill level, you're ready for something more akin to grown up books. . . .but maybe not quite.  There are also usually no pictures, which are frequently found in lower skill level books, even if there is a fair amount of printed story.

[Andrew Dzeguze]

Second the Beverly Cleary recommendation (Ramona is one of my 7 y.o. daughter's favorite characters).  Goosebumps may or may not be "too" scary, but at least some of them are in line with your comments.  Also can't go wrong reading them Tolkein if you are at all into fantasy, although at their ages that would probably be reading to, not with.

[kklawiter]

I think it's mainly to distinguish it from the shorter books for younger readers.  When you get to be at a certain skill level, you're ready for something more akin to grown up books. . . .but maybe not quite.  There are also usually no pictures, which are frequently found in lower skill level books, even if there is a fair amount of printed story.

Couldn't have said it better.

My youngest is still good with a quick children's book before bed, but the older one gets bored. A longer book with chapter, leaves them hanging so they can't wait till the next night to keep reading. Works wonders for bedtime, since if they screw around and don't go to sleep, they don't get to find out what happens next the following night.

These are some great suggestion! I'm keeping an ever growing list. Thank you all for all the responses!

[jumbojohnny]

Ah, so it's all from a child's perspective re progress in reading, makes sense now, ta.