I just started reading to my five year old niece. Any good books that are quick that she'll love?

Question

I just started reading to my five year old niece. Any good books that are quick that she'll love?

Answer 1

mo willems's books are great! don't let the pigeon drive the bus; don't let the pigeon stay up late; leonardo, the terrible monster, ect

the pigeon series is cute and silly! (the books are like a one sided conversation of a pigeon. a good "extended activity" is to have your niece try to "talk" the pigeon into doing what he's supposed to do)

junie b. jones books are GREAT! you can read just one chapter at a time and that is very good reading practice. (the child has to remember details and what is happening in the story. it is good for stamina in reading).

dr. suess books are more fun for adults. for a five year old they are full of non-sense words that the child doesn't always have the skills to decode. often the plots are predictable or there isn't a plot. they are good to let your child sound out words. and they sound fun!

ask your library if they have a program called Accelerated Reader. this program "levels" books by grade level. if you are reading to a child you can read a 1.0 (first grade) to 3.0 (third grade) depending on how developed she is. that should help you find books.

Answer 2

Fairytales enchant younger  children and so do picture books. I have a younger sister and she seems to enjoy these books: Cinderrella, Pickle's ball, Robin Riding hood.

Also, any books with fabrics on them or things to feel children are interrested in too! You have to be entusiasim when you read to "trap" the child in the book!

Answer 3

Go to:

http://clear.cps.k12.il.us/aboutcps/depa...

Answer 4

I second "Goodnight Moon".  It's a classic.

Any Miss Bindergarten books if s/he'll be entering Kindergarten this Fall.

"Brown Bear, Brown Bear" was the first book my son "read" when he was 5.  Actually, he had memorized it and knew by the pictures but he loved to think he was reading it.  He would say the words that he knew was on the page and then turn to the next page to see what was coming next so he knew how the page he was on would end.

Personally, I loved "Owl at Home".  But maybe it's because it held fond childhood memories.  It's a small book with 4 or 5 short stories about Owl, a solitary sort that seems to be quite sensitive.

Answer 5

goodnight moon

Answer 6

Eloise at the Plaza (actually any Eloise book)

Fancy Nancy

Chica Chica Boom Boom

Click Clack Moo Cows that Type

The Napping House

Anything Dr. Seuss

Answer 7

I advise you to look for books that rhyme or have a rhythmic pattern. This is the key to building reading fluency in children. It's no accident that children will often ask to have their favorite stories read to them again and again--these books, from the classics to the contemporary feature repetitive or rhythmic text that begs to be read aloud time after time. Also, pop-up books and lift the flap books can be very attractive to children of any age but in particular emergent readers. I've included some below. There are thousands of books that you might select, but let me recommend a few that you may not be familiar with:

"The Long-Nosed Pig" by Keith Faulkner; ill. by Jonathan Lambert [pop-up book]

"The Wide-Mouthed Frog" by Keith Faulkner; ill. by Jonathan Lambert [pop-up book]

"Shark in the Park" by Nick Sharrat [Fun!]

"Bark, George" by Jules Feiffer [Hysterical!]

"T is for Terrible" by Peter McCarty

"Some Dogs Do" by Jez Alborough [I could read this book every day for the rest of my life--so positive do I think its message is].

"Duck in the Truck" by Jez Alborough

"Louella Mae, She's Run Away" by Karen Beaumont Alarcón; ill. by Rosanne Litzinger

"The Wolf's Chicken Stew" by Keiko Kasza

"Rosie's Walk" by Pat Hutchins

"The Teeny Tiny Woman: An Old English Ghost Tale" by Barbara Seuling [There are many versions of this story but this is my favorite].

"Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale" by Mo Willems ["Knuffle Bunny Too" has since been published and chronicles what happens next].

"Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" by Mo Willems [Already mentioned--but this is the best].

"Leonardo, the Terrible Monster" by Mo Willems [Hysterical!]

"Edwina, the Dinosaur that Didn't Know She Was Extinct" by Mo Willems

"Sheep in a Jeep" by Nancy Shaw; ill. by Margot Apple

"Caps for Sale" by Esphyr Slobodkina

"Millions of Cats" by Wanda Gag

"Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson

"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak [Previously recommended classic]

"Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown; ill. by Clement Hurd [An all-time favorite!]

"Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!" by Sandra Boynton

"The Missing Piece" by Shel Silverstein

"The Missing Piece Meets the Big O" by Shel Silverstein [I like this better than the original...but both are excellent!]

"The Very Quiet Cricket" by Eric Carle

"Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On" by Lois Ehlert

"Banana Moon" by Janet Marshall

"Dinosaur Roar" by Paul & Henrietta Stickland

"How Loud Is a Lion?" by Stella Blackstone; ill. by Clare Beaton

"Clickety Clack" by Robert & Amy Spence; ill. by Margaret Spengler

"One Red Dot" by David A. Carter [pop-up book]

"Blue 2" by David A. Carter [pop-up book]

"600 Black Spots" by David A. Carter [pop-up book...the third in the series...there will be two more...I can't wait!]

"Arrowville" by Geefwee Bodoe

"Duck on a Bike" by David Shannon

"No, David!" by David Shannon [Check out David's other adventures, too].

"Ella Sarah Get Dressed" by Margaret Chodos-Irvine

"Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type" by Doreen Cronin; ill. by Betsy Lewin

"How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" by Jany Yolen; ill. by Mark Teague

"How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?" by Jany Yolen; ill. by Mark Teague

"How Does a Dinosaur Eat His Food?" by Jany Yolen; ill. by Mark Teague [There are several other books about dinosaurs from this author and illustrator].

"The Dot" by Peter H. Reynolds

"Ish" by Peter H. Reynolds

"Someday" by Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds [I can think of no better picture book for a mom to share with her daughter. It also makes a great gift for a mom or her child].

"The Spider and the Fly" by Mary Howitt; ill. by Tony DiTerlizzi

"Imogene's Antlers" by David Small

"Un Gato y un Perro" by Clare Masurel [A dual-language delight!]

"Knock, Knock!" by Saxton Freymann...[et al.].

"Bear Snores On" by Karma Wilson; ill. by Jane Chapman [There are a host of other "Bear" books by this team...check 'em out].

"I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean" by Kevin Sherry [Terrifically funny...comes with set of bath decals].

"Little Pea" by Amy Krouse Rosethal; illustrated by Jen Corace

"The Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat" story by Lynne Berry; pictures by Luke LaMarca

"Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale" retold by Carmen Agra Deedy; illustrated by Michael Austin

"The Gift of Nothing" by Patrick McDonnell

"Just Like Heaven" by Patrick McDonnell

"Hug Time" by Patrick McDonnell

"Art" by Patrick McDonnell [McDonnell is also the creator of "Mutts," a serial comic strip that runs in newspapers nationwide. The first three above feature characters from the strip. Highly recommended!]

"The Gruffalo" by Julia Donaldson

"Black? White! Day? Night? - A Book of Opposites" by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

"Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs" by Tomie dePaola [This is an endearing story about loss that is treated with such sensitivity].

I've read the above picture books numerous times to great cheer (and some tears) from many audiences. Click on my profile and e-mail me. I would be happy to correspond with you and make further suggestions. I'd also encourage to stop by your local library and chat with the children's librarians there to get their recommendations. Finally, I'd suggest you find a copy of Jim Trelease's "The Read Aloud Handbook." http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/ It's an invaluable resource for parents, godparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. Another good source of information is "Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children," published by The New York Times and edited by Eden Ross Lipson.

Answer 8

--Ooooh!!! Stellaluna is my favorite!!!! and other Janell Cannon books like Verdi and Crickwing are cute with great messages. She makes unconventional animals seem huggable:)

--another vote for Chicka Chicka boom boom

--All Eric Carle...nice illustrations and predictable...she'll be saying them with you after a while

Not a book suggestion, but I suggest using her name instead of the lead characters, and maybe your name or her baby brother/mommy's/dog's name in the story too.. makes it waaay more fun....

p.s.  so glad you're reading as much as possible...one of the best things you can do for her (must love her a bunch)

Answer 9

Eric Carle is my favorite author- the Hungry Hungry Caterpillar, the Grouchy Ladybug, they are all great.

Answer 10

It is not always about short, but about short chapters. I have worked with five year olds and they love Junie B Jones books, the chapters are short, and these books are so funny. The children really understand Junie B Jones and she goes through things that the chilld your reading to has gone through as well, or will go through shortly. It will create a bond between the two of you that is unbreakable. I know not only have I read them to my class, I have read every last Junie B Jones book to my son when he was 5, 6, and 7 and he has never forgotten it.

Answer 11

There have been many really fun books mentioned and so many more out there. Can you take her to the library and let her choose some. There might also be a list there or even google a list for her age group. I also agree to let her see you reading or read some article from the newspaper about an animal or the zoo. Something of interest to her. It is great that you are taking the time for your niece, you are a good Aunt!

Answer 12

Just KEEP reading out loud when she's around! Even when you are simply reading the newspaper. (Well, certain parts.)

And keep letting her SEE you read.

Answer 13

Probably the best way to keep her attention and to keep her interested is to work with books that have rhymes.  I tach English to ESL students, and the books that really keep them into it are the ones that rhyme and have a rhythm, like a song almost.  They seem to be able to get into those the most.  Bring your niece with you to pick out books and have her choose ones she likes, with great pictures.  There are so many inexpensive books out there for young kids!

Answer 14

Love You Forever - by Robert Munsch

Where the Wild Things Are - by Maurice Sendak

Never Talk to Strangers - by Irma Joyce (I enjoy the 1967 version with George Buckett as the illustrator.  Pictures are much stronger.)

Hey, Al - by Richard Egielski

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

""Pig a Pancake

""Moose a Muffin

""Pig a Party

To make the story more interesting, you could ask her prediction questions like, "What do you think would happen next?"  or questions dealing with her feelings like, "How do you think you would feel if..."

Hope this helps.  :)

Answer 15

dr.suess