Can you recommend a book for my daughter?
July 23, 2016 4:44 PM Subscribe
My daughter loves to read, especially Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Big Nate. Unfortunately, she's read almost all of them and she dissolved into tears when I said there wouldn't be many books left for her to read in those series. I'm looking for books for her to try next.
Some particulars:
She will be going into the first grade in the fall, but the books she chooses are generally between 2nd and 4th grade reading level. However, she's still very much a kindergartener emotionally and doesn't care for scary things, violence, or boy-crazy story lines (she really didn't like Dork Diaries when she tried it earlier this summer).
She really liked the Adventure Time Choose Your Own Adventure books because they involved puzzles that you had to solve to advance the story. She would love a book that involves puzzles or brain teasers that you need to solve along the way.
She likes books with lots of pictures mixed in. She loves our Calvin & Hobbes and Cul de Sac comics collections, but she really likes longer chapter books so she can see the story unfold.
We read Squirrel Girl with me and her dad (mostly so we could monitor the content) and she really loved the strong female protagonist that was set on having an adventure/fighting crime, and not centered on boys.
Graphic novels are okay, but she really likes more traditional books with chapters and text.
We've hit up our librarian for ideas, but I'd also love to hear any recommendations you have!
Some particulars:
She will be going into the first grade in the fall, but the books she chooses are generally between 2nd and 4th grade reading level. However, she's still very much a kindergartener emotionally and doesn't care for scary things, violence, or boy-crazy story lines (she really didn't like Dork Diaries when she tried it earlier this summer).
She really liked the Adventure Time Choose Your Own Adventure books because they involved puzzles that you had to solve to advance the story. She would love a book that involves puzzles or brain teasers that you need to solve along the way.
She likes books with lots of pictures mixed in. She loves our Calvin & Hobbes and Cul de Sac comics collections, but she really likes longer chapter books so she can see the story unfold.
We read Squirrel Girl with me and her dad (mostly so we could monitor the content) and she really loved the strong female protagonist that was set on having an adventure/fighting crime, and not centered on boys.
Graphic novels are okay, but she really likes more traditional books with chapters and text.
We've hit up our librarian for ideas, but I'd also love to hear any recommendations you have!
Has she read any of the Magic Treehouse books? Those were huge in my daughter's classroom in first grade, as well as the Magic School Bus books by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen.
The Ellie McDoodle series by Ruth McNally Barshaw are in the Wimpy Kid style and skew younger than Dork Diaries. I think she'd also enjoy the Stick Dog series by Tom Watson and the Lunch Lady graphic novels by Jarrett J. Krosocka.
In addition to the Geronino Stilton books, there are the Thea Stilton books, which feature young female mice who travel the world and solve mysteries.
posted by mogget at 4:56 PM on July 23, 2016 [7 favorites]
The Ellie McDoodle series by Ruth McNally Barshaw are in the Wimpy Kid style and skew younger than Dork Diaries. I think she'd also enjoy the Stick Dog series by Tom Watson and the Lunch Lady graphic novels by Jarrett J. Krosocka.
In addition to the Geronino Stilton books, there are the Thea Stilton books, which feature young female mice who travel the world and solve mysteries.
posted by mogget at 4:56 PM on July 23, 2016 [7 favorites]
Ursula Vernon's books are probably a good fit.
posted by jeather at 5:01 PM on July 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by jeather at 5:01 PM on July 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
She really liked the Adventure Time Choose Your Own Adventure books because they involved puzzles that you had to solve to advance the story. She would love a book that involves puzzles or brain teasers that you need to solve along the way.
This immediately made me think of the Wayside School books, specifically Sideways Arithmetic from Wayside School. But she might like that whole series. They are very, very weird, but absolutely awesome. Read the summary here to see if you think it'll be too much weirdness for her.
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:06 PM on July 23, 2016 [6 favorites]
This immediately made me think of the Wayside School books, specifically Sideways Arithmetic from Wayside School. But she might like that whole series. They are very, very weird, but absolutely awesome. Read the summary here to see if you think it'll be too much weirdness for her.
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:06 PM on July 23, 2016 [6 favorites]
I also loved this series of books about a Canadian girl detective, the Stevie Diamond series.
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:07 PM on July 23, 2016
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:07 PM on July 23, 2016
Oh oh, and if she likes adventure stuff she would probably LOVE Ronia the Robber's Daughter. Kickass girl takes on the system with her non-romantic boy sidekick, and all the scampering around in the woods reminded me a lot of Calvin and Hobbes when I was a kid. I don't remember it being scary but it's been a while.
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:10 PM on July 23, 2016
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:10 PM on July 23, 2016
Ursula Vernon's books are probably a good fit.
Yes, I came here to suggest the Hamster Princess books!
posted by leesh at 5:11 PM on July 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yes, I came here to suggest the Hamster Princess books!
posted by leesh at 5:11 PM on July 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Not sure how available outside of Australia they are, but my kids heartily recommend both the print and the audiobook versions of the N-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton. Anarchic fun for kids.
posted by antipodes at 5:13 PM on July 23, 2016
posted by antipodes at 5:13 PM on July 23, 2016
What about the "A to Z mystery series" by Ron Roy? There are 26 of them for her to read!
And as already mentioned, the Magic Treehouse series is great and there are tons of them!
posted by bookmammal at 5:15 PM on July 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
And as already mentioned, the Magic Treehouse series is great and there are tons of them!
posted by bookmammal at 5:15 PM on July 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Catwings series by Ursula K. Le Guin
Cam Jansen series by David A. Adler
Horrible Harry series by Suzy Kline
Mercy Watson books by Kate DiCamillo
Jenny and the Cat Club (and other Jenny books) by Esther Averill
Stink books by Megan McDonald
The 13-Story Treehouse (and sequels) by Andy Griffiths
My Father's Dragon (and sequels) by Ruth Stiles Gannett
posted by Redstart at 5:24 PM on July 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Cam Jansen series by David A. Adler
Horrible Harry series by Suzy Kline
Mercy Watson books by Kate DiCamillo
Jenny and the Cat Club (and other Jenny books) by Esther Averill
Stink books by Megan McDonald
The 13-Story Treehouse (and sequels) by Andy Griffiths
My Father's Dragon (and sequels) by Ruth Stiles Gannett
posted by Redstart at 5:24 PM on July 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Try the series that starts with Miss Daisy is crazy. Very popular at my school.
posted by aetg at 5:25 PM on July 23, 2016
posted by aetg at 5:25 PM on July 23, 2016
A lot of great ideas above. My first graders loved the Princess Black books. Also Dick King-Smith, especially his books featuring Sophie.
posted by bookworm4125 at 5:32 PM on July 23, 2016
posted by bookworm4125 at 5:32 PM on July 23, 2016
Pssst, let her know she can make up her own stories in those series if she wants!
posted by praemunire at 5:36 PM on July 23, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 5:36 PM on July 23, 2016 [5 favorites]
The Amber Brown books...friends of Paula Danziger took up the series after she died.
Little House, the 1st 3 Betsy-Tacy, All-of-a-Kind Family.
posted by brujita at 5:39 PM on July 23, 2016
Little House, the 1st 3 Betsy-Tacy, All-of-a-Kind Family.
posted by brujita at 5:39 PM on July 23, 2016
Ivy + Bean is a fun series about two girls -- one bookish, one more sporty -- who have adventures of all kinds.
It's a tween series, but I know some older kids who read it too. Plus there are cute illustrations.
posted by vickyverky at 5:50 PM on July 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's a tween series, but I know some older kids who read it too. Plus there are cute illustrations.
posted by vickyverky at 5:50 PM on July 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
What about Encyclopedia Brown? They're mysteries but not gruesome as far as I remember -- they were written in the 60s and 70s. According to Wikipedia, there are 29 books which should keep her busy for a while.
posted by elmay at 6:01 PM on July 23, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by elmay at 6:01 PM on July 23, 2016 [10 favorites]
Ramona Quimby!
posted by epj at 6:12 PM on July 23, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by epj at 6:12 PM on July 23, 2016 [7 favorites]
Seconding Encyclopedia Brown- the books have stand alone mystery stories with the answer to the mystery in the back.
Funny, realistic fiction series books that my students like:
Alvin Ho
Star Wars Academy
Bad Kitty (there is a picture book with the same character.)
Terrible Two
My Life As...
My Weird School
My own girls loved Ms. Piggle Wiggle, The Moffats series.
posted by momochan at 7:13 PM on July 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Funny, realistic fiction series books that my students like:
Alvin Ho
Star Wars Academy
Bad Kitty (there is a picture book with the same character.)
Terrible Two
My Life As...
My Weird School
My own girls loved Ms. Piggle Wiggle, The Moffats series.
posted by momochan at 7:13 PM on July 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
The animorph series may be a little too actiony, but may be a good series to challenge her reading level, and there are tons of them.
posted by AlexiaSky at 7:36 PM on July 23, 2016
posted by AlexiaSky at 7:36 PM on July 23, 2016
Seconding Mrs. Piggle Wiggle.
It's an old one, but you might try Emil and the Detectives.
Also, check out the books of Edward Eager, like Half Magic or Seven Day Magic. You can read a bit of Half Magic here to see if it would suit.
posted by gudrun at 9:12 PM on July 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's an old one, but you might try Emil and the Detectives.
Also, check out the books of Edward Eager, like Half Magic or Seven Day Magic. You can read a bit of Half Magic here to see if it would suit.
posted by gudrun at 9:12 PM on July 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sounds like she would enjoy Andy Griffith's "13 Story Treehouse" series!
posted by netsirk at 9:30 PM on July 23, 2016
posted by netsirk at 9:30 PM on July 23, 2016
I teach 6th grade and a lot of my lower-level readers who love Wimpy Kid love Smile.
You may want to wait a year or two, but it is a mix of fiction/graphic novel and is pretty accessible.
posted by guster4lovers at 10:37 PM on July 23, 2016
You may want to wait a year or two, but it is a mix of fiction/graphic novel and is pretty accessible.
posted by guster4lovers at 10:37 PM on July 23, 2016
Justin Case is another series similar to Wimpy Kid, told in a diary format (though with fewer illustrations). The protagonist is a little younger - 3rd & 4th grade as opposed to 6th grade (Nate) and middle school (Greg). They're very cute and the kid is sweeter, too! Unfortunately only 3 books.
Just Grace is another series (first person, but not in diary format) - again, fewer drawings, but really realistic, funny and true-to-life. Grace is also in 3rd grade, so not much with boys, though there's plenty of interpersonal action going on. There are 12 in this series, so plenty to look forward to! One of things I love about Just Grace is that it's very good for sensitive kids - Grace's "superpower" is essentially empathy. Great for kids who feel a lot.
The Amelia's Notebook series by Marissa Moss has the heavily illustrated diary style - they start when Amelia is 9 and carry on well into middle school - there are 15+ now. Very creative and colorful - the books are typically in full color (though I haven't seen them all). There is some boy stuff in there, but you can start off with the elementary school ones and
Clementine is more on the spunky side, always getting into trouble (like Nate). She gets a lot of comparisons to Ramona (also excellent) and Junie B. (unfair! she is much less annoying than Junie B.). Another 3rd grader. These books are also not diary (though they are first person, like Just Grace) - high energy, and tons of fun.
Mysteries she might like - seconding Encyclopedia Brown. Also Nate the Great! A little longer, but the Blue Balliet series of art/architecture mysteries starting with Chasing Vermeer is excellent and filled with puzzles.
posted by clerestory at 11:25 PM on July 23, 2016
Just Grace is another series (first person, but not in diary format) - again, fewer drawings, but really realistic, funny and true-to-life. Grace is also in 3rd grade, so not much with boys, though there's plenty of interpersonal action going on. There are 12 in this series, so plenty to look forward to! One of things I love about Just Grace is that it's very good for sensitive kids - Grace's "superpower" is essentially empathy. Great for kids who feel a lot.
The Amelia's Notebook series by Marissa Moss has the heavily illustrated diary style - they start when Amelia is 9 and carry on well into middle school - there are 15+ now. Very creative and colorful - the books are typically in full color (though I haven't seen them all). There is some boy stuff in there, but you can start off with the elementary school ones and
Clementine is more on the spunky side, always getting into trouble (like Nate). She gets a lot of comparisons to Ramona (also excellent) and Junie B. (unfair! she is much less annoying than Junie B.). Another 3rd grader. These books are also not diary (though they are first person, like Just Grace) - high energy, and tons of fun.
Mysteries she might like - seconding Encyclopedia Brown. Also Nate the Great! A little longer, but the Blue Balliet series of art/architecture mysteries starting with Chasing Vermeer is excellent and filled with puzzles.
posted by clerestory at 11:25 PM on July 23, 2016
Let me up vote Geronimo Stilton (and sister Thea), Wayside School, and Lunch Lady.
She may also like Adventures Of The Blackhand Gang If you can find it.
posted by latkes at 11:41 PM on July 23, 2016
She may also like Adventures Of The Blackhand Gang If you can find it.
posted by latkes at 11:41 PM on July 23, 2016
Roald Dahl.
posted by jeffamaphone at 1:05 AM on July 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by jeffamaphone at 1:05 AM on July 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
As others have mentioned, if she loves brain teasers, Encyclopedia Brown is fantastic, though I remember them being... really difficult, at least as a kid. (Or reliant on some random fact that wasn't intuitive, but I may have just been a bad detective.)
Also, Boxcar Children. I think I started reading them in about 3rd grade, but there's a ton of them, and they're an intriguing concept for a kid, without being heavy on peril.
Also, what about Nate the Great or Hank the Cowdog?
posted by disillusioned at 2:29 AM on July 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also, Boxcar Children. I think I started reading them in about 3rd grade, but there's a ton of them, and they're an intriguing concept for a kid, without being heavy on peril.
Also, what about Nate the Great or Hank the Cowdog?
posted by disillusioned at 2:29 AM on July 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Dear America books might be a bit old for her right now, but perhaps next year!
posted by kellygrape at 5:16 AM on July 24, 2016
posted by kellygrape at 5:16 AM on July 24, 2016
Most of my favorites have been mentioned. In addition, Pippi Longstocking among the classics. Among more recent chapter books, Heidi Heckelbeck, Nancy Clancy-- an older Fancy Nancy-- and Babymouse.
posted by BibiRose at 7:06 AM on July 24, 2016
posted by BibiRose at 7:06 AM on July 24, 2016
For the same semi-sarcastic tone as diary of a wimpy kid, try "Timmy Failure".
posted by cosmicbandito at 7:28 AM on July 24, 2016
posted by cosmicbandito at 7:28 AM on July 24, 2016
Much less recent but at that age I really loved All of a Kind Family.
posted by sallybrown at 10:36 AM on July 24, 2016
posted by sallybrown at 10:36 AM on July 24, 2016
Ramona Quimby!!
Also, Roscoe Riley Rules is a cute series that is very emotionally appropriate for her age level and has some Wimpy Kid-esque drawings (although it is not a diary format). There are at least 7 of them.
posted by raspberrE at 11:04 AM on July 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also, Roscoe Riley Rules is a cute series that is very emotionally appropriate for her age level and has some Wimpy Kid-esque drawings (although it is not a diary format). There are at least 7 of them.
posted by raspberrE at 11:04 AM on July 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Left field suggestion -
how about the same books in French or Spanish or German translation?
posted by BWA at 1:12 PM on July 24, 2016
how about the same books in French or Spanish or German translation?
posted by BWA at 1:12 PM on July 24, 2016
What about The Penderwicks? It is a planned five book series and four have been published. The product description states fans of Noel Streatfeild and Edward Eager would enjoy them so they're also possibilities. I came to Eager too late but I do remember loving Ballet Shoes by Streatfeild.
posted by Constance Mirabella at 2:25 PM on July 24, 2016
posted by Constance Mirabella at 2:25 PM on July 24, 2016
Can you get hold of any of the Usborne Puzzle Adventures? They're good fun, and the puzzle-solving element might appeal strongly enough to offset any disappointment at the fact that they're not chapter books. The original series would probably suit, but I see from that Wikipedia article that there was also a series aimed specifically at younger readers.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 12:10 PM on July 26, 2016
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 12:10 PM on July 26, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by SobaFett at 4:53 PM on July 23, 2016 [3 favorites]