Read-aloud chapter books for first grader that aren't terrible
June 12, 2020 1:29 PM Subscribe
What are some good chapter books or series to read to my six year old kid at bedtime? I'd like to make our reading list more diverse and inclusive, while keeping it age-appropriate and enjoyable for my kid. Looking for both specific book recommendations and suggestions for generally how to pick what to read to him.
My kid is six and a half and loves to be read to at bedtime. He's getting past the age for simple picture books and getting interested in larger, more complex stories, so we've been reading chapter books for awhile but need some new material. We can't just go wander the library and talk to the children's librarian right now. My kid has a great vocabulary and wild imagination.
My problem is that it seems like the majority of the list in my head of "classic children's novels and authors" are racist, misogynist, transphobic, homophobic, etc. JK Rowling, Roald Dahl, Laura Ingalls Wilder, CS Lewis, etc... I grew up loving these authors but I want to do better for my kid. I feel like I need to proactively seek out inclusive and anti-racist books and I'd love advice on how to do that.
To give you an idea of the type of book that's working for us, here are some things we've read recently that he's loved:
the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
Have Spacesuit, Will Travel (avoiding most of Heinlein's stuff but this one was so fun)
the Wayside School books
The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo (my kid LOVED the storytelling, but I stopped reading it about halfway through due to all the torture and child abuse. ugh.)
Percy Jackson (We tried it but it feels "too old" for my kid. There were tears when his mom dies. In a couple years it'll be a favorite.)
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (he has trouble staying focused on this one when I'm reading it but the audio book has been going over really well.)
What other good stuff is out there and how do I find more?
My kid is six and a half and loves to be read to at bedtime. He's getting past the age for simple picture books and getting interested in larger, more complex stories, so we've been reading chapter books for awhile but need some new material. We can't just go wander the library and talk to the children's librarian right now. My kid has a great vocabulary and wild imagination.
My problem is that it seems like the majority of the list in my head of "classic children's novels and authors" are racist, misogynist, transphobic, homophobic, etc. JK Rowling, Roald Dahl, Laura Ingalls Wilder, CS Lewis, etc... I grew up loving these authors but I want to do better for my kid. I feel like I need to proactively seek out inclusive and anti-racist books and I'd love advice on how to do that.
To give you an idea of the type of book that's working for us, here are some things we've read recently that he's loved:
the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
Have Spacesuit, Will Travel (avoiding most of Heinlein's stuff but this one was so fun)
the Wayside School books
The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo (my kid LOVED the storytelling, but I stopped reading it about halfway through due to all the torture and child abuse. ugh.)
Percy Jackson (We tried it but it feels "too old" for my kid. There were tears when his mom dies. In a couple years it'll be a favorite.)
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (he has trouble staying focused on this one when I'm reading it but the audio book has been going over really well.)
What other good stuff is out there and how do I find more?
The Magic Treehouse books are pretty good. Formulaic, but I enjoyed reading them with my daughter. There are 50+ books, and some of them have corresponding non-fiction companion books, so if your child is into them there is a LOT of content to work through.
posted by sacrifix at 1:48 PM on June 12, 2020
posted by sacrifix at 1:48 PM on June 12, 2020
Diverse Book Finder is a great resource but I should mention that their focus is on picture books and not chapter books.
posted by acidnova at 1:55 PM on June 12, 2020
posted by acidnova at 1:55 PM on June 12, 2020
Also wanted to jump in again to say that even though you can't physically visit the library, a lot of librarians are working from home and providing reference to patrons. I encourage you to check your library's website for how to contact them
posted by acidnova at 1:57 PM on June 12, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by acidnova at 1:57 PM on June 12, 2020 [2 favorites]
In addition to those mentioned here, at that age we liked to read the Chicken Squad series, Ellray Jakes series, Lulu and the Brontosaurus (and sequels), the Littles series, the Borrowers series, and Remember the Milk (Neil Gaiman, so fun). These books all have some or lots of illustrations which made it more interactive.
posted by nkknkk at 2:05 PM on June 12, 2020
posted by nkknkk at 2:05 PM on June 12, 2020
Dick King Smith! Most of his stories are about animals.
posted by Balthamos at 2:09 PM on June 12, 2020
posted by Balthamos at 2:09 PM on June 12, 2020
Ursula Vernon's two series Dragonbreath and Harriet the Invincible are both really fun and quite appropriate for that age.
My son was that old when I read him Grace Lin's Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, and he liked it very much. It takes place on a journey, so each chapter works well on its own, although it all is in service to a larger story. Grace Lin has a lot of other books for that age, too.
posted by gideonfrog at 2:38 PM on June 12, 2020
My son was that old when I read him Grace Lin's Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, and he liked it very much. It takes place on a journey, so each chapter works well on its own, although it all is in service to a larger story. Grace Lin has a lot of other books for that age, too.
posted by gideonfrog at 2:38 PM on June 12, 2020
Louise Erdrich has written a series of children’s novels that are often recommended s alternatives or companions to Laura Ingalls Wilder. They are about an Ojibwa family and the first one is The Birchbark House. I’m reading them to my almost-5 year old and we both love them. Some of the subject matter is heavy (smallpox) but nothing we haven’t been able to talk through.
posted by juliapangolin at 2:48 PM on June 12, 2020
posted by juliapangolin at 2:48 PM on June 12, 2020
Seconding Harriet the Invincible. We have had success with it for 7 and 8 year old nieces.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:16 PM on June 12, 2020
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:16 PM on June 12, 2020
Everything by Astrid Lindgren is great (except you might want to skip Pippi in the South Seas.) I particularly love Ronia the Robber's Daughter.
Tove Jansson's Moomin books are also wonderful. The first one is Comet in Moominland. The later books in the series are less interesting to kids (but delightful for adults), but a 6 year old should enjoy the first few.
Some other suggestions:
Toys Go Out (and sequels) - Emily Jenkins
The Green Book - Jill Paton Walsh
The Night Fairy - Laura Amy Schlitz
Nim's Island - Wendy Orr
posted by Redstart at 5:46 PM on June 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
Tove Jansson's Moomin books are also wonderful. The first one is Comet in Moominland. The later books in the series are less interesting to kids (but delightful for adults), but a 6 year old should enjoy the first few.
Some other suggestions:
Toys Go Out (and sequels) - Emily Jenkins
The Green Book - Jill Paton Walsh
The Night Fairy - Laura Amy Schlitz
Nim's Island - Wendy Orr
posted by Redstart at 5:46 PM on June 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
Paul Jennings is an Australian author who writes weird and imaginative stuff. I'd maybe recommend the Cabbage Patch series as a starter for a little one.
While it's so sad at the end, and in the middle, you could try Red Dog by Louis Bernières... ah dang it he's 'eurosceptic' according to the wikipedia page.
posted by freethefeet at 7:23 PM on June 12, 2020
While it's so sad at the end, and in the middle, you could try Red Dog by Louis Bernières... ah dang it he's 'eurosceptic' according to the wikipedia page.
posted by freethefeet at 7:23 PM on June 12, 2020
My Father's Dragon trilogy is perfect for this age.
EB White's three children's books, especially Charlotte's Web, which is not only a truly great children's book, but a truly great book, period.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 7:47 PM on June 12, 2020 [2 favorites]
EB White's three children's books, especially Charlotte's Web, which is not only a truly great children's book, but a truly great book, period.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 7:47 PM on June 12, 2020 [2 favorites]
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents might be a bit more age appropriate than Wee Free Men, if that was too much.
Encyclopedia Brown books might be fun.
posted by ananci at 8:29 PM on June 12, 2020
Encyclopedia Brown books might be fun.
posted by ananci at 8:29 PM on June 12, 2020
If he liked the Ramona books, he’d probably like The Mouse and The Motorcycle. That was a big favorite of mine at that age.
Also, Homer Price!
posted by SisterHavana at 1:20 AM on June 14, 2020
Also, Homer Price!
posted by SisterHavana at 1:20 AM on June 14, 2020
The Atlas Book Club will send you a curated box of kids' books with diverse characters and authors. Highly recommend.
posted by equipoise at 7:05 PM on June 17, 2020
posted by equipoise at 7:05 PM on June 17, 2020
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posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:40 PM on June 12, 2020 [2 favorites]