I am looking for some book recommendations for a young reader. She reads Toad and Frog books by herself, and I would like more about that level.
I’m not sure what makes Frog and Toad so good: there are shelves full of short chapter books in which each chapter tells a very light gentle vignette about friends or family. But whereas Henry and Mudge (for one example) don’t get much play in my classroom, kids eat up Frog and Toad books like candy. Even kids who don’t like to read and who bounce of the walls at other times will settle down on the floor to get wrapped up in F&T.
Other books:
-Skippyjon Jones is fantastic, and you can read it to her or she can read it herself.
-Mo Willems is amazing. He’s behind Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.
-Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a little more advanced, but a lot of kids really like it, and it might be the next thing for her to check out.
-Edit: also, check out the adorable books by Kevin Henkes starring anthropomorphic mice, e.g., Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse.
This website allows you to input a children’s book title and output books of similar reading complexity. The link will take you straight to results for Frog & Toad are Friends.
I used Frog and Toad as an example, because most of the books she has now are much heavier in pictures, and Frog and Toad has much more text than picture, yet she reads through them on her own and doesn’t get bored. We read to her more complex books, like The Wizard of Oz, and The Hobbit.
I like Frog and Toad because they show two friends, one of whom is a curmudgeon. It shows the give and take of friendship. Most fiction for children that young doesn’t seem to delve as deep into the characters, or have the gentle but real seeming conflict. It is a comedy of manners for children.
IME, F&T are great gateway books for kids just beginning with chapter books (I teach second grade, a time when the average kid transitions to chapter books), for the reasons you suggest. There’s a good chance that she’ll make the move in the next few months, to where she’s comfortable with relatively picture-free chapter books.
Consider Junie B. Jones. I’ve just read a little of them, but she might like them: they’re more realistic chapter books. Or Cam Jansen mysteries. Or Magic Treehouse books. These are all beginner chapter books that are just slightly above F&T in reading level.
But I’d definitely advise against pushing her too heavily into chapter books (not that you’d do that!). I’d recommend making an assortment of these available, but also having some spectacular picture books around. Kids learn a lot from picture books as well.
If you’ve not read Skippyjon JOnes, I can’t recommend it highly enough. For two years running it’s been the favorite book of my classes.
Daniel
Brambley Hedge Series is quite delightful. Out of print, but usually at libraries.
Ricka, Flicka and Dicka and their triplet counterparts Snipp,snapp and Snurr. Timeless classics from Sweden Bork! Bork! Bork! My kids couldn’t get enough of these books when they were 3-7ish.