Recommend quality chapter books for 6yo

Cafe Society
1

My daughter picked out a Hannah Montana book at last year’s book fair, and unearthed it this week. I cannot tell you what a soul-sucking experience it was to try to read it to her. It finally went from crappy, obnoxious and questionable to outright sexist garbage, and I told her I wasn’t going to read it to her any more.

The Magic Treehouse seems slightly better, but not exactly something either of us will really look forward to.

Bunnicula went over OK, but most of the funny stuff sailed right over her head, and she’s not very keen on trying the sequels.

I’d love to read her Coraline and the Graveyard Book, but she needs to be at least two years older before we do those - she is sensitive and easily scared. I am getting some Gaiman picture books for her, but I’m also looking for chapter books.

Is there anything out there that has some literary merit without being too intense? I see a lot of mass-produced crap with princess, fairy, and puppy themes at the bookstore, but I know they’ll be awful.

She liked Junie B. Jones, but I hated the one book we read. While Junie is often hilarious, she is an awful role model and I don’t want my kid exposed to her when she’s this age.

Little House was fine for about a book and a half, then she got bored, I think because it’s so hard for her to relate.

I know, I know, I’m being really picky. But I’m supposed to read with her at least 20 minutes a day, and I’m going to lose my mind if we don’t get into some meatier stuff. But I don’t want to give her nightmares or turn her into a rude hooligan either!

Thanks!

2

How about going a bit old school with Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume? My not-especially-patient-with-chapter-books son was fairly interested in Henry Huggins and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

3

How about Beverly Cleary and her character Ramona?

I used to love these books when I was little.

Bunnicula, Howliday Inn and the Celery Stalks at Midnight?

DAMMIT Beaten to the punch!

I still think a little girl would identify with Ramona a little more…

4

You could try the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace. They are “old fashioned girls” type books, so if that’s what your daughter didn’t like about Little House, she might not like these. However, the focus in these books is a little more on the girls and their activities, and not so much long descriptions of homesteading, so your daughter might enjoy them more.

For that age, I also like A Cricket In Times Square by George Seldon.

I’ve got to admit that I personally am not wild about Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things, but a lot of kids enjoy it and it is decently written.

5

I was going to say the Ramona books also. The really early ones are a bit quaint - I read the Henry Huggins ones when I was a kid! - but the ones starting when Ramona goes to kindergarten are perfect.

The old classics are still good. The Wizard of Oz works if she has the patience. Alice in Wonderland is good also - she won’t get all the jokes but still enjoyable. We have a bunch of ancient Uncle Wiggly books which my younger animal loving daughter liked at that age; I’m not sure they’re in print though.

6

The Secrets of Droon by Tony Abbott. 3 regular kids discover a magical world called Droon and help the good wizards/princesses/spider trolls (don’t ask) save the world from the evil Lord Sparr. My 5 and 7 1/2 year olds love them.
Moongobble and Me (Trilogy) by Bruce Coville. The misadventures of an untalented wizard with a good heart. Very funny. Funnier and better written than the Droon books, actually.
Mr. Putter and Tabby series by Cynthia Rylant. An old man and his cat, and the neighbor old lady and her dog. Good stuff.

7

Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by Richard and Florence Atwater. That’s my top choice, closely followed by Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White.

The Chronicles of Narnia might be a little much for a six year old, but they’re wonderful books (provided you start with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe).

The Little Prince also seems like a good possiblility.

She would probably laugh at the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, but I have misgivings about the main character’s behavior. When my son read them, we had some discussions about who was really in the wrong in some of those situations!

8

Oh, good one! My kids particularly liked the way each story ended with something like, “And if the puppy dog doesn’t waggle his tail so hard that he knocks over the milk bottle, tomorrow you shall hear the story of Uncle Wiggly and the Bad Boy.”

9

My 6-year-old likes the Baily School Kids series and American Girl (even though I refuse to buy the doll). She had zero interest in Beverly Cleary. Oh, she also likes Magic Kitten and Captain Underpants (I know, but way better than Junie B Jones in my opinion).

10

Wow, how could I forget Beverly Cleary? Ramona and Ellen Tebbits (though the underwear thing will be even more incomprehensible than it was to me, I guess!), Otis Spofford. I’m having flashbacks here.

Which also reminded me of Pippi Longstocking. That’s going on the list too.

But yes, I’m so grateful to you all - I’m making a list of everything mentioned here and reserving at the library. I’m excited about catching her interest and introducing her to the love of reading that I have, and this will help a lot.

Keep 'em coming - 20 minutes or more a day adds up quick!

11

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle! Each chapter works as a stand-alone story, but they also all weave together into a longer story. I LOVED these as a kid (and as an adult, they’re still funny and unexpected).

Also, a very oldie but a goodie: The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek. Doesn’t exactly have a strong scientific basis, but it’s hard to beat twin kids discovering a living stegosaurus to befriend.

12

Did you know that the guy who wrote these also wrote the original Tom Swift books?

And a hearty second to Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. My favorite was the “I Thought You Said” cure.

13

Not sure if your library will have them (or if they are ‘quality’ enough), but there is a lot of Enid Blyton: The Magic Faraway Tree, The Children of Willow Farm, Mr. PinkWhistle, The Wishing Chair etc.