4th grade level book appropriate for 1st grader?

carlab44

DD is a voracious reader so we are constantly looking for new books for her. She is also an advanced reader (reading on 4th grade level in 1st grade) so we're having trouble finding books that are more challenging for her yet are appropriate for her age. She loved the Nancy Clancy Super Sleuth books, but read them in an afternoon. She also enjoys the Boxcar Children but has read so many she is looking for something different. Suggestions?

neverblushed

I had the same issue with my DD, and it was really tough.  In first grade she really liked:

the "Little House On the Prarie" books

the "Warrior Cats" series

The first three books of the Harry Potter series (first 3 books are fine for primary grade kids who can read well -- maybe a little scary or sophisticated; know your kid. The fourth book on gets into more serious themes.)

My son read the Percy Jackson series last year in 1st grade.  It's a little scary, and there are issues about dating, and some PG rated stuff, but he really enjoyed them.

The "How To Train Your Dragon" books

HTH! 

august06mom

Books DS has loved:  

How To Train Your Dragon series

Dragonsbreath series (these are graphic novels)

Henry Huggins series (she might like the Ramona books too)

Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy

Roald Dahl books: Charlie & Chocolate Factory, Matilda, BFG, George's Marvelous Medicine (some of these can be a bit dark)

Charlotte's Web

The One and Only Ivan

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

 

ETA: Thought of a few more:

Dinosaur Cove series

Grandpa & Wiley series 

There are Berenstain Bear chapter books

https://www.amazon.com/Berenstain-Bears-Galloping-Ghost-Chapter/dp/0679858156/ref=cm_lmf_tit_9

 

 

 

ilovemygirls

SFL!  I have a kinder that is an advanced reader, so finding appropriate reading material can be challenging. Great suggestions!

carlab44

Thanks! I'll look into all these suggestions.

roxy_jj

These are great suggestions!  I'm having a tough time finding age appropriate books for DD, this should be helpful.

neverblushed

Oh -- I'm glad someone mentioned the Ordinary Boy books -- they're great.

Roald Dahl books are good for a savvy younger reader as well. 

august06mom

Maybe we could create a sticky post for this subject. I know it gets asked a lot around here (I did it myself earlier this year). This board is kind of slow, but people could add to it.

fancynewbeesly

Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

Frindle by Andrew Clements

Animal Ark Series

Judy Blume Fudge series

Beverly Cleary Books

A to Z mysteries

Roald Dahl books

Little House books

Charlotte's Web/Stuart Little/Trumpet of the Swan

Encyclopedia Brown books

Wishbone Series

Spiderwick Chronicles

American Girl Books-the Girl of the Year book are usually more "fluffier" then some of the historical books--deals with slavery/immigration. (Some of them still make me cry!)

Geronimo Stilton

Babysitter Club 

I definitely have more. I am seriously blanking on the shelves in my school library. I am a media specialist---and am trying to go in order. LOL. 

Littlejen22

My son prefers books more girls than boys would like and is loving the American Girl books and he is also in Kindergarten although he reads on a second grade level he likes these books and pushes himself there.

MesmrEwe

Anne of Green Gables series

Little House series

Harry Potter series

American Girl series

 

AgrippaRidesAgain

We like the Beverly Cleary books.  Pretty much all of them.

KdgTeacher

While you are getting some great suggestions, as a 4th grade teacher, I would question how much a child who is that young reading that many levels ahead is comprehending what they are reading.  We struggle letting our 4th graders go more than a a year (or 2) ahead due to content and comprehension.

If it is feasible, can you pick a book and do a mini "book club" together to see if she's simply able to read the words or if she is understanding the story?  I expect my 4th graders to be able to talk to me about character motivations, theme, character actions and how they effect other characters, how the setting impacts the story, inner conflict, etc.  Where as I expect a 1st grader to focus more on providing a good summary, identifying problem/solution, characters, etc.

Or, maybe pick one of those books and read the entire thing together stopping often to have conversations about what is happening. 

prism207

KdgTeacher:

While you are getting some great suggestions, as a 4th grade teacher, I would question how much a child who is that young reading that many levels ahead is comprehending what they are reading.  We struggle letting our 4th graders go more than a a year (or 2) ahead due to content and comprehension.

If it is feasible, can you pick a book and do a mini "book club" together to see if she's simply able to read the words or if she is understanding the story?  I expect my 4th graders to be able to talk to me about character motivations, theme, character actions and how they effect other characters, how the setting impacts the story, inner conflict, etc.  Where as I expect a 1st grader to focus more on providing a good summary, identifying problem/solution, characters, etc.

Or, maybe pick one of those books and read the entire thing together stopping often to have conversations about what is happening. 

My Kindergartner is an advanced reader too (Guided Reading level L last I heard, I think)  and we really struggle with what he should read, based on comprehension and age appropriateness.  He devoured the Magic Tree House series-we started reading them together a few chapters at bedtime, and he very quickly started finishing them after I left the room.  I think his comprehension of those books was fairly good, based on our discussions.  He's reading the Magic Puppy books and the Cam Jansen books now.  And the librarian recommended "The Weird School" series and he read a few and thinks they are hilarious, but I am not so sure they are appropriate.

My problem is that I get books intending to read them together and he zooms ahead and reads without me anyway.

What books would you get for an advanced 6 year old reader? 

 

carlab44

KdgTeacher:

While you are getting some great suggestions, as a 4th grade teacher, I would question how much a child who is that young reading that many levels ahead is comprehending what they are reading.  We struggle letting our 4th graders go more than a a year (or 2) ahead due to content and comprehension.

If it is feasible, can you pick a book and do a mini "book club" together to see if she's simply able to read the words or if she is understanding the story?  I expect my 4th graders to be able to talk to me about character motivations, theme, character actions and how they effect other characters, how the setting impacts the story, inner conflict, etc.  Where as I expect a 1st grader to focus more on providing a good summary, identifying problem/solution, characters, etc.

Or, maybe pick one of those books and read the entire thing together stopping often to have conversations about what is happening. 

Very good advice. We have thought about doing a book club amongst her friends but I do think her comprehension is more on par with a 1st grade level than a 4th grade level. When she reads books on her own we have her tell us about the story afterwards but it's more of an overall summary. Right now we're reading Little House in the Big Woods together (she's reading it to me and DS) and we do stop often to discuss what is going on, what she thinks is going to happen, what different things mean, etc.

 

Thanks for your perspective! 

august06mom

The comprehension issue is one reason why I make sure DS has access to lots of books that maybe be considered "easy" for him. I really want to keep reading fun for him, and while I do push him a little bit by getting him books I think he'll like but are definitely a higher level, I never push him to finish something he doesn't want to. (Unless it's homework, obviously.) I figure if he's willing to push himself to read it, he's comprehending enough to at least enjoy the story. If he drops it after a few chapters, it's usually because he didn't understand it or it was too scary.

jehprb

We're in the exact same boat - we also found the How to Train Your Dragon series to be a good one for him as well as the Magic School Bus chapter books (they're stories with real science learning woven in).  He's big into dinosaurs so the Dinosaur Cove series was/is another favorite :-)