I’m trying to find chapter books to read to my 5-year old daughter. So far she hasn’t liked Charlie and the chocolate factory or little house. She got into magic treehouse books for a bit.
She prefers female characters and some pictures throughout. She definitely doesn’t like anything scary. Like at all.
by tangerine2361
31 Comments
My son loved the Henry & Mudge books but it’s about a boy, but there’s a follow up series called Annie & Snowball that’s good too (we didn’t read them all, but the ones we did read we liked!) both by Cynthia Rylant. (Edited for typo)
No pictures, but she is of an age where Redwall might appeal to her.
Dick king smith might be the person for you, wrote loads of non scary books about animals and little girls (his grand daughter) as the main character
What about Billie B Brown?
The Worst Witch series by Jill Murphy!
Geronimo Stilton books, and Thea Stilton books. Both are great series, available in multiple languages even!
Try some graphic novels instead of traditional novels! They’re basically a gateway drug to reading. I have boys so I can’t think of any off the top of my head with female characters (both mine prefer male) but hit the library and just park in front of the children’s graphic section.
Dragon masters! Long series, super age appropriate, pictures! It’s has diverse characters and a really fun plot where each kid has there own dragon 🐉
Only a couple of pictures, but Ramona? Fantastic female character and great for that age.
My absolute favourites when I was younger were the Magic Faraway Tree books by Enid Blyton – I’ve re-read them as an adult and continue to love them.
Junie B. Jones
The Mercy Watson books (not a female character, but a female pig character!)
Try Betsy-Tacy (a series, very tame and sweet), All-of-A-Kind Family (a whole series – family with all girls), the Fudge books (Judy Blume), and seconding any of the Ramona books and Mercy Watson.
Junie b jones and the Ramona Quimby books are fun
Isadora Moon! They are brilliant, about a half fairy half vampire and she just does normal kids stuff like have a sleepover and things. They’re very gentle. Also the spin offs about her cousin Mirrabelle are funny because she always gets in trouble. And there’s a new series about a mermaid as well.
Charlotte’s Web
The Mercy Watson books by Kate Dicamillo are very popular with kids this age! They are short, fun chapter books about a pig, and they have color illustrations.
The Zoey and Sassafras series by Asia Citro! My kids listen to the audiobooks on repeat all the time. We also love the Princess in Black series, and anything by Cynthia Rylant.
The Dory Fantasmagory books are a huge hit with my 5yo girl. She also likes the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol books.
I know the protagonist is male, but the Bigfoot and Little Foot series is great. You’ll get a kick out of it, too, if you are reading with her.
Winnie the Pooh
Zoey and Sassafras series
Sophie Mouse series
Princess in Black series
“Little animal rescue” series
All of these were popular with my 4 year old and have female main characters.
Clementine series by Pennypacker
Books by Beverly Cleary
The Borrowers series by Norton
Junie B. Jones series
Rainbow Fairies series (i.e. Holly the Christmas fairy, etc.)
American Girls series- they have added lots of other time periods to the original 4 of Addy, Molly, Samantha, and Kirsten
Narnia maybe
The Princess in Black books are awesome. My daughter is the same, she hates conflict, but these books have been a hit.
Children of Noisy village, Pippi Longstocking, Emil and others by Astrid Lindgren. I’d start with Emil and then work my way towards Pippi since she’s a female character but the stories are targeted at slightly older kids.
Owl Diaries, Unicorn Academy, Dragon Girls, Dragon Masters, Diary of a Pug
The Mercy Watson books are fantastic.
Also, Mrs. Pigglewiggle books. They are older, but my mom read them, then I did, and finally, my daughter did. They are on Amazon in a box set last I knew.
Pippi Longstocking!
Maybe the Beverly Cleary books?
ETA, maybe Harriet the Spy? Anne of Green Gables? Heidi? These are longer books, but it sounds like your daughter is an advanced reader, so maybe they would work for her.
Pipi Longstocking and Ronia The Robbers Daughter and The Boxcar Children series and maybe Little House on the Prairie?
Astrid Lindgren books
Seconding Clementine.
Bill Peet books are also wonderful.
Owl Diaries. Super fun, awesome pictures. Really cute.