Here are a few books that we have tried reading to our preschooler. Most of them have some basic black & white drawings within the chapters to keep them interested every couple pages, but most of the pages are just words. I like reading several chapters before bedtime because it allows my children to close their eyes if they want and think about the images and story.
Charlotte's Web (E. B. White) - I was concerned that this would be too deep, especially because it deals with death at the end, but my son enjoyed the story and seemed to understand the plot matter of factly.
Mouse and the Motorcycle; Ralph S. Mouse (Beverly Cleary) - Talking mouse, motorcycles and cars, a young boys dream.
Rabbit Hill (Robert Lawson, Newbury Award Winner) - More talking animals and a clear moral message at the end.
The Littles (several books); (John Peterson) - They are not mice, but tiny people with tails living in the walls. Clever stories.
Stuart Little (E. B. White) - Another talking mouse that gets adopted by a human family. He gets to drive a car and a boat.
The Adventures of Raggedy Ann & Andy. (Johnny Gruelle) - short chapters and good lessons; kept engagement with some pictures.
Little House on the Prairie (Laura Ingalls Wilder) - I thought these would be above his head, but the stories are exciting, especially when there are wild animals and native Americans.
Boxcar Children series (Gertrude Chandler Warner) - a little old school, but fast paced entertaining stories about 4 orphans having adventures.
The Magic Treehouse series (Mary Pope Osborne) - We read the first one about going to a land of dinosaurs. It was fun.
Amelia Bedelia (Peggy Parish) - very short and can be read in one evening.
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle (Betty MacDonald) - a little silly, but a good passive way to discuss proper behavior.
ABC Mysteries (Ron Roy) - entertaining, simple mysteries. Still a little young to get the concept (ex kidnapping) and solve the puzzles.
The Turret (Margery Sharp) - I expected this to be a little faster moving, since it involved characters from the Rescuers (rescue aid society mice). The language was very grandiose for this age.
Winnie-The-Pooh; The House on Pooh Corner (A.A. Milne) - a little slow at first, but may pick up once we get into the characters.
Any other suggestions?
Fun. O loves the magic tree house series. We have read about 10 of them so far. Other hits have been Charlie and the Chocolate factory, Dr Doolittle, and the Jungle book. A little while ago Target had children's classics in the dollar section and I believe they are the abridged versions. Not chapter book but great for science are the Cat in the Hat Knows a lot about that books. The rhyming lines totally pull you into the story.
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