Good book/series for reading to 3 & 5 year old boys?

Naf

Anyone have any suggestions for good books to read to my 3 & 5 year old sons at bedtime. Truth be told, I'm really looking forward to being able to start The Hobbit & Harry Potter with them, but they're not going to get it yet.
I'm thinking maybe Enid Blyton?
Any suggestions?

Nicki

My 4 year old likes:

Thomas the Tank Engine (the full versions not the abridged ones for babies)
Anything by Dr Seuss but Cat in the Hat is his favourite
Easier Roald Dahl stuff
The Alfie series by Shirley Hughes
For more lightweight nights, the Duck in the truck books go down well, as does anything by Jill Murphy or Julia Donaldson.

If you are into more classical stuff, Winnie the Pooh is usually popular at this kind of age too.

Sezzagirl

Try the Astrosaurs and Cows In Action Series by Steve Cole


Funny stories that suit boys perfectly - Dinosaurs in Space anyone?


And they come with trading type cards in!

chalkiesalem_2

My son loves anything by Dr Suess

go_cat

Anything by Julia Donaldson my son loves her books now he's 6 he likes Horrid Henry

stsarina

The Great Dog Bottom Swap and the Aliens In Underpants books go down incredibly well with my daughter and godsons (5, 3 and 2), and the Julia Donaldson books are always popular.

For something a little longer to read, we've started looking at Neil Gaiman and David Walliams' children books, the shorter Roald Dahl stories and anything by Jill Tomlinson.

olgadapolga

Dr Seuss, all of them, but especially "Fox in Socks" read very fast.

"Room on the Broom", "The Gruffalo" - anything by Julia Donaldson.

"The Skipping Rope Snake" (can't remember the author).

Pingu books (yes, really, they would roar with laughter at these).

Thomas the Tank engine, Mr. Men/Little Miss

"Tadpole's Promise" (has a twist in the tail that used to amuse my boys)

The Hungry Caterpillar

Elmer the Elephant

Beatrix Potter

My children hated Enid Blyton, especially Noddy.

I think we started Harry Potter/The Hobbit/Sword in the Stone when they hit the age of about six or seven. Stig of the Dump and The Borrowers were firm favourites from this age as well.

You could always take them to the local library and let them choose some books and take it from there? Mine used to love visiting the library (still do).

j.e.j.

It's not a series, but my nephews used to love Tiki Tiki Tembo when they were that age.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tikki-Tembo-Arlene-Mosel/dp/0312367481

You'll probably be able to recite Tiki Tiki Tembo's (very long) full name before long :rotfl:

emz118

I teach a year one and 2 class (5-7) and in terms of longer books they were all completely enthralled last year by "The Wishing Chair" by Enid Blyton. I called it my "Magic book" because I could start reading it to a noisy busy classroom and within 3 sentences every single child was sat in silence! (and that was with lots of boys and LOTS of behaviour issues!)


This year we did lots of work on The Twits, which they also LOVED and as a follow on my dinnerlady has been reading other Roald Dahl books... they've done The Witches, James and the Giant Peach and are now on Matilda. They eat silently while she reads a chapter, then they have their "quiet chatting" time before playtime. They love it! I bought these... http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?storeId=10001&langId=100&catalogId=10051&categoryId=210&productId=446221&atc=ee65234d638ea07e3da6fe71843cb10e
Great value!!!

Tenyearstogo

My boys both loved the Mr Gumm series.

Naf

Some brilliant suggestions, thanks.
To elaborate: I'm wanting longer books that I can do a chapter every night with or something like that, get them keeping track of the story as we go along. They already enjoy many of the shorter suggestions, but a few new ones I will look out for.
I hadn't thought of looking at the lighter Dahl's, but that's a good suggestion :-)
The Borrowers & Winnie the Pooh as well.