Chapter books for kids that aren't overwhelming

[Anonymous]

I am tutoring a soon to be 4th grader who likes to read graphic novels. She said she thinks that chapter books are "too much" because of so much text. What easier chapter books do your kids like? I got her a few Choose Your Own Adventure Books and she said she likes them because the chapters are pretty short. TIA!

[Anonymous]

I hate their sarcastic tone, but Dav Pilkey books are great for this bc they have half text and half graphic novels. So it breaks up the text and is less overwhelming for reluctant readers.

[Anonymous]

Novels in verse such as those by Elizabeth Acevedo, Rajani LaRocca, and others.

The chapters are short because of the writing form.

[Anonymous]

Dragon masters and Henry/Heidi hecklebeck

[Anonymous]

She might like the Warriors books by Erin Hunter. These books were the transition from graphic to chapter for my son when he was in 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Novels in verse such as those by Elizabeth Acevedo, Rajani LaRocca, and others.

The chapters are short because of the writing form.

+1

Alone, by Megan Freeman, is great and written in this style.

As is Good Different by Meg Kuyatt

[Anonymous]

What about the Fudge series?

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! I'll see what the library has.

[Anonymous]

Geronimo Stilton is a good series for that sge. Max Meow also.

[Anonymous]

Upside-Down Magic series
Toys Go Out series
Dory Fantasmagory series -- they're about a first-grader, but my kids who are older think they're hilarious.

If she has reading difficulties, I would get some workbooks from the Wilson reading series. They have activities breaking down nonsense words that were good for the mildly dyslexic kids I tutored.

[Anonymous]

My Father's Dragon (there are three in the series)
Magic Treehouse books

[Anonymous]

My one son loved the Encyclopedia Brown series. The stories were relatively short and he focused on the puzzle/mystery rather than the text. By being interested in the text he was able to overcome the overwhelming nature of seeing all that text.

The other son needed the graphics novels because he learns more visually. Having the cartoons to go along with the text made reading easier for him. It took him longer to move to chapter books (5th grade) and that's okay. Now in 6th grade, he reads voraciously and is less intimidated by text vs pictures.

So anything that gets the reading (including graphics novels) is good. Let your student adapt at her own pace. If she finds chapter books with text only to be overwhelming, then keep finding other graphics novel type books. She'll get there when she's ready. Just keep her reading.

[Anonymous]

Wayside School series by Louis Sachar
Secrets of Droon
Frindle
Encyclopedia Brown/Einstein Anderson

not chapter books, but I still recommend:
Kate Klise (stories written as series of letters, newspaper articles, etc.)
Where the Sidewalk Ends - quirky poetry
Guinness Book of World Records/Ripley’s Believe It or Not

[Anonymous]

Magic Treehouse chapters are short, there's lots of space between the lines, and pictures scattered throughout. Could be too juvenile for a 4th grader, or could be a confidence builder.

[Anonymous]

Wings of Fire and Geronimo Stilton