Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charlotte's Web hasn't been mentioned yet

Other EB White is also good. Also Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Magic Pudding, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, The Railway Children, Half Magic, The Hobbit? My parents read me all of these before I really remember being able to read but I can’t recall what exact age and they didn’t really have a “too dark” threshold since I want a sensitive child. I remember we started Sherlock Holmes when I was on first grade but had to stop because the speckled band gave my older sister nightmares.

Caveat for all these is that most of them are older so may need an adult review problematic elements that went over my (white) head as a small child.

My 5-year-old DS is very similar it sounds like. Here's what we've read:

Many Raold Dahl including Charlie and the chocolate factory, great glass elevator, BFG, Matilda, Fantastic Mr. Fox (the adults tend to be horrible in Dahl books--in Matilda the adults are downright abusive so I think of all of them that was the one that was darkest)

Harry Potter 1 & 2 (thought we may stop, he found 2 to be a bit scary. He actually worries most when the kids do things they aren't supposed to or may get in trouble for more so than the scarier concepts.)

Charlotte's Web, The Trumpet of the Swan (my favorite EB White book), Stuart Little.

Secret Garden was a surprising hit (but has some really racist content to be aware of)

Little Prince

Ranger in Time series

Flora and Ulysses and other DiCamillio books

Anonymous wrote:Charlotte's Web hasn't been mentioned yet

Other EB White is also good. Also Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Magic Pudding, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, The Railway Children, Half Magic, The Hobbit? My parents read me all of these before I really remember being able to read but I can’t recall what exact age and they didn’t really have a “too dark” threshold since I want a sensitive child. I remember we started Sherlock Holmes when I was on first grade but had to stop because the speckled band gave my older sister nightmares.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just started the Narnia books with my 5yo, but you have to be okay with Christian allegory and also I'm pretty sure some of the later books are kind of racist. I might just stick with the first couple.

The message at the end of the last book is that no matter who and how you worship, if you've been a good person, God will see you and welcome you. Obviously the writer was Christian and like his friend Tolkien, the good guys are white and the bad guys are swarthy and distinctly arabic or asian.

As an Asian with Arab friends, it doesn't bother me in the least. I love all that Oxford circle of writers.

It's been a couple of decades since I read them! But I loved these books as a kid, and I will say that, coming from a non-religious family, the allegory went right over my head. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but as an adult it's pretty blatant so I usually note it when recommending the books. I would need to reread to form an adult opinion on the racism, but that element did jump out at me even as a young child.

Anonymous wrote:The Fudge series by Judy Blume.

These (I left out the Santa parts for my kids!). Plus Mouse and the Motorcycle and Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Ooh, yes, Charlotte's web - and all the EB White books - Stuart little, trumpet of the swan.

I HATED the magic treehouse books for reading aloud. There could not be a more successful poorly written series that exists. But they are good for kids. I was happy when it was a short phase and we left them behind.

The Fudge series by Judy Blume.

Charlotte's Web hasn't been mentioned yet

World According to Humphrey series
A-Z mysteries
Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew
Guinea Pig Pet Shop, Private Eye - this is a graphic novel but it's fun

Magic Treehouse books are great for new readers because the language isn't super complex, but they are an absolute chore to read aloud.

We had some very favorite audiobooks at that age (which saves you from doing the reading; we also liked them for long car trips).

Winnie the Pooh
Pippi Longstocking
Paddington
A-Z mystery series

Anonymous wrote:I just started the Narnia books with my 5yo, but you have to be okay with Christian allegory and also I'm pretty sure some of the later books are kind of racist. I might just stick with the first couple.

The message at the end of the last book is that no matter who and how you worship, if you've been a good person, God will see you and welcome you. Obviously the writer was Christian and like his friend Tolkien, the good guys are white and the bad guys are swarthy and distinctly arabic or asian.

As an Asian with Arab friends, it doesn't bother me in the least. I love all that Oxford circle of writers.

Precocious kids always run into this problem, OP. They're either exposed to more mature themes, or have to settle for basics. The original Winnie-the-Pooh stories by A A Milne may be the exception - the adult themes are well hidden, and on the surface they are full of innocent humor and whimsy.

At that age, my kids started reading Harry Potter and The Hobbit. My parents never forbade any books, and neither did I. I read aloud The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hounds of the Morrigan, lots of fantasy and adventure. They read or were read many Roald Dahls.

If you're the one reading, please also be mindful of having a storytelling voice. You need to slow down, articulate, do all the different voices, some sound effects, be extra dramatic. It's a real skill. Don't be afraid of modifying the text or adding an explanation if you know a concept will be unfamiliar. My kids could listen to practically anything when I switched on my storytelling voice

I just started the Narnia books with my 5yo, but you have to be okay with Christian allegory and also I'm pretty sure some of the later books are kind of racist. I might just stick with the first couple.

Super rabbit boy series is a fun read.

Sorry for the double post