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    First Chapter Books

    for ages 4-8

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    I remember when we first began to read chapter books with my oldest.
    It was like opening up a whole new world!

    This list includes books that we have enjoy reading aloud for the age 4-8 age range.
    Each one could also be used as an independent read for your child if you have a young reader.
    Becuase illustrations allow children to stay more engaged while they listen to longer stories, every book on this list is illustrated - let's be honest, I enjoy them too!

    Here are a few things I've learned about reading aloud to young children:
    📚 There's no magic age to begin. We start reading board books from infancy, progress to picture books with our toddlers, and start reading chapter books aloud with our kids around age 4. (And we never stop reading picture books!) If your child is able to listen for 15 minutes, try reading a chapter book for a 15-minute period.
    📚 If your child gets restless, give him something to quietly do with his hands. We have two children who love to play with play dough or kinetic sand or draw while I read, and two who only want to sit next to me and follow along with the words. Both are great options!
    📚 You may get a couple chapters in and realize that a particular book isn't a great fit for your family. Don't feel bad about shelving the book for later or returning it to the library for good.
    The right book at the wrong time is the wrong book.

    SOPHIE MOUSE

    SOPHIE MOUSE

    In the first book of The Adventures of Sophie Mouse, springtime has arrived at Silverlake Forest! The animals are coming out of their homes, buds are blooming on the trees, and the air smells of honeysuckles and tree bark. Sophie Mouse can’t wait to go back to school after the long winter break.

    MR. PUTTER & TABBY

    MR. PUTTER & TABBY

    Mr. Putter has always wanted to write a mystery novel--and Tabby is happy to help. But who knew there would be so many delicious distractions along the way?

    THE SECRET OF THE HIDDEN SCROLLS

    THE SECRET OF THE HIDDEN SCROLLS

    In the first adventure in the series, Peter and Mary find themselves witnesses to the creation of the world just as God is speaking it into existence. Can they unlock the mystery of the scrolls before they get trapped in history forever?

    A LONG ROAD ON A SHORT DAY

    A LONG ROAD ON A SHORT DAY

    In a story of perseverance and determination told with warmth and sparkling with humor, a short winter day finds Samuel and Papa walking a long road on Samuel's first trading trip. Meeting strangers, practicing good manners, and proud to be in Papa's company, Samuel watches and learns as Papa trades up from almost nothing to the milk cow Mama is yearning for.

    VOYAGE WITH THE VIKINGS

    VOYAGE WITH THE VIKINGS

    While visiting Mr. Whittaker at Whit’s Soda Shoppe, Beth and Patrick find a mysterious letter in the Imagination Station requesting a Viking sunstone. The letter is old and says that someone named Albert will be imprisoned if the sunstone isn’t found. Mr. Whittaker sends cousins Patrick and Beth to Greenland circa 1000.

    THE COURAGE OF SARAH NOBLE

    THE COURAGE OF SARAH NOBLE

    In 1707, young Sarah Noble and her father traveled through the wilderness to build a new home for their family. “Keep up your courage, Sarah Noble,” her mother had said, but Sarah found that it was not always easy to feel brave inside. The dark woods were full of animals and Indians, too, and Sarah was only eight!

    LING & TING

    LING & TING

    a charming tale about a pair of Chinese-American twins who insist that, despite their physical appearance, they are NOT alike.

    TWO TIMES THE FUN

    TWO TIMES THE FUN

    Jimmy and Janet are twins, but that doesn't mean they are just alike. When we first meet Jimmy, he wants to dig a real hole. He likes to use a real, grown-up shovel. While he's working, his sister, Janet, pretends to be a bird! She likes to use her imagination. But the twins both like silly jokes, new boots, and talking to Mr. Lemon, the mailman.

    SYNDEY & TAYLOR

    SYNDEY & TAYLOR

    Sydney is a skunk and Taylor is a hedgehog, but no matter how odd the pairing may seem, their friendship comes naturally. They live happily in their cozy burrow . . . until the day Taylor gets his Big Idea to go see the Whole Wide World.

    MERCY WATSON

    MERCY WATSON

    To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig — she's a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast.

    THE LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY

    THE LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY

    Life with only the sea can be lonely. Just ask Pandora and Seabold. They've lived most of their lives with the sea -- Pandora in a lighthouse and Seabold on a boat -- and they're each quite used to being alone. Or they were. But one day, the sea did something extraordinary: It brought Pandora and Seabold together!

    WALLACE & GRACE

    WALLACE & GRACE

    In this delightful series, kids will be treated to simple whodunit mysteries as an utterly delightful owl duo put their heads together. In their first adventure, Wallace and Grace meet a rabbit who is sure he saw a ghost! But the clues lead them in a different direction.

    THE BOXCAR CHILDREN

    THE BOXCAR CHILDREN

    Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are brothers and sisters. They're orphans too, and the only way they can stay together is to make it on their own. When the children find an abandoned boxcar in the woods, they decide to call it home—and become the Boxcar Children!

    CHARLOTTE'S WEB

    CHARLOTTE'S WEB

    Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter.

    THIMBLEBERRY STORIES

    THIMBLEBERRY STORIES

    Nigel Chipmunk lives in a cozy little cottage on Thimbleberry Lane, and he has wonderful neighbors who are always up for a visit or an adventure.

    DOGGO & PUPPER

    DOGGO & PUPPER

    Doggo is used to things being a certain way in his family. He likes routine. Cat says he’s become boring. That is, until Pupper shows up! Pupper is playful and messy, and turns the house upside down. Soon, the humans realize that Pupper needs some training, and off he goes to puppy school.

    HEARTWOOD HOTEL

    HEARTWOOD HOTEL

    When Mona the Mouse stumbles across the wondrous world of the Heartwood Hotel in the middle of a storm, she desperately hopes they'll let her stay. As it turns out, Mona is precisely the maid they need at the grandest hotel in Fernwood Forest.

    LITTLE PILGRIM'S BIG JOURNEY

    LITTLE PILGRIM'S BIG JOURNEY

    Follow Christian on his unforgettable journey and help equip your kids to lead a life of faith as they follow the King's path to the Celestial City.

    WINNIE THE POOH

    WINNIE THE POOH

    Winnie navigates the Hundred Acre Wood with Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Piglet, Owl, and Rabbit, learning the true meaning of friendship and the value of accepting everyone exactly as they are.

    BEARS ON HEMLOCK MOUNTAIN

    BEARS ON HEMLOCK MOUNTAIN

    People have always told Jonathan that there are no bears on Hemlock Mountain, no bears at all. So he isn’t afraid to set out alone over the mountain. But as Jonathan discovers one cold winter night, people aren’t always right…There are bears on Hemlock Mountain!

    GOOD DOG

    GOOD DOG

    Springtime has arrived at the Davis Family Farm! Spring showers lead to muddy hijinks for a young pup named Bo. But when Bo loses his dog tag, he gets serious and enlists all of his barnyard pals to help him find it. From horse stalls to chicken coops to grazing fields and beyond, Bo’s adventure takes him all over the farm, introducing a cast of friends and frenemies.
    Content warning: a few uses of "gosh".

    THE BLUE HILL MEADOWS

    THE BLUE HILL MEADOWS

    Willie Meadow lives with his mother, father, and brother in Blue Hill, Virginia. It’s peaceful there—a perfect place for growing up. And for the Meadow family, each season of the year holds something special.

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