The Sword and Laser discussion

Hi everyone, I was hoping you guys could help me out and find some good chapter books for young girls (ages 4 and 6).

Preferably shorter/lighter chapter books though any recommendations are welcome.

Thank you!

Junie B. Jones might be good for the younger one, though really unless she's pretty advanced chapter books probably aren't the best for her. Longer, more complex picture books might be a better bet. I recommend the picture books of Neil Gaiman. He's a good children's book writer.

Junie B. Jones would also work for the older one, as well as The Magic Tree House series. When I was six/seven, I also liked A Series of Unfortunate Events, but read about that one first and decide if it's right for your little reader. Some parents feel it's too scary for their kids. Similarly, Coraline might be good, but might also be too scary/advanced. It really depends on the kid. Roald Dahl books might also fit the bill.

Sorry they aren't all sci fi or fantasy. Hope that helps, though.

Thank you I will defiantly check those out.

The books do not need to be sci fi and fantasy, anything will do. They just LOVE books! You could read to them all day and they will be happy as a clam. :)

The 4 year old is very advanced for her age but the 6 year old gets scared easily.

Aaah, sympathy - an advanced reader at a young age can be hard to handle, my eldest started school with a reading age of ten. I'm trying to remember what she liked a couple of years ago!

Geronimo Stilton is a good bet - proper chapter books, but lots of nice illustrations and fun typography. Holly Webb was popular at that age, as was Valerie Thomas's Winnie The Witch series - the picture books are fantastic and the short story collections are a great step up into novel-shaped books, iyswim - having that familiar character meant a lot to my daughter.

She quite often says "Muuuuum, you must read this one!" when she's finished something she's enjoyed, so iirc you should be able to click on my "Children's" bookshelf for some ideas.

Magic Tree house, definitely. My kids are almost 4 and not yet reading (well, other than easy readers, etc.) but they love to listen to me read Magic Tree House books-- about 2 siblings (brother and sister) and a time traveling tree house. Chapters are very short and dynamic and end on a cliff hanger, so they always want more, more, more. The cliffhangers can be a little tense, but not in a way that I would think would be scary for a 6 year old (my kids get scared easily, but it hasn't been a problem). I'm also on the hunt for more good chapter books to read them.

Golly me.
More Milly Molly Mandy seems popular at the moment,aaaand lemme see.. These ones are a bit older, but they were great little reads Kittens in the Kitchen I don't remember which one is first, but it is a huge ongoing series that you can read in whatever order you find them in.

My dad used to read to me at that age, and I loved Charlotte's Web, Pippi Longstocking, The Witches, and The Borrowers...all of which are age-appropriate with strong young characters :)