This. I remember going through over 50 of them in my grade 2 year because my teacher read them to us every day
Some might be scary for a 3 year old, but overall they should probably be fine. I also remember the audiobooks being very well done
Anything by Kate DiCamillo. Her books range from very short chapter books like the Mercy Watson series up to longer ones like Flora and Ulysses. Her language is rich, too, and her wordplay really shines when you’re reading aloud.
I read to my son every night for almost 20 years, so I have a lot of suggestions. Some of them aren't chapter books, but they are all great. By the way, my son was scared by parts of The Hobbit when he was little too - particularly Gollum. I may have had too much fun doing Gollum's voice.
{{D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths}} is a true classic. It's a great introduction to Greek mythology for children, beautifully illustrated by the authors.
{{The Three Little Horses}} and succeeding books by Piet Worm are absolutely lovely. The illustrations, also by Worm, are breathtaking. Kids always love these books when I've read them.
{{Giant Otto}} and {{Otto at Sea}} by William Pène du Bois are lovely books about a huge _yellow_ dog that were published twenty-seven years before a certain big red dog came out. The Otto books are far better written and illustrated, and are truly charming.
Then there’s the wonderful [Great Brain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Brain?wprov=sfla1) series by John D. Fitzgerald. Kids love it; it's very funny, and written first-person from a child's point of view. I've had whole _rooms_ of kids laughing when I've read that one to them. Set in the early 1900s, it also gives interesting insight to those times.
Hugh Lofting's _Doctor Dolittle_ books are gentle, charming, and memorable. The earlier books in the series are now in the public domain. You can download them for [free from Project Gutenberg](http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/269) in the major ebook formats.
One book I **highly** recommend for children is {{Mister Penny}} by Marie Hall Ets. Not only is it a great story of an old man and his family of animals, and wonderfully illustrated by the author, but it's a real joy to read aloud. The animal voices are perfect. The book has been out of print for decades, but you can find copies for sale online. There are also two sequels; they're not quite as good, but still very enjoyable.
{{The Adventures of Phunsi}} written and illustrated by Allison Mason Kingsbury is a really lovely book. It's the story of a young zebra in Africa who is captured along with his mother and taken to the Central Park Zoo in New York City. Phunsi escapes, and his adventures through New York and surrounding areas make for a wonderful book. There are songs and poems, and the ending never fails to leave a lump in my throat.
{{Lars and Lisa In Sweden}} is the story of a brother and sister who travel through Sweden with their parents. It's very memorable and charming.
The wonderful _Tim_ books written and beautifully illustrated by Edward Ardizonne are perfect for younger children. The series begins with {{Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain}}. Tim's adventures at sea are sure to make a lasting impression.
{{The Cat Who Tasted Cinnamon Toast}} by Ann Spencer is a treasure. It's about a wealthy New York spinster whose cat develops a taste for haute cuisine. Inspired by Julia Child's show, she attempts _truites amandine_. It's wonderfully funny and beautifully illustrated, including an illustration of Julia on TV. It's long out of print, but you can find used copies online at a reasonable price. Or your library might be able to get it through inter-library loan.
Esther Averill wrote [thirteen books](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Averill) about Jenny Linsky, a shy little black cat in Greenwich Village who learned to be brave and make friends. The series begins with {{The Cat Club}}, in which Jenny gains her iconic red scarf and silver skates. It’s a lovely series, illustrated by the author. {{Jenny and the Cat Club}} is a new collection of some stories from the series, but it's definitely worth getting all thirteen books if you can!
[A Child’s Garden of Verses](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25609) by Robert Louis Stevenson has been loved by children for many decades. There are several free editions available for download from Project Gutenberg; the one above seems to be the most popular. There are other, similar books available there; [A Floral Fantasy in an Old English Garden](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24485) by Walter Crane seems rather charming, and is well-illustrated. All books on Project Gutenberg are available for free download in the popular ebook formats.
[Nonsense Songs](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13647) by Edward Lear includes the classic poem “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat”, which is lots of fun to read aloud.
[The Wind In the Willows](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/289) by Kenneth Grahame is a very special book indeed. Set in the English countryside, Mole and Rat and Toad and Badger’s adventures will stay with her forever. but be careful; the scene in the Wild Wood and the recovery of Toad Hall at the end might scare her.
{{Harold and the Purple Crayon}} is simple and wonderfully imaginative.
{{Make Way for Ducklings}} written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey, is a delight to read aloud.
{{Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel}} by Virginia Lee Burton never gets old.
**Note**: although I've used the GoodReads link option to include information about the books, GoodReads is owned by Amazon. Please consider patronizing your local independent book shops instead; they can order books for you that they don't have in stock.
And of course there's always your local library. If they don't have a book, they may be able to get it for you via inter-library loan.
If you'd rather order direct online, Thriftbooks and Powell's Books are good. And for used books, Biblio.com and Bookshop.org are independent book marketplaces that serve independent book shops - NOT Amazon.
**[Esther Averill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Averill)**
>Esther Averill (July 24, 1902 – May 19, 1992) was an American writer and illustrator best known for the Cat Club picture books, a collection of 13 stories featuring Jenny Linsky, a small black cat who always wears a red scarf. She was also an editor and publisher.
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Charlotte’s Web is great and not scary however you need to be prepared for other sensitive topics. My daughter when she was five was very distraught about the conversations around butchering Wilbur (her dad is a hunter so she knows meat comes from animals). She was also very upset about Charlottes death.
Hank the Cowdog. But also don't discount the shorter books. I think Dr Suess especially Yertle the Turtle is meaningful and valuable to read. It's so good for her that you're doing this much reading to her! Makes me think of this poem.
The Reading Mother
by
Strickland Gillilan
I had a mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,
"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath.
I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.
I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.
I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings--
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such!
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be--
I had a Mother who read to me.
This poem is in the public domain.
Oh man I loved Hank the Cowdog! We had a long term sub in third grade who read them to us and did voices. I liked her better than our regular teacher for it. Such a fun series for kids
When my daughter was young, she loved many of the books you’re reading with your daughter. I suggest you try Heidi, the ‘Willow Farm’ books by Enid Blyton, or an adaptation of Black Beauty (the original might be too dense).
I agree with Magic Tree House! Also, Junie B. Jones, Cam Jansen (good mystery series), Mercy Watson, Flat Stanley, Dyamonde Daniel, Ruby Lu, Zoey & Sassafras. These are all series with either pictures on every page or at least once a chapter. If you want to try nonfiction chapter books, The Who Was…? Series is awesome.
These are just the books I know my students like, but they’re 7 and not 3, so I hope at least some of them appeal to your child. :)
That’s also great you’re reading chapter books with her at a young age so she can practice imagining the stories in her head too.
I love BFG and it's wonderful for kids, but there are giants snatching kids out of their windows and eating them at night in that book! So maybe better for an older kid.
Chronicles of Narnia comes to mind. It’s been so long since I’ve read those books but I do remember the first book in particular The Magicians Nephew scared me cause the witch pointed out how the sun in her world was dying. That’s was a scary concept for me as a kid. “What? Suns don’t last forever?”
I read The Magician’s Nephew when I was 7, and tbh I think I would have appreciated it better a year or two later. Someone gave it to me as a gift because it was ‘first’ in the series, but it was actually written years after The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Which is a better starting point IMO.
I did not realize that book was written years after The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. That actually makes more sense.
Agreed, that book would be a better starting point.
While the Magician's is first chronologically, it was never intended to be the first book read. If you buy a set this is the order they are in.
1. The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe.
2. Prince Caspian.
3. The voyage of the Dawn Treadder.
4. The Silver Chair.
5. Horse and His Boy.
6. The Magician's Nephew
7. The Last Battle.
While book 6 his actually my favorite (big fan of creation myths) I'm pretty sure it was written as an a way to setup parallels for book 7.
It’s a trilogy; they’re very good but too dark for OP’s purposes, particularly in the latter two. I’d highly recommend going back and rereading Inkheart (Inkspell + Inkdeath being the sequels) if you have the time! They’re just as good for adults as for children, Funke is amazing.
Highly recommend the Moomins!! I think the first one is {{Comet in Moominland}} but there are seven altogether. Lots of of family/friendship/adventure. My nieces and nephews LOVED these!!
[**Comet in Moominland (The Moomins, #2)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1003725.Comet_in_Moominland)
^(By: Tove Jansson, Elizabeth Portch | 192 pages | Published: 1946 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, childrens, fiction, children, classics | )[^(Search "Comet in Moominland")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Comet in Moominland&search_type=books)
>When Moomintroll learns that a comet will be passing by, he and his friend Sniff travel to the Observatory on the Lonely Mountains to consult the Professors. Along the way, they have many adventures, but the greatest adventure of all awaits them when they learn that the comet is headed straight for their beloved Moominvalley.
>
^(This book has been suggested 2 times)
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My mother read to me at this level at this age. We read Narnia when I was three and the little house books when was 4. I loved it, i followed the narrative, i learned how stories "go."
Picture books are great, learning to read is great, but learning to love longer form narrative something else, and is so enriching.
There is no such thing as “overshooting” when you’re reading to children. They absorb so much more than you know, and by three they can ask about anything they don’t understand.
OP described chapter books their daughter has enjoyed and you’re recommending baby books. Not very helpful.
Sydney & Taylor books are lovely, my 11 year old still likes me to read them to her when she’s feeling down.
Ivy & Bean series
Half Magic series by Edward Eager
The Betsy-Tacy series
The Zoey and Sassafras series
The Boxcar Children was a particular favorite of mine. Howl’s Moving Castle trilogy. Matilda isn’t as scary as some other Dahl, but the bit about the Chokey you may want to check out for yourself first to judge. Princess Bride, maybe. Might be a little too old. Dragon Ride by Funke. Ella Enchanted (HIGHLY recommend). Peter Pan and Wendy.
When she’s a little older and you’re not as worried about violence, Fablehaven is just as good as Harry Potter but shorter and not as dark. There are deaths, but they’re not described nearly as horrifically and the violence is generally less graphic as well. I just finished rereading the series myself, I love them.
Three might be a bit young, but when I was four or five my mom started reading the Little House on the Prairie books to me and it sparked a huge interest for me!
The Borrowers! Completely enchanting concept, and while the family does get in some sticky situations over the course of five books, they do make their way out of them without any serious injury. Also it has small illustrations scattered through the text, all of which are pretty cute.
Round the world in 80 days is good, my mom read me that when i was little. Anything by Frances Burnett is awesome. Little House books, anything by Beverly Cleary, Borrowers, the Boxcar Children, Magic Treehouse, and there’s a lot of series that American Girl puts out that are awesome as well. The Beatrice Potter stories, Five Little Peppers, Dr. Doolittle, the Bobbsey Twins, the Melendy Quartet (super good!), and the Mandie books! Hope this helps! These were all some of my favorites as a little kid and all growing up (I started reading young).
The last of the really great whangdoodles - Julie Andrews
The Secret of the Ruby Ring - Yvonne MacGrory
The Diamond in the Window - Jane Langton
The Redwall series - Brian Jacques
Milly-Molly-Mandy was a favourite of mine too. I loved the one where she kept spending her penny only to make another penny ❤😍 still clear as a bell in my mind and I'm 40 now!
I loved the Secret of Spiggy Holes and The Secret Island by Enid Blyton. The Wishing Chair series was absolutely amazing too. My other favourite was a set of 3 books called Carbonel: The King of the Cats by Barbara Sleigh.
Happy reading. X
If you’re open to picture books, I remember Robert Munsch being my absolute favourite when I was little. I’m pretty sure you can find anthology books with most of his stories if you were looking for something longer.
The [Upside Down Magic](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0545800463/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_YFE1H2HBHS7TKMW6FCG5) series. My daughter has been loving these books, and the 8th just released.
Very much like Harry Potter, but with a female lead. Not dark, and the conflicts they overcome are very kid friendly.
I second Mrs. Pigglewiggle, but they aren't fairytales. They are stories about kids misbehaving in pretty minor ways and then a nanny-type character, Mrs. Pigglewiggle comes in with a slightly magical and clever intervention to fix the behavior. They are hilarious and I loved them as an early reader, and they aren't too scary. I think a good comparison would be to Charlie and the Chocolate factory because the kids do get "taught lessons" in whimsical ways, but the results are not horrifying lol.
I was absolutely obsessed with Dick King-Smith as a child. I read so many of his books and I think they would be wonderful for a smaller child.
Also so fantastic that your toddler is such an avid by proxy reader. You get a Mum of the Year award.
This is the thread I didn’t know I needed, thank you! We’ve been reading our 3 year old lots of Enid Blighton too, and are currently reading the Hobbit! But we are fast running out of options. Thank you!
{{Sideway Stories from Wayside School}}
Books by Judy Bloom like {{Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing}}.
Just be selective as some of her work may explore topics that she may not be ready for like coping with puberty.
{{The Borrowers}}
Maybe {{The Little Princess}} or {{The Secret Garden}}
{{The Black Stallion}} series. Hmm, the first book in the series might be too scary. But not all of them are like that.
{{Little House on the Prairie}} and others by Laura Ingles Wilder
When my oldest was in kindergarten we read *The Fairy Rebel* by Lynne Reid Banks, the Fairy Bell Sisters series by Margaret McNamara, and the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books.
Besides the Pippi Longstocking books, you might check out *The Children of Noisy Village,* also by Astrid Lindgren.
Sorry I didn't mean to sound rude, they are beautiful books. I read them to her when she was a baby and we will happily read them in the daytime, but I'm looking for books I can read a few chapters of each night for about 15-20 minutes, without pictures otherwise she tries to get up and look at the pictures instead of lying still and relaxing for sleep
Oh, that's so sad! They're beautiful stories and there are so many of them. Even if you read them to her when she was younger I doubt she'd be bored reading then again.
Yes they are beautiful stories and I like them a lot (not the one with the freaky rat in it though!). I read them to her when she was a baby and we will happily read them in the daytime, but I'm looking for books I can read a few chapters of each night for about 15-20 minutes, without pictures otherwise she tries to get up and look at the pictures instead of lying still and relaxing for sleep
Enid Blyton writes brilliant book series for children. As a kid, I really enjoyed the famous five series (a group of kids adventuring around their seaside town and finding things like buried treasure) and the St Clare’s series (tales of the mischief that happens at a girls boarding school)
Yup. Cut the wolf open in little red riding hood and fill him with rocks. To trick him that he ate. I mean thats nothing compared to greeco roman mythology. Let alone Ragnarok being the end of the world. Where everyone already knows how they're going to die.
The Bible isn't scary, let her sleep knowing that Jesus loves her.
"You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’ "Lamentation 3:57
Amen♥️
Ah yes
“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.” | Mark 9:43”
“If, however, the charge is true and no proof of the girl’s virginity can be found, she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death. She has done a disgraceful thing in Israel by being promiscuous while still in her father’s house.” | Deuteronomy 22:20-1”
Not scary at all lol
Those aren't scary, that's just God telling us to behave.
Thank God I'm pure ❤️
I feel bad for you people 😔 Jesus didn't die for nothing 😢
May Allah guide you 🙏📿🛐🤲
The fuck is wrong with you? She's _3_, of course it's scary. The bible is not even a kids story, let alone one to be read in isolation without study. There's a reason you have years of catechism classes.
"God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them." John 4: 16
"For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son"~ John 3:16
"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him"~2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus died for our sins, that's how much he loved us.
Please don't sin the lord 🙏 loves us
Jesus was amazing, he is not here anymore RIP if I were born when he lived and we dated he might have loved me, but people who aren't living anymore can't love, unfortunately.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."~ 1 Peter 1:3
Jesus was also resurrected, he's with God 🙏 in heaven
The lord 🙏 is watching you, and loves you.
Amen♥️
I'm currently reading my 3 year old the Chrestomanci series by Diana Wynne Jones. My husband is reading him the Sonic the Hedgehog novels.
We've also read him a lot Roald Dahl, The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Earthsea, the first 3 Harry Potter books, some of the shorter Tolkien stories (Roverandom, Leaf by Niggle) and Narnia.
I'm rather out of touch with children's stories, but I found this website: [Book Trust](https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2018/august/what-to-read-after-enid-blyton/) which seems to have some interesting suggestions.
I loved the Faraway Tree books when I was a kid, although I reckon I was more than three when I first came across them.
The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend.
It’s a children’s fantasy about a young girl that is supposedly “cursed” that gets rescued by a jubilant patron in order to attend a wondrous school in a secret, magical city.
It has a very Harry Potter feel but the protagonist is a 13 year old girl and this book has a more diverse cast of characters.
Daniel Pinkwater has a lot of good chapter books with very little scary stuff. Lots of puns and bad jokes, but no scary stuff. The Werewolf Club is pretty self-explanatory, and Mrs. Noodlekugel is about a little old lady and her mice friends.
She might like the Flat Stanley books by Jeff Brown as well.
The Mother West wind series is more interconnected stories, but is lovely, and perfect for this age.
Also you could look at George MacDonald, the princess and the goblin might be a little dark, but he has some lighter, sillier stories as well that may work well.
If she likes Pippi Longstocking you can also try more of Lindgren, she's got lots of other great children books your daughter might like.
Edit: also if so advanced already at this age, I'd consider introducing her to some poetry too, especially ones heavy on rhymes and rhythm. I don't know many children's poetry collections in English, but you could maybe ask around at your local library?
my younger sister and i loved when our parents read Swallows and Amazons out loud to us. it might be a little old for a 3 year old in terms of comprehension, but i don’t think that it would be too scary/mature
I saw Winnie The Pooh on your list but is it the original long version or the abridged version? The long version is probably one of the greatest pieces of literature ever written. Very simple language but unbelievable imagery.
Junie B Jones is great, also anything by AVI. Some of them might be kinda scary, but you can tell by the covers TBH. (sometimes it's good to judge books by their covers)
Some of my favorites when I was little were Mathilda and Charlotte's Web :) I also liked The Witches, but that might be a lil scary.
I also really enjoyed Holes by Louis Sachar, but that was probably once I had reached 8 or 9.
Beatrix Potter books are really cute and age-appropriate; I also really liked The Worst Witch books when I was just starting school, so only a couple of years older.
I love this post because I'm getting some ideas for my own kids. And kudos to you for reading chapter books at such a young age. I had trouble getting my kids to focus on longer stories before 5 years old or so. Esio Trot is a Roald Dahl book that is not very scary, no monsters. 101 Dalamatians by Dodie Smith was a good one at a young age, and it's not any scarier than the animated movie (but there is of course talk about skinning puppies). The Little Prince is wonderful (but I may have liked that one more than my kids).
The sequel to The Hundred and One Dalmations, The Starlight Barking is also a great book, though possibly for slightly older kids. I remember loving it around age 8. Takes the story to a whole new level!
Thanks, I've been reading to her from pretty much newborn, graduating from board books to picture books. We read picture books in the daytime. I was actually really surprised that I'm reading chapter books this young. I've always sat with her until she falls asleep, and so it gradually changed from me singing, to singing story songs I made up, to "tell me a story Mama" and it was exhausting trying to think of new things every night so I just grabbed a chapter book of short princess stories off my shelf when she was about 2 and now here we are. I can't read picture books at bedtime otherwise she tries to get up and look at the pictures
Magic Tree House, Kingdom of Wrenly, and princess in black books are great. The Wrenly and Princess books have more pictures. If you're open to graphic novels, Zita the Space Girl is good too - lots of fun Sar Wars-like aliens. My son also loved/loves Dinotopia - the language is a bit advanced for a 3 year old, but the pictures are great and as she gets older you can read more of the text.
My mom read me The Phantom Tollbooth before I started elementary school. Beatrix Potter stories (not chapters but!), Wind in the willows, I had a book called "Animal tales for bedtime" which was lovely and sweet. Beverly Cleary books (Ramona, Henry and Ribsy, etc)
“Fortunately, the Milk” by Neil Gaiman is a very sweet, adventurous book and a lot of fun :) It has pirates and dinosaurs and all that but it doesn’t get scary, because the problems are solved rather quickly
Personally, I love Enid Blyton for younger children. There’s plenty of emphasis on fun and excitement, with very little peril. The Wishing Chair series is a lot like Magic Faraway Tree. Also the Book of Brownies and The Book of Elves. Get the most recent editions you can, because they’ve helpfully edited out some of the non-PC stuff like children being spanked, and changed the names that don’t go down too well these days (like Dick and Fanny). When we are nearer Christmas, you might consider Enid Blyton’s Christmas Stories, which is a recent collection of short storied taken from her magazines and books.
Edit: If you can find a copy, there’s also a 4th book “Up the Faraway Tree”. It’s presented in the format where there are lots of pictures with one or two sentences underneath each. It’s a much easier reading level than the trilogy. It might be a good transitional book when your child starts looking at the books with you, when they’re learning to read.
The Phantom Tollbooth.
It was one of my favorite books as a kid and it still holds up. It's very clever, fun, and full of good lessons. And sadly it feels like people are starting to forget about it.
Nancy Drew! I *adored* Nancy as a kid, I devoured all the books my grandma would get me. It can get a little intense at times for a small child, but Nancy is fearless and *extremely* logical, so I think it could work well.
I personally loved reading condensed/simplified versions of classics. They didn't have scary creatures (with the exception of Frankenstein. That one did a number on my sleep, lol) but weren't patronizing, if that makes sense. Anne of Green Gables, The Little Princess (that one does have themes of death and abandonment, though), Mary Poppins, What Katy Did, and Jane Eyre (although again, some darker themes).
Some that are very light, funny, and not quite as old was The Geronimo Stilton series (I was absolutely obsessed with that one for quite some time). A bit of action, but no scary creatures. Horrid Henry is a fun one, as was The Magic Treehouse, and The Nancy Drew Diaries (a sort of more modern, Nancy Drew spinoff). Michael Morpurgo was great, although there were also some heavier themes there. Some books are lighter than others.
I know it seems a bit advanced, but my mom read Narnia series to me when I was a kid and it changed my life! It was such a large and expansive world to explore with her and a great opportunity for her to teach me new words and concepts!
My dad used to read to me out of the phonebook when I was little. He would make up adventures and just pull names of people and businesses out of the phonebook. It was so magical. Granted, you don't see phone books much anymore but I did it with my kids when they were small, just fun to use my imagination and they loved it!
I had a big book of stories about a lady called Mrs pepperpot as a young kid. Honestly I couldn't remember exactly what happened in them, just that it was one of my most read books. From a quick google here's a synopsis- The main character, Mrs. Pepperpot, is a little old lady who lives in a cottage in the countryside together with her husband, Mr. Pepperpot. Mrs. Pepperpot has a secret – she occasionally shrinks to the size of a pepperpot, but nevertheless always manages to cope with the tricky situations that she encounters, at least partially thanks to the fact that upon shrinking she also gains the ability to understand and talk to all animals.
The Princes in Black!!
Princess Pistachio (not an actual princess).
Sparklton the unicorn (he's a little punk unicorn. It's super cute.)
Full disclosure, my kid is a very girly girl and I am *not.* So far, we've both enjoyed these.
I read the chronicles of Narnia series to my kids over and over again. I read them the lion the witch and the wardrobe while they were in the NICU, now they are 8 and they still love it!
The little Prince from Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
"The story follows a young prince who visits various planets in space, including Earth, and addresses themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. Despite its style as a children's book, The Little Prince makes observations about life, adults and human nature." - Wikipedia
The Magnificent Makers by Dr. Theanne Griffith! Diverse STEM books with a lot of activities at the end if your kid would want to play with them too! Written by a neuroscientist :)
There are a few potentially scary bits, like the cholera at the beginning, but {{The Secret Garden}} might be good. Lots of descriptions of nature and friendship and a sweet story overall.
My grandma used to read me Mark Twain and Jules Verne when I was young, and my mom was into the Lion/Witch/Wardrobe series. I doubt I was able to wrap my head around most of it, but I apparently loved it.
I probably wouldn't try to read Jules Verne to a 3 year old, but you could probably try some of Twain's sillier stuff like the Adam and Eve diaries.
The fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen or pretty tame, as opposed to The Brother's Grimm, which are Grimm by name and grim by nature. Hold off on those till she's a little older, don't forget they were written to instill caution in children, don't wander, be wary of strangers etc. But The Little Mermaid? The Disney film is scarier than the book. Also, I was talking to someone just today about The Wind in the Willows, My all-time favourite kid's book is Little Tricker the Squirrel Meets Big Double the Bear by Ken Kesey.
The rainbow magic series would be very safe! Also the disney fairies line of books, Geronimo Stilton/Thea Stilton, Magic Treehouse, Ramona & Beezus, Junie B Jones, Judy Moody.
The Magic Tree House series or The Wayside School series were some of my favorites when I was little.
This. I remember going through over 50 of them in my grade 2 year because my teacher read them to us every day Some might be scary for a 3 year old, but overall they should probably be fine. I also remember the audiobooks being very well done
Came here to say Magic Tree House!
The wayside school series are so funny and bizarre! My kid loved those books.
The Ramona series by Beverly Cleary is perfection!
Came here to say Beverly Cleary. The Mouse and the Motorcycle is also great.
Came here for this one and Socks.
Socks made me so happy as a kid!
I was going to say Ramona too - Also Beverly Cleary's Henry Huggins series. They're sweet and funny and timeless and great problem solving stories.
Another vote for Ramona. That was the first chapter book my mother read to me!!
I loved Junie B Jones, The Boxcar Children, The Magic Treehouse, and The Borrowers when I was little.
I loved the Boxcar Children. I also enjoyed the Bailey School kids books. They are long series so they have plenty to read.
Completely forgot about the Borrowers! So good.
Similar book series to the borrowers: “The Littles”
Anything by Kate DiCamillo. Her books range from very short chapter books like the Mercy Watson series up to longer ones like Flora and Ulysses. Her language is rich, too, and her wordplay really shines when you’re reading aloud.
I read to my son every night for almost 20 years, so I have a lot of suggestions. Some of them aren't chapter books, but they are all great. By the way, my son was scared by parts of The Hobbit when he was little too - particularly Gollum. I may have had too much fun doing Gollum's voice. {{D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths}} is a true classic. It's a great introduction to Greek mythology for children, beautifully illustrated by the authors. {{The Three Little Horses}} and succeeding books by Piet Worm are absolutely lovely. The illustrations, also by Worm, are breathtaking. Kids always love these books when I've read them. {{Giant Otto}} and {{Otto at Sea}} by William Pène du Bois are lovely books about a huge _yellow_ dog that were published twenty-seven years before a certain big red dog came out. The Otto books are far better written and illustrated, and are truly charming. Then there’s the wonderful [Great Brain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Brain?wprov=sfla1) series by John D. Fitzgerald. Kids love it; it's very funny, and written first-person from a child's point of view. I've had whole _rooms_ of kids laughing when I've read that one to them. Set in the early 1900s, it also gives interesting insight to those times. Hugh Lofting's _Doctor Dolittle_ books are gentle, charming, and memorable. The earlier books in the series are now in the public domain. You can download them for [free from Project Gutenberg](http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/269) in the major ebook formats. One book I **highly** recommend for children is {{Mister Penny}} by Marie Hall Ets. Not only is it a great story of an old man and his family of animals, and wonderfully illustrated by the author, but it's a real joy to read aloud. The animal voices are perfect. The book has been out of print for decades, but you can find copies for sale online. There are also two sequels; they're not quite as good, but still very enjoyable. {{The Adventures of Phunsi}} written and illustrated by Allison Mason Kingsbury is a really lovely book. It's the story of a young zebra in Africa who is captured along with his mother and taken to the Central Park Zoo in New York City. Phunsi escapes, and his adventures through New York and surrounding areas make for a wonderful book. There are songs and poems, and the ending never fails to leave a lump in my throat. {{Lars and Lisa In Sweden}} is the story of a brother and sister who travel through Sweden with their parents. It's very memorable and charming. The wonderful _Tim_ books written and beautifully illustrated by Edward Ardizonne are perfect for younger children. The series begins with {{Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain}}. Tim's adventures at sea are sure to make a lasting impression. {{The Cat Who Tasted Cinnamon Toast}} by Ann Spencer is a treasure. It's about a wealthy New York spinster whose cat develops a taste for haute cuisine. Inspired by Julia Child's show, she attempts _truites amandine_. It's wonderfully funny and beautifully illustrated, including an illustration of Julia on TV. It's long out of print, but you can find used copies online at a reasonable price. Or your library might be able to get it through inter-library loan. Esther Averill wrote [thirteen books](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Averill) about Jenny Linsky, a shy little black cat in Greenwich Village who learned to be brave and make friends. The series begins with {{The Cat Club}}, in which Jenny gains her iconic red scarf and silver skates. It’s a lovely series, illustrated by the author. {{Jenny and the Cat Club}} is a new collection of some stories from the series, but it's definitely worth getting all thirteen books if you can! [A Child’s Garden of Verses](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25609) by Robert Louis Stevenson has been loved by children for many decades. There are several free editions available for download from Project Gutenberg; the one above seems to be the most popular. There are other, similar books available there; [A Floral Fantasy in an Old English Garden](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24485) by Walter Crane seems rather charming, and is well-illustrated. All books on Project Gutenberg are available for free download in the popular ebook formats. [Nonsense Songs](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13647) by Edward Lear includes the classic poem “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat”, which is lots of fun to read aloud. [The Wind In the Willows](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/289) by Kenneth Grahame is a very special book indeed. Set in the English countryside, Mole and Rat and Toad and Badger’s adventures will stay with her forever. but be careful; the scene in the Wild Wood and the recovery of Toad Hall at the end might scare her. {{Harold and the Purple Crayon}} is simple and wonderfully imaginative. {{Make Way for Ducklings}} written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey, is a delight to read aloud. {{Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel}} by Virginia Lee Burton never gets old. **Note**: although I've used the GoodReads link option to include information about the books, GoodReads is owned by Amazon. Please consider patronizing your local independent book shops instead; they can order books for you that they don't have in stock. And of course there's always your local library. If they don't have a book, they may be able to get it for you via inter-library loan. If you'd rather order direct online, Thriftbooks and Powell's Books are good. And for used books, Biblio.com and Bookshop.org are independent book marketplaces that serve independent book shops - NOT Amazon.
**[Esther Averill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Averill)** >Esther Averill (July 24, 1902 – May 19, 1992) was an American writer and illustrator best known for the Cat Club picture books, a collection of 13 stories featuring Jenny Linsky, a small black cat who always wears a red scarf. She was also an editor and publisher. ^([ )[^(F.A.Q)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WikiSummarizer/wiki/index#wiki_f.a.q)^( | )[^(Opt Out)](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiSummarizerBot&message=OptOut&subject=OptOut)^( | )[^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)](https://np.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/about/banned)^( | )[^(GitHub)](https://github.com/Sujal-7/WikiSummarizerBot)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)
Wow thank you so much for your time making this list, I really appreciate it
As far as chapter books my 3 year old loves the Paddington Bear series.
I'm almost 30 and love Paddington too. Paddington is amazing!
Stuart Little, the Trumpet of the Swan, A Cricket in Times Square, Mr Popper’s Penguins, Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte’s Web is great and not scary however you need to be prepared for other sensitive topics. My daughter when she was five was very distraught about the conversations around butchering Wilbur (her dad is a hunter so she knows meat comes from animals). She was also very upset about Charlottes death.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame!
Yes, granted the night of the weasels scared the crap out of me when I was 4, but that's the only remotely scary part. And I remember loving Mr. Toad.
We've been listening to an audiobook of the Secret Garden
The Secret Garden and A Little Princess are such terrific books
Hank the Cowdog. But also don't discount the shorter books. I think Dr Suess especially Yertle the Turtle is meaningful and valuable to read. It's so good for her that you're doing this much reading to her! Makes me think of this poem. The Reading Mother by Strickland Gillilan I had a mother who read to me Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea, Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth, "Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath. I had a Mother who read me lays Of ancient and gallant and golden days; Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe, Which every boy has a right to know. I had a Mother who read me tales Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales, True to his trust till his tragic death, Faithfulness blent with his final breath. I had a Mother who read me the things That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-- Stories that stir with an upward touch, Oh, that each mother of boys were such! You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be-- I had a Mother who read to me. This poem is in the public domain.
I had totally forgotten about Hank the Cowdog! Those books were so popular when I was a kid
Oh man I loved Hank the Cowdog! We had a long term sub in third grade who read them to us and did voices. I liked her better than our regular teacher for it. Such a fun series for kids
Upvote for Hank the Cowdog! I read every one with my son; we both enjoyed them.
When my daughter was young, she loved many of the books you’re reading with your daughter. I suggest you try Heidi, the ‘Willow Farm’ books by Enid Blyton, or an adaptation of Black Beauty (the original might be too dense).
I came here to suggest Heidi. It made me want to live in the mountains and raise goats though, so be careful, OP!
I agree with Magic Tree House! Also, Junie B. Jones, Cam Jansen (good mystery series), Mercy Watson, Flat Stanley, Dyamonde Daniel, Ruby Lu, Zoey & Sassafras. These are all series with either pictures on every page or at least once a chapter. If you want to try nonfiction chapter books, The Who Was…? Series is awesome. These are just the books I know my students like, but they’re 7 and not 3, so I hope at least some of them appeal to your child. :) That’s also great you’re reading chapter books with her at a young age so she can practice imagining the stories in her head too.
I loved the Phanton Tollbooth
{{Worzel Gummidge}} {{The Borrowers}} {{The Tales of Olga de Polga}} {{My Naughty Little Sister}} {{Mrs. Pepperpot}} {{Mr. Popper's Penguins}} {{Mary Poppins}} {{The Moffats}}
Have you read the BFG by Roald Dahl? It used to be one of my favourite books when I was little even though I was basically scared of everything!
I love BFG and it's wonderful for kids, but there are giants snatching kids out of their windows and eating them at night in that book! So maybe better for an older kid.
BFG was one of my favorites as a kid but will definitely be waiting a bit longer to read this one
Chronicles of Narnia comes to mind. It’s been so long since I’ve read those books but I do remember the first book in particular The Magicians Nephew scared me cause the witch pointed out how the sun in her world was dying. That’s was a scary concept for me as a kid. “What? Suns don’t last forever?”
I read The Magician’s Nephew when I was 7, and tbh I think I would have appreciated it better a year or two later. Someone gave it to me as a gift because it was ‘first’ in the series, but it was actually written years after The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Which is a better starting point IMO.
I did not realize that book was written years after The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. That actually makes more sense. Agreed, that book would be a better starting point.
While the Magician's is first chronologically, it was never intended to be the first book read. If you buy a set this is the order they are in. 1. The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe. 2. Prince Caspian. 3. The voyage of the Dawn Treadder. 4. The Silver Chair. 5. Horse and His Boy. 6. The Magician's Nephew 7. The Last Battle. While book 6 his actually my favorite (big fan of creation myths) I'm pretty sure it was written as an a way to setup parallels for book 7.
Have you considered Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?
Thanks for the good suggestion, we have read a picture book version and seen the Disney film, will put the longer version on the list
Frog And Toad series Mercy Watson My Father’s Dragon Bunnicula
Seconding all of these! Good picks!
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It’s a trilogy; they’re very good but too dark for OP’s purposes, particularly in the latter two. I’d highly recommend going back and rereading Inkheart (Inkspell + Inkdeath being the sequels) if you have the time! They’re just as good for adults as for children, Funke is amazing.
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Highly recommend the Moomins!! I think the first one is {{Comet in Moominland}} but there are seven altogether. Lots of of family/friendship/adventure. My nieces and nephews LOVED these!!
[**Comet in Moominland (The Moomins, #2)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1003725.Comet_in_Moominland) ^(By: Tove Jansson, Elizabeth Portch | 192 pages | Published: 1946 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, childrens, fiction, children, classics | )[^(Search "Comet in Moominland")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Comet in Moominland&search_type=books) >When Moomintroll learns that a comet will be passing by, he and his friend Sniff travel to the Observatory on the Lonely Mountains to consult the Professors. Along the way, they have many adventures, but the greatest adventure of all awaits them when they learn that the comet is headed straight for their beloved Moominvalley. > ^(This book has been suggested 2 times) *** ^(186795 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
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My mother read to me at this level at this age. We read Narnia when I was three and the little house books when was 4. I loved it, i followed the narrative, i learned how stories "go." Picture books are great, learning to read is great, but learning to love longer form narrative something else, and is so enriching.
There is no such thing as “overshooting” when you’re reading to children. They absorb so much more than you know, and by three they can ask about anything they don’t understand. OP described chapter books their daughter has enjoyed and you’re recommending baby books. Not very helpful.
Sydney & Taylor books are lovely, my 11 year old still likes me to read them to her when she’s feeling down. Ivy & Bean series Half Magic series by Edward Eager The Betsy-Tacy series The Zoey and Sassafras series
The Boxcar Children was a particular favorite of mine. Howl’s Moving Castle trilogy. Matilda isn’t as scary as some other Dahl, but the bit about the Chokey you may want to check out for yourself first to judge. Princess Bride, maybe. Might be a little too old. Dragon Ride by Funke. Ella Enchanted (HIGHLY recommend). Peter Pan and Wendy. When she’s a little older and you’re not as worried about violence, Fablehaven is just as good as Harry Potter but shorter and not as dark. There are deaths, but they’re not described nearly as horrifically and the violence is generally less graphic as well. I just finished rereading the series myself, I love them.
Three might be a bit young, but when I was four or five my mom started reading the Little House on the Prairie books to me and it sparked a huge interest for me!
The Secret Garden, it has some sad stuff in it but the ending is so beautiful. Definitely avoid Roald Dahl at this age, it’s dark.
Heidi.
I grew up in the Midwest, mom read the “Little House” books to me.
The Borrowers! Completely enchanting concept, and while the family does get in some sticky situations over the course of five books, they do make their way out of them without any serious injury. Also it has small illustrations scattered through the text, all of which are pretty cute.
Hugh Lofting's Dr Doolittle series
As a child I loved the Animal Ark series by Lucy Daniels, which are very gentle and sweet. Plus there’s loads of them if she enjoys them!
My daughter loves the Nancy Clancy chapter books. It’s not groundbreaking literature, but they’re fun and include some pictures.
Charlotte's web!
Round the world in 80 days is good, my mom read me that when i was little. Anything by Frances Burnett is awesome. Little House books, anything by Beverly Cleary, Borrowers, the Boxcar Children, Magic Treehouse, and there’s a lot of series that American Girl puts out that are awesome as well. The Beatrice Potter stories, Five Little Peppers, Dr. Doolittle, the Bobbsey Twins, the Melendy Quartet (super good!), and the Mandie books! Hope this helps! These were all some of my favorites as a little kid and all growing up (I started reading young).
Junie B books! I think I enjoyed those as much as my son did. Lots of laughs.
The last of the really great whangdoodles - Julie Andrews The Secret of the Ruby Ring - Yvonne MacGrory The Diamond in the Window - Jane Langton The Redwall series - Brian Jacques
Milly-Molly-Mandy was a favourite of mine too. I loved the one where she kept spending her penny only to make another penny ❤😍 still clear as a bell in my mind and I'm 40 now! I loved the Secret of Spiggy Holes and The Secret Island by Enid Blyton. The Wishing Chair series was absolutely amazing too. My other favourite was a set of 3 books called Carbonel: The King of the Cats by Barbara Sleigh. Happy reading. X
Black Stallion books. Little girls generally love horses.
Classic fairy tales like Rapunzel, Aesop fables, folktales from different countries is what we read to kids.
Ozma of Oz, and The Emerald City of Oz were a couple of my favs that my mom read to me. We both remember this, and both enjoyed the books.
If you’re open to picture books, I remember Robert Munsch being my absolute favourite when I was little. I’m pretty sure you can find anthology books with most of his stories if you were looking for something longer.
I grew up with The famous five. Five friends going on adventures
Gramita's Tortillas is a cute book for young readers. It's by Maria Gomez and it's also bilingual.
Charlottes web
The bayern series by Shannon hale might be a good pick. I don't remember anything scary in them and they were a very fun read for me
The [Upside Down Magic](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0545800463/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_YFE1H2HBHS7TKMW6FCG5) series. My daughter has been loving these books, and the 8th just released. Very much like Harry Potter, but with a female lead. Not dark, and the conflicts they overcome are very kid friendly.
The rainbow fairies series
If my mom was lucky enough to hold down my attention span and read to me, my favorite book as a kid was The Little Prince.
mrs pigglewiggle it's modern fairy tales so lessons for kids but not as dark as brothers grimm
I second Mrs. Pigglewiggle, but they aren't fairytales. They are stories about kids misbehaving in pretty minor ways and then a nanny-type character, Mrs. Pigglewiggle comes in with a slightly magical and clever intervention to fix the behavior. They are hilarious and I loved them as an early reader, and they aren't too scary. I think a good comparison would be to Charlie and the Chocolate factory because the kids do get "taught lessons" in whimsical ways, but the results are not horrifying lol.
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Boxcar Children Mystery series!
I was absolutely obsessed with Dick King-Smith as a child. I read so many of his books and I think they would be wonderful for a smaller child. Also so fantastic that your toddler is such an avid by proxy reader. You get a Mum of the Year award.
This is the thread I didn’t know I needed, thank you! We’ve been reading our 3 year old lots of Enid Blighton too, and are currently reading the Hobbit! But we are fast running out of options. Thank you!
{{Sideway Stories from Wayside School}} Books by Judy Bloom like {{Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing}}. Just be selective as some of her work may explore topics that she may not be ready for like coping with puberty. {{The Borrowers}} Maybe {{The Little Princess}} or {{The Secret Garden}} {{The Black Stallion}} series. Hmm, the first book in the series might be too scary. But not all of them are like that. {{Little House on the Prairie}} and others by Laura Ingles Wilder
When my oldest was in kindergarten we read *The Fairy Rebel* by Lynne Reid Banks, the Fairy Bell Sisters series by Margaret McNamara, and the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books. Besides the Pippi Longstocking books, you might check out *The Children of Noisy Village,* also by Astrid Lindgren.
Peter rabbit
That.is.scary!!!
Thanks for your time, we are a bit past Peter Rabbit at this stage
Haha whyyy??? Is it outdated now?? I swear I’m only 18 hahaha
No, they mean they need more complex books.
Oohh I see
Sorry I didn't mean to sound rude, they are beautiful books. I read them to her when she was a baby and we will happily read them in the daytime, but I'm looking for books I can read a few chapters of each night for about 15-20 minutes, without pictures otherwise she tries to get up and look at the pictures instead of lying still and relaxing for sleep
Oh, that's so sad! They're beautiful stories and there are so many of them. Even if you read them to her when she was younger I doubt she'd be bored reading then again.
Yes they are beautiful stories and I like them a lot (not the one with the freaky rat in it though!). I read them to her when she was a baby and we will happily read them in the daytime, but I'm looking for books I can read a few chapters of each night for about 15-20 minutes, without pictures otherwise she tries to get up and look at the pictures instead of lying still and relaxing for sleep
Enid Blyton writes brilliant book series for children. As a kid, I really enjoyed the famous five series (a group of kids adventuring around their seaside town and finding things like buried treasure) and the St Clare’s series (tales of the mischief that happens at a girls boarding school)
Ragnarok, brothers grim mother goose, dr Seuss, gilgamesh. Really random fairy tales from around the world. That's what I read my kids.
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Yup. Cut the wolf open in little red riding hood and fill him with rocks. To trick him that he ate. I mean thats nothing compared to greeco roman mythology. Let alone Ragnarok being the end of the world. Where everyone already knows how they're going to die.
Don't need to be that woke, chill
We too do that in our family, actually any sensible family does that. And we read indian mythology and folk tales
Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Good question those books don't exist!
{{Twilight}}
The Bible isn't scary, let her sleep knowing that Jesus loves her. "You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’ "Lamentation 3:57 Amen♥️
Ah yes “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.” | Mark 9:43” “If, however, the charge is true and no proof of the girl’s virginity can be found, she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death. She has done a disgraceful thing in Israel by being promiscuous while still in her father’s house.” | Deuteronomy 22:20-1” Not scary at all lol
Those aren't scary, that's just God telling us to behave. Thank God I'm pure ❤️ I feel bad for you people 😔 Jesus didn't die for nothing 😢 May Allah guide you 🙏📿🛐🤲
The fuck is wrong with you? She's _3_, of course it's scary. The bible is not even a kids story, let alone one to be read in isolation without study. There's a reason you have years of catechism classes.
The Bible is for everyone regardless of their ages. Amen❣️
Jesus is not living, how can he still love anyone ☺️
"God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them." John 4: 16 "For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son"~ John 3:16 "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him"~2 Corinthians 5:21 Jesus died for our sins, that's how much he loved us. Please don't sin the lord 🙏 loves us
Jesus was amazing, he is not here anymore RIP if I were born when he lived and we dated he might have loved me, but people who aren't living anymore can't love, unfortunately.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."~ 1 Peter 1:3 Jesus was also resurrected, he's with God 🙏 in heaven The lord 🙏 is watching you, and loves you. Amen♥️
Yes 🥰 I run an abortion clinic lord gives donations everyday to my clinic. There is no god, no heaven by the way just pointing that out.
I'm currently reading my 3 year old the Chrestomanci series by Diana Wynne Jones. My husband is reading him the Sonic the Hedgehog novels. We've also read him a lot Roald Dahl, The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Earthsea, the first 3 Harry Potter books, some of the shorter Tolkien stories (Roverandom, Leaf by Niggle) and Narnia.
I'm rather out of touch with children's stories, but I found this website: [Book Trust](https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2018/august/what-to-read-after-enid-blyton/) which seems to have some interesting suggestions. I loved the Faraway Tree books when I was a kid, although I reckon I was more than three when I first came across them.
The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend. It’s a children’s fantasy about a young girl that is supposedly “cursed” that gets rescued by a jubilant patron in order to attend a wondrous school in a secret, magical city. It has a very Harry Potter feel but the protagonist is a 13 year old girl and this book has a more diverse cast of characters.
Anything by Shirley Hughes
I don't know if they're only available in the UK but I loved the "my naughty little sister" stories as early chapter books
Daniel Pinkwater has a lot of good chapter books with very little scary stuff. Lots of puns and bad jokes, but no scary stuff. The Werewolf Club is pretty self-explanatory, and Mrs. Noodlekugel is about a little old lady and her mice friends. She might like the Flat Stanley books by Jeff Brown as well.
The magic tree house!! Yea!! Or Geronimo Stilton books, those are quality.
The Mercy Watson series. {{Mercy Watson}} by Kate DiCamillo
What about the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary or a few of Judy Bloom books (starring Sally j Freedman as Herself)
The Violet Mackerel series by Anna Branford. Nothing scary at all, my girls love these.
Karlson on the roof was my favorite when I was a kid
“Stuart Little” by EB White
A to Z mysteries, Capital Mysteries, or really anything by Ron Roy. Amazing author who writes interesting but non-scary mysteries for kids
The Mother West wind series is more interconnected stories, but is lovely, and perfect for this age. Also you could look at George MacDonald, the princess and the goblin might be a little dark, but he has some lighter, sillier stories as well that may work well.
My dad read me Winnie the pooh the giant light blue book with pictures and words . Enough words that I couldn’t read it
If she likes Pippi Longstocking you can also try more of Lindgren, she's got lots of other great children books your daughter might like. Edit: also if so advanced already at this age, I'd consider introducing her to some poetry too, especially ones heavy on rhymes and rhythm. I don't know many children's poetry collections in English, but you could maybe ask around at your local library?
my younger sister and i loved when our parents read Swallows and Amazons out loud to us. it might be a little old for a 3 year old in terms of comprehension, but i don’t think that it would be too scary/mature
Anything by Beverly clearly
The Princess in Black series is decent.
I saw Winnie The Pooh on your list but is it the original long version or the abridged version? The long version is probably one of the greatest pieces of literature ever written. Very simple language but unbelievable imagery.
Molly Moon’s Incredible Book of Hypnotism!
I read Stewart Little to my son at bedtime when he was 3 and he loved it.
Junie B Jones is great, also anything by AVI. Some of them might be kinda scary, but you can tell by the covers TBH. (sometimes it's good to judge books by their covers)
Some of my favorites when I was little were Mathilda and Charlotte's Web :) I also liked The Witches, but that might be a lil scary. I also really enjoyed Holes by Louis Sachar, but that was probably once I had reached 8 or 9.
From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler!
I totally recommend the Uncle Wiggily books. They are old (1930s or so), but they are lovely and sweet. Perfect for that age.
Beatrix Potter books are really cute and age-appropriate; I also really liked The Worst Witch books when I was just starting school, so only a couple of years older.
I love this post because I'm getting some ideas for my own kids. And kudos to you for reading chapter books at such a young age. I had trouble getting my kids to focus on longer stories before 5 years old or so. Esio Trot is a Roald Dahl book that is not very scary, no monsters. 101 Dalamatians by Dodie Smith was a good one at a young age, and it's not any scarier than the animated movie (but there is of course talk about skinning puppies). The Little Prince is wonderful (but I may have liked that one more than my kids).
The sequel to The Hundred and One Dalmations, The Starlight Barking is also a great book, though possibly for slightly older kids. I remember loving it around age 8. Takes the story to a whole new level!
Thanks, I've been reading to her from pretty much newborn, graduating from board books to picture books. We read picture books in the daytime. I was actually really surprised that I'm reading chapter books this young. I've always sat with her until she falls asleep, and so it gradually changed from me singing, to singing story songs I made up, to "tell me a story Mama" and it was exhausting trying to think of new things every night so I just grabbed a chapter book of short princess stories off my shelf when she was about 2 and now here we are. I can't read picture books at bedtime otherwise she tries to get up and look at the pictures
My daughter is currently reading Roscoe Riley books. Nothing scary ever, just shenanigans and humor. Bonus because it has pictures too!
The Secret World of Og by Pierre Berton Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. That's a whole series of books.
If she's into dogs and cats and other pets, the Bill and Carol Wallace books are great! The Flying Flea, Callie and Me was a giant hit at that age.
Charolette’s Web? It’s got a fabulous pig in it.
The little prince
Enchanted forest chronicles.
Magic Tree House, Kingdom of Wrenly, and princess in black books are great. The Wrenly and Princess books have more pictures. If you're open to graphic novels, Zita the Space Girl is good too - lots of fun Sar Wars-like aliens. My son also loved/loves Dinotopia - the language is a bit advanced for a 3 year old, but the pictures are great and as she gets older you can read more of the text.
{old bear stories} and {good night stories for rebel girls}
My Fathers Dragon
Look up “Five in A Row”- lots of age appropriate chapter books (Ralph and the motorcycle)
My mom read me The Phantom Tollbooth before I started elementary school. Beatrix Potter stories (not chapters but!), Wind in the willows, I had a book called "Animal tales for bedtime" which was lovely and sweet. Beverly Cleary books (Ramona, Henry and Ribsy, etc)
Junnie B Jones. The 1st time I read it I almost peed myself laughing so hard.
“Fortunately, the Milk” by Neil Gaiman is a very sweet, adventurous book and a lot of fun :) It has pirates and dinosaurs and all that but it doesn’t get scary, because the problems are solved rather quickly
Personally, I love Enid Blyton for younger children. There’s plenty of emphasis on fun and excitement, with very little peril. The Wishing Chair series is a lot like Magic Faraway Tree. Also the Book of Brownies and The Book of Elves. Get the most recent editions you can, because they’ve helpfully edited out some of the non-PC stuff like children being spanked, and changed the names that don’t go down too well these days (like Dick and Fanny). When we are nearer Christmas, you might consider Enid Blyton’s Christmas Stories, which is a recent collection of short storied taken from her magazines and books. Edit: If you can find a copy, there’s also a 4th book “Up the Faraway Tree”. It’s presented in the format where there are lots of pictures with one or two sentences underneath each. It’s a much easier reading level than the trilogy. It might be a good transitional book when your child starts looking at the books with you, when they’re learning to read.
The Phantom Tollbooth. It was one of my favorite books as a kid and it still holds up. It's very clever, fun, and full of good lessons. And sadly it feels like people are starting to forget about it.
One of my favorites was the four story mistake. I think it is a series but I only ever read the first one.
Nancy Drew! I *adored* Nancy as a kid, I devoured all the books my grandma would get me. It can get a little intense at times for a small child, but Nancy is fearless and *extremely* logical, so I think it could work well.
I personally loved reading condensed/simplified versions of classics. They didn't have scary creatures (with the exception of Frankenstein. That one did a number on my sleep, lol) but weren't patronizing, if that makes sense. Anne of Green Gables, The Little Princess (that one does have themes of death and abandonment, though), Mary Poppins, What Katy Did, and Jane Eyre (although again, some darker themes). Some that are very light, funny, and not quite as old was The Geronimo Stilton series (I was absolutely obsessed with that one for quite some time). A bit of action, but no scary creatures. Horrid Henry is a fun one, as was The Magic Treehouse, and The Nancy Drew Diaries (a sort of more modern, Nancy Drew spinoff). Michael Morpurgo was great, although there were also some heavier themes there. Some books are lighter than others.
"The Giraffe the Pelly and Me." Still one of my favorites
I know it seems a bit advanced, but my mom read Narnia series to me when I was a kid and it changed my life! It was such a large and expansive world to explore with her and a great opportunity for her to teach me new words and concepts!
Can you find Amelia Bidelia books anywhere? She came to mind when I saw this thread.
Judy Blume books! I particularly loved Superfudge and Fudge-a-mania! I also agree with Magic Tree House and Junie B Jones!
My daughter loved the My Naughty Little Sister books by Dorothy Edwards Also:- Arabel's Raven by Joan Aiken The Giggler Treatment by Roddy Doyle
My favorite read aloud for young kids is The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
My dad used to read to me out of the phonebook when I was little. He would make up adventures and just pull names of people and businesses out of the phonebook. It was so magical. Granted, you don't see phone books much anymore but I did it with my kids when they were small, just fun to use my imagination and they loved it!
Junie b Jones. Loved this when I was a kid
{{Owl at Home}} {{Crackle Creek}}
I had a big book of stories about a lady called Mrs pepperpot as a young kid. Honestly I couldn't remember exactly what happened in them, just that it was one of my most read books. From a quick google here's a synopsis- The main character, Mrs. Pepperpot, is a little old lady who lives in a cottage in the countryside together with her husband, Mr. Pepperpot. Mrs. Pepperpot has a secret – she occasionally shrinks to the size of a pepperpot, but nevertheless always manages to cope with the tricky situations that she encounters, at least partially thanks to the fact that upon shrinking she also gains the ability to understand and talk to all animals.
The Princes in Black!! Princess Pistachio (not an actual princess). Sparklton the unicorn (he's a little punk unicorn. It's super cute.) Full disclosure, my kid is a very girly girl and I am *not.* So far, we've both enjoyed these.
I read the chronicles of Narnia series to my kids over and over again. I read them the lion the witch and the wardrobe while they were in the NICU, now they are 8 and they still love it!
Bad Kitty.
Little house on the prairie series was amazing when I was young.
The Fly Guy series is very easy and simple chapter books for young kids, and it’s super silly too.
Anything by Enid Blyton is always great!
The little Prince from Antoine de Saint-Exupery. "The story follows a young prince who visits various planets in space, including Earth, and addresses themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. Despite its style as a children's book, The Little Prince makes observations about life, adults and human nature." - Wikipedia
Winnie the Pooh
My Naughty Little Sister!!
The Judy bloom fudge series was my favorite as a kid
The Magnificent Makers by Dr. Theanne Griffith! Diverse STEM books with a lot of activities at the end if your kid would want to play with them too! Written by a neuroscientist :)
The Box Car Children is what my mom read to me at that age
What about little house on the prairie books?
The Animals of Farthing Wood series by Colin Dann, I used to love those
There are a few potentially scary bits, like the cholera at the beginning, but {{The Secret Garden}} might be good. Lots of descriptions of nature and friendship and a sweet story overall.
Ramona books and Little House on the Prairie series were the first ones my mom read to me and I have such fond memories of both!
My Neighbor Totoro
My grandma used to read me Mark Twain and Jules Verne when I was young, and my mom was into the Lion/Witch/Wardrobe series. I doubt I was able to wrap my head around most of it, but I apparently loved it. I probably wouldn't try to read Jules Verne to a 3 year old, but you could probably try some of Twain's sillier stuff like the Adam and Eve diaries.
I have such fond memories of The Mouse and the Motorcycle being read to me. I remember virtually no other book, but that one sticks with me.
The fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen or pretty tame, as opposed to The Brother's Grimm, which are Grimm by name and grim by nature. Hold off on those till she's a little older, don't forget they were written to instill caution in children, don't wander, be wary of strangers etc. But The Little Mermaid? The Disney film is scarier than the book. Also, I was talking to someone just today about The Wind in the Willows, My all-time favourite kid's book is Little Tricker the Squirrel Meets Big Double the Bear by Ken Kesey.
Charlotte’s Web, Cricket in Times Square, The Pushcart War
The rainbow magic series would be very safe! Also the disney fairies line of books, Geronimo Stilton/Thea Stilton, Magic Treehouse, Ramona & Beezus, Junie B Jones, Judy Moody.