A Child's First Chapter Book

"Once Upon a Time" is not how my first chapter book reading began. When I was three years old my Dad read The Hobbit to me–an unlikely beginning chapter book for a child, I know. But nonetheless it did it’s job. I was hooked. My Dad read to me each night. He sat next to me on the bed, his back propped up with pillows while I snuggled under the covers Dad wore his slippers and maroon bathrobe, and his voice filled my room as my mind conjured pictures of elves, wizards, and dragons. Suddenly my Dad and I had lots to talk about. We discussed the book and characters at dinner time and when we drove together in the car. As soon as we finished The Hobbit we began the Lord of the Rings trilogy. By the time I was five I had heard the entire series. Dad bought a "Middle-Earth" calendar for me for Christmas and commissioned a friend to draw a sketch of me sitting at a campfire with Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, and Legolas. These are precious memories for me. I have very sentimental feelings about Tolkien’s work–even now–because it is associated with my first bedtime stories, and it created an early bond between my Dad and I.

Now that I have four young children, I find chapter book reading one of the most rewarding times of the day. I read to the girls while they lie in their bunk beds. Madilyn, age six, rests her head on her pillow and while looking up at the ceiling, asks lots of questions about the story and the characters. She never fails to plead, "Read one more chapter...PLEEEEEEASE!" Elise, age four, likes to see the book, even though Madilyn reminds her that there aren't any pictures to see. Elise is quick to laugh at the funniest parts of the story, and she is almost as quick to fall asleep. Her eyes close long before the chapter is finished. But Madilyn enjoys telling her what happened in the story during breakfast. I confess, bedtime story reading is my favorite activity to share with my children.

Perhaps reading chapter books is a little selfish: I enjoy the stories as much, if not more, than they do. Perhaps it's tradition: a wonderful habit instilled in me after years of reading books and novels. Or perhaps it's simply love--wanting to share something with my children that was shared so specially with me. And so it is safe to say, though rarely do great chapter books end with the words "happily ever after," simply reading them has made our lives just so.

Here are my top ten beginning chapter books for children. I’ll admit that we’ve crashed and burned on a few chapter books. I think it’s totally alright to leave a chapter book unfinished and find one that really interests your child. The goal of chapter book reading is to spark our children’s imagination, make a memory, and hopefully begin their love affair with reading.

1. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien.

I can personally attest that there is no other book I’ve come across that opens a child’s imagination to a completely new world (Harry Potter comes close). Tolkien is very long-winded in sections, so parental abridgements are probably needed for the very young!

2. Charlottes Web by E. B. White

This classic book moves quickly and is filled with such endearing characters that my girls just loved it. We’ve read it at least three times. It also helps that there’s a wonderful movie - but don’t let them see it until after you’ve finished the book!

3. Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Look for a version that is abridged and has good illustrations. Our favorite version is published by Walker Books with illustrations by Inga Moore. This was Madilyn’s favorite book when she was three years old. She looked at the pictures by herself long after we finished reading.

4. Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

OK, I know this isn’t technically a chapter book. But if you can find the collection of stories with the originally drawings they work well as a chapter book. Our favorite stories (in addition to Peter Rabbit) are The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, the Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies, and the Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck.

5. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

This is an amazingly beautiful story. It is one that I guarantee you’ll love as much or more than your children.

6. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

We laughed and cried together while reading this one.

7. The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett

Again, look for an abridged version with beautiful illustrations. I recommend the Young Reader’s Edition illustrated by Robert Sauber. We’ve read this more times than any of our other chapter books.

8. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH By Robert C. O’Brien

We struggled through this one a little. We got bogged down in the chapters about the rat’s escape from NIHM. But I had surprisingly engaging conversations comparing the book and the movie.

9. Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborn.

Of all the chapter books we’ve read, this series incites the most "one more chapter please!" requests. Osborn is the master of chapter ending cliff hangers. We’re currently on book #13.

10. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

This is the chapter book we’re reading this summer. I still remember my Dad reading it to me. It was the first time I remember seeing my Dad cry.

**About our guest contributor: Holly teaches writing and literature classes part-time at Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University. She is a full-time mother of four children (her oldest just finished Kindergarten). And although most of the time she is up to her elbows in messes and chaos at home, her favorite job title is "Mom."