Big books for little people - recommendations needed for simple novels

[Santosha]

One of my fondest memories of reading as a child was my Dad reading us a chapter a night of a 'big book'. He read us Charlie and the Chhocolate Factory; Watership Down; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe...

I'd really like to start doing this with DD (3 in 3 weeks) but am looking for some slightly more simple books than the ones mentioned.

The only one I can come up with so far is Fantastic Mr Fox. Any other reccomndations?

TIA

[Mak]

Oh my - any of the Enid Blyton books go down a treat here - so The Enchanted Wood, The Wishing Chair, Adventures of Binkle and Flip.
Also - The Borrowers Collection by Mary Norton.

[Cally]

We just finished Paddington Bear which was a hit. What about some of the May Gibbs books (Blinky Bill, Muddleheaded Wombat)

An oldie is Milly Molly Mandy, DD has enjoyed the occasional chapter of that which has been read, but we've never tried the whole book.

[Manhattan]

Definitely THe Magic Faraway Tree, again by Enid Blyton. I loved these books, and have already purchased them for DD for when she is old enough to appreciate them.

[Santosha]

Awesome! Thanks ladies! Had totally forgotten about these but LOVED Enid Blyton and The Borrowers - read them myself later on but sure they're good for reading aloud.

And Cally, yes, I remember those too. I still have my old Paddington!

Looks like I'm going to have to go second-hand bookshop hunting. I notice they're all older titles so far... I wonder why? They just don't write 'em like they used to?!

[beansbeans!]

If your DD is into fairies, we read the tinkerbell books. Theres a series of about 10 or 13 books. So heaps to choose from. But we also love all those above, to add we do peter pan (we love all things with tinkerbell and fairies here), curious george has some longer books too.

[jackrose]

Enid Blyton was a huge hit from 3 here also. All of the Enchanted woods books as well as the Noddy series.
Love Fantastic Mr Fox too

Other hits:
Charlotte's Web,
The Enormous Crocodile (Roald Dahl)

We have found a lot of these on audio books also for the car and also great for quiet time and quiet play. DD loves doing puzzles and listening to The Magic faraway tree!
I found lots at our local library including being able to download audio books from the local library catalogue at home.

[Phteven]

The Tashi books.

[wysiwyg]

Other Roald Dahl ones I remember being Fantastic Mr Fox type level were

The Magic Finger
The Twits
The BFG

[Mak]

Ohh also The Magic Pudding, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.

[Miss.September]

Stuart Little
The miraculous journey of Edward Tulane
The tale of Despereaux

[Santosha]

Wow, thanks so much! Heaps of great suggestions. Looks like 3rd birthday is going to be a book bonanza!

[Rivlas]

We love the Selby books, it's about a dog that talks

DD1 has read the Magic Faraway tree to her boys. It was a picture book.

Try and find the books with larger print and lots of pictures

Yes, the op shop is a great place for some of the older titles

[Floweryfields]

The Magic Faraway Tree was one of my childhood favourites.

[Phteven]

TBH at 3 I think you're better off with things like Hairy McClary, Who Sank the Boat and so on. At that age they love the repetition and being able to 'read' a book when they have learnt all the words.

[Artechim]

Julia Donaldson (of The Gruffalo fame) has a few short chapter books. But I agree with Onyx, at just turned 3 they seem to enjoy reading a whole, shorter, fun book. I would wait until she is a bit older myself.

My DS is 4.5 and we are just starting on chapter books now (Harry Potter). Only a few nights in and he keeps falling asleep while I am reading so not sure how much he is absorbing.

[Floweryfields]

TBH at 3 I think you're better off with things like Hairy McClary, Who Sank the Boat and so on. At that age they love the repetition and being able to 'read' a book when they have learnt all the words.

Yes - didn't realise you said 3. Get a base of fabulous picture books - Mem Fox has alot of great ones, the Lynley Dodd ones definitely.

[Santosha]

We've got a gazillion picture books and probably read between 2 and 10 a day. She can recite Hairy Mclary and a few others (and so can I... some, I'd be glad to never read again!). She loves lying with me at night and I make up a story and she just listens, but TBH, my imagination is a bit cr@p, especially when tired and I'm fast running out of material. Both her receptive and expressive language are fantastic, so I feel that she's ready for some of the suggested titles. It won't mean we'll reduce the picture books... though I may have to hide a couple for my own sanity!

Sorry, reading back, that sounds defensive. Just explaining my position.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.