10 Twaddle-Free Chapter Books for New Readers

When my older kids first began reading easy chapter books, they read a lot of Twaddle. We had a hard time finding really good books for them to read that were enjoyable, well-written, and easy enough for less confident readers. After several years teaching kids to read, hunting for good books, and getting frustrated at the lack of selection, I have come up with a rather short but still useful go-to list of suggestions for newly fluent readers.


 Frog and Toad
The classic books for beginning readers, Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad books are interesting, easy to read, and have short chapters. His other books were even more loved by several of my children, especially the books which have stand-alone chapters. Stand-alone chapters are something I discovered help early readers build confidence by getting a complete story in one short chapter, rather then having to read so much to get to the end.

By the Author:
Frog and Toad Are Friends
Frog and Toad Together
Frog and Toad All Year
Days with Frog and Toad
Mouse Soup
Mouse Tales
Owl at Home
Grasshopper on the Road
Uncle Elephant


Little Bear
The Little Bear books are about the same reading level as the Lobel books. Stories about a sweet baby bear and his interactions with his family, friends, and adventures outside, most children like these books. Simple, large text and short sentences make these perfect Very First Chapter Books for new readers. A bonus: The Little Bear movies are also a treasure, keeping the spirit of the books and not adding strange elements or plots like so many movie adaptations. Just like the books, these are perfect short, sweet shows for young children.
In the Series:
Little Bear
Little Bear's Friend
Father Bear Comes Home
Little Bear's Visit
A Kiss for Little Bear

Sarah Plain and Tall
I am disappointed to say none of my beginning readers really loved this book, but I don't know why. I think it's a perfect early chapter book. It's beautiful, with lovely language and images of life on the prairie. It has short chapters and is a short book, but with more advanced content then many of the books on this list. The children in this series experience loss, forgiveness, and slowly learn to love a new mother. While the topics are complex, they are approached in a way appropriate for children.
In the Series:
Sarah Plain and Tall
Skylark
Caleb's Story
More Perfect then the Moon
Grandfather's Dance

My Father's Dragon
These books are family favorites. Compelling themes will keep kids reading: dragons, talking animals, and plenty of sticky situations solved through cunning (along with a well-stocked knapsack of childhood necessitates: band aids and lollipops included.) Short chapters and relatively easy sentences and vocabulary make this a good choice for a child who's already read easier books like the Lobel books or Sarah, Plain and Tall.
In the Series:
My Father's Dragon
Elmer and the Dragon
The Dragons of Blueland

A Lion to Guard Us

Short chapters and simple, short sentences make this a good book for kids who are ready to read longer books but still need to go slow.  Bulla's other books, such as Pocahontas and the Strangers and The Sword in the Tree are harder and perfect for a slightly more advanced reader. I collect any I find.
By the author:
The Chalk Box Kid
The Paint Brush Kid
Daniel's Duck
Eagle Feather
White Bird

Possibly harder books:
Pocahontas and the Strangers
The Sword in the Tree
Viking Adventure
Shoeshine
The Secret Valley
Riding the Pony Express
Three Dollar Mule
Star of Wild Horse Canyon
The Poppy Seeds

The Valentine Cat

Catwings
Shorter books, but with slightly harder words, the Catwings series were definite successes with my girls. These books are great for good readers who don't like to read longer chapters or books yet, and good for any child with a streak of imagination and love for animals and adventure.
In the Series:
Catwings
Catwings Returns
Alexander and the Catwings
 

The Matchlock Gun
Historic fiction for beginning readers, The Matchlock Gun has longer chapters and more complicated sentences then the Lobel books. Reading it feels more like reading a "real" book then







The Bears on Hemlock Mountain
A great story about bears, boys, adventure, and bravery. Somewhere between a long picture book and a short chapter book. You can't go wrong with a Newberry Honor Book.







 Fables
Another book by Lobel that isn't quite like the Frog and Toad early readers, but still deserves mention as a great book for early readers, Fables has one-page short stories with illustrations. The stories stand alone and this might be a good choice for a child who is overwhelmed by the idea of reading pages of a book- "just one page" might be less daunting.

Boxcar Children
Possibly the hardest book on this list, Boxcar Children is longer and with longer chapters then the other books. I still think it deserves a place on the list for it's interesting content, very short sentences and easy words. And every child loves to read about children getting along without adults. The first one is the best, the rest are mystery books which are still good but not like the first. If you move on to the others, stick to the ones written by Warner herself, not a ghost writer.

An Extra Author:
Because the Billy and Blaze books are technically not chapter books, I decided not to add them to the list, but I couldn't just leave them out! Longer chapter books about a boy and his horse going on adventures, with short blocks of text on each page and lovely pencil illustrations, these are like "pre-chapter" books. My kids loved them.
Books in this series:
Billy and Blaze
Blaze Shows the Way
Blaze Finds the Trail
Blaze and Thunderbolt
Blaze and the Lost Quarry
Blaze and the Mountain Lion
Blaze Finds Forgotten Roads
Blaze and the Gray Spotted Pony
Blaze and the Forest Fire

What's Next? Most of my beginning readers read Charlotte's Web on their own soon after they finished many books on this list. The chapters are longer, sentences more complex, and the book overall is longer- perfect for stretching those reading muscles a bit and getting ready for harder books. And every child loves this book. Really.