When your child finishes Bob Books Set 5, he can’t just jump into chapter books. In fact, the five sets plus the two sight words sets do not teach all the necessary phonics rules. (That’s why we are developing further curriculum that will come after Set 5.)

Be that as it may, our Bob Books graduates can read some books, for sure.

What are some books they can read, almost entirely on their own, with only a little bit of help from you? Here are five wonderful authors that are not to be missed!

 

#1 Arnold Lobel

Arnold Lobel is best known for his Frog and Toad series of books. They are the absolute sweetest! I treasured reading these with my children, and I’m saving them for when grandchildren come along. They are by far my favorite easy readers ever.

But Arnold Lobel wrote much more than this, and the other books are worth reading as well. Here are some we have in our family library:

 

• Mouse Tales • Mouse Soup • Grasshopper on the Road • Uncle Elephant •

 

#2 Else Holmelund Minarik

I know this name is a mouthful, but maybe her Little Bear series is familiar to you? This is another set of sweet easy readers. And you can’t go wrong with Maurice Sendak as the illustrator!

• Little Bear • Little Bear’s Friend • A Kiss for Little Bear • Little Bear’s Visit • Little Bear and the Marco Polo •

 

#3 Cynthia Rylant

Yes, Cynthia Rylant’s picture books — such as The Relatives Came or When I Was Young in the Mountains — are amazing. But are you familiar with her Henry and Mudge easy readers series? These sweet tales about a boy and his dog are not to be missed! They are all fantastic, but I personally prefer the earlier books, illustrated by Suçie Stevenson, including titles like these:

 

• Henry and Mudge: The First Book • Henry and Mudge and Annie’s Good Move • Henry and Mudge in the Green Time • Henry and Mudge and the Forever Sea • Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble • Henry and Mudge and the Happy Cat •

 

#4 Russell Hoban

Russell Hoban has written a variety of children’s books — picture books as well as easy readers — and his most famous character is, of course, Frances. Frances will make parents and children giggle! And don’t let her animal appearance fool you: Frances is a child, just like all children.

• Bread and Jam for Frances • Bedtime for Frances • A Bargain for Frances • A Birthday for Frances • A Baby Sister for Frances • Best Friends for Frances •

 

#5: Peggy Parish

And last, but definitely not least … who can forget America’s clumsiest maid, Amelia Bedelia? Peggy Parish is giving children a laughing road to reading in her genius creation of this character. Here are some of our favorite titles to get you started:

• Amelia Bedelia • Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping • Amelia Bedelia and the Baby • Teach Us, Amelia Bedelia • Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia • Amelia Bedelia Helps Out • Good Work, Amelia Bedelia • Come Back, Amelia Bedelia •