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DominaCaeli
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I'm looking for some chapter book recommendations for my 4.5yo daughter. She reads very fluently, which is part of the problem--I'm having trouble finding books that are at her reading level but still have appropriate content for someone so young.
I'm very picky about what she reads especially since she *is* so young, and I'm not a fan of the bad attitudes that I see going unaddressed in some of the books I've previewed. And by "appropriate content," I also mean situations that are understand-able to a 4yo; lots of the chapter books seem to have jokes that would go over her head, or discuss the kinds of situations she is unlikely to experience for some years if at all (bullying, having a boring teacher...lots of classroom context).
I'm not sure how to describe her reading level, but I think it's around 2nd-grade level, if I had to guess? She just read the original Boxcar Children and really enjoyed it, and she likes reading the St. Joseph picture books by Father Lovasik to herself. She reads lots of picture books to her siblings, but I'm looking for chapter books that can be her special books to read on her own.
Anyway, any ideas? 
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JodieLyn
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Billy and Blaze?
Magic Tree House?
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CrunchyMom
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My Father's Dragon plus sequels
Paddington Bear
Mr Popper's Penguins
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JennGM
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For series, the old Random House Step-Up Books were wonderful for my early reader.
I know these are more appealing to boys, but
Encyclopedia Brown series
Hank the Cow Dog
There is a saint series being reprinted that has different levels of reading In the Footsteps of the Saints originally by Dujarie Press.
What Lindsay just suggested was some of the others I was going to suggest.
The Doctor Doolittle series.
If you can find them, Dolch has this great series of Stories from Other Lands, Folklore series. That was one of my first, and repeated for so many years. Favorites of my siblings and cousins, too.
Just because she's reading fluently, don't step away completely from the lower level and picture books. There are levels of the I Can Read books (looking for older ones), especially the ones that deal with science and nature.
And picture books come in all sorts of variety -- I think the name "picture book" is a misnomer, because not all are lower level reading.
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stellamaris
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Little House on the Prairie series?
I second what Jennifer said, there are a LOT of picture books that would be great for her to read to herself. Any of the Five in a Row books, the Catholic Mosaic books. Some of these have advanced vocabulary, but some are fairly basic.
Another option are the I Can Read books (did someone already mention these? No time to read all the posts...)
Level 2 and 3, especially Frog and Toad (I love them!). The Beatrix Potter books were enjoyed by my early reader around 5 ish, but you may have to help as the vocabulary level is high. The Christian Liberty Nature Readers have a lot of graduated nature stories that are very interesting.
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kristinannie
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Our favorites are My Father's Dragon, Dolphin Adventure and all of the Boxcar Children books (the first one is the worst one and they have great nature studies in them).
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jawgee
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My Father's Dragon is a great series.
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Aagot
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How about the Bobsey Twins and Happy Hollisters?
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cathhsmom
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Bobbsey Twins and Happy Hollisters are great for that level - the older versions are much better than the newer ones IMO.
Also another vote for Hank the Cowdog - I read them as a girl myself and loved them. The author is a Home school dad too.
American Girls might also be a good fit for her, but you might have to discuss a few things. Amelia Bedilia might work too - my daughter is about the same age and just slightly below yours in reading level and she LOVES Amelia Bedelia.
Another thought is the Thornton Burgess books - I think they are about the reading level you are looking for and wonderful stories about animals.
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DominaCaeli
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Thank you for all the suggestions! My main difficulty has been to find books that meet the criteria I discussed above AND are not twaddle.  Looks like there are a lot of good suggestions here.
I definitely agree about the picture books--it has been fun to pull out some of the longer, more challenging ones to share with her lately, and she reads her favorites to her brother and sister. She still adores picture books and we certainly won't be transitioning away from those any time soon (ever!).
We have read most of the quality I Can Read books our library carries (as well as the Frog and Toad books) while she was gaining reading fluency. (I particularly agree with you on the nature-related ones, Jenn--those are really wonderful.) We have also read the first My Father's Dragon but not the sequels, so I will certainly grab those. And lots of other great ideas too. Thank you so much!
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JennGM
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Oh, how could I forget! Childhood of Famous American's has a long list.
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kristacecilia
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My sons both loved graduating into the Magic Tree House series as their first chapter books... I am still undecided if they are truly twaddle or not. My kids love them, learn a lot from them, and really love learning history now because of reading the series. Other favorites have been the Little House books, especially the first three, and more difficult picture books. The Happy Little Family series is lovely, about a girl just your daughter's age and her family.
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stellamaris
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Thought of one that my children really enjoyed: The Children of Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren (author of Pippi Longstocking). There are 2 or 3 "Noisy Village" books.
When we read this, we added in a few activities focusing on Sweden and Scandinavia--Swedish food, colored a flag and map, made a straw Christmas ornament...that kind of thing. Very basic, but it made for a fun read.
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Erin
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Little House chapter books.
Milly-Molly-Mandy. Absolutely beautiful, the first book that my girls read independently at age 7. (sounds like your dd could read now). We (myself and dd's) can all chant the opening sentence together. 
Milly-Molly-Mandy would totally meet your criteria.
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DominaCaeli
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Erin, every time I have heard about Milly-Molly-Mandy, I have thought it sounds perfect for Gianna. Thanks for bringing it up--I had forgotten.
Caroline, I have the Noisy Children book on hold at the library right now. Thank you!
And thanks for the rest of the recommendations as well. I really wish our library had more of these books because our book budget is really small at this point, but I think I'm going to have to make a few purchases and then put a few more on her birthday list for the fall.
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JennGM
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Celeste,
If your library has Marguerite d'Angeli and Lois Lenski, there are many books that would fit this reading level and content appropriateness. Just delightful cultural living books.
I was also thinking of some of the Bethelehem book series:
Latsch Valley Farm Series by Pellowski
Fairchild Family by Rebecca Caudill
Also, look for Eve Titus books, especially Basil of Baker Street series.
I know we have read so much more, but it's not until I run into the books that I remember what we read.
Jim Arnosky's Crinkleroot series are good ones to keep checking out.
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Pilgrim
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With the Latsch Valley Farm Series by Pellowski
I'm not sure if you'd want her to read these herself, there are a couple of spots I passed over, or whited out in the ones we had purchased, due to swear words, and one spot where the dad accidentally gets drunk from fumes of whiskey when cleaning out a barrel, and in that same one they refer a few times to alcohol. Just wanted to let you know in these may not fit the criteria for her to read herself. That said the stories are entertaining, and weave in the Faith, too.
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4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: Chapter books for an early reader?
