Books for a 4 year old boy

I think you should draw a distinction between books and stories. Boys usually love books about forms of transport, space and the universe, animals, the more factual the better. Get him to point to things when you say their name, make the noise they make or repeat their name. It may be that he will be much happier if there isn't a story. You could try telling him stories and using a book sometimes to show a picture. Also try Ninja Turtle annuals (buy from charity shops). My GS liked the Kipper books.

Aliens in Underpants Save the World and Aliens Love Underpants. Both were loved by the pre-schoolers I looked after as a Childminder.

I remember Richard Scarey when my boys were little. The last mouthful l of food was always" last one for Roger Rhino" it became a family saying for years.

My two loved Richard Scarry - my daughter had one in French. We still have it.

OP one grandson's favourite, which he pored over and carried around with him, was an illustrated nonfiction about transport borrowed from his older brothers. I think it was called The GO Book or something similar. He's 11 now and reads widely, all types of books. His 5 year old cousin enjoys stories but often chooses nonfiction. Favourites are picture dictionaries and Moonlight Publishing/First Discovery, a lovely series with transparent overlays.

I collected the old Ladybird Thomas the Tank books for my eldest grandson. He loved them, mainly, I think, because of the repetition. I was sick of them by the time he got older but was ready to start again when his brother arrived. Alas, all he was interested in were 'Superhero' books, which I [bad granny that I am] refused to read.

Has anyone mentioned the Richard Scarry books?
I think there's one about vehicles. not many words but very cute illustrations.
www.amazon.com/Richard-Scarrys-Cars-Trucks-Things/dp/0307157857

GS aged 4 ( just) has an ongoing fascination with tractors, in fact any farm machinery, so books with these in grab his attention. I have also downloaded books on to my Kindle, as they are very tablet literate, for both GCs. Their aunt (our daughter) buys them books at every opportunity the last one, for a recent birthday being The Dinosaur that Pooped a Planet, which GS loves!!!

Kitty have a look at the books published by Barrington Stoke, they specialise in books that appeal to reluctant readers (and those with dyslexia). Waterstones sell them and easy to get online.

I think homemade books about him with the Turtles may be a last resort. Easy to ma's in PowerPoint or Publisher.

The Jolly Postman is a beautiful book with lots of special bits. There's letters you need to open, cards etc. It's amazing. We have the Jolly Christmas postman too.
It's about £10 but really worth the money.

I love the Hairy MacLary books too!! Reading to a child is so much easier when there is a rhythm to it. I used to dread being asked to read Thomas books to our children and I also hated Beatrix Potter (there I've said it )

I'll look at Book People Lucky, thank you. We've got most of Julia Donaldson's output but he just isn't interested. I've just talked to his aunt who is a teacher and passionate about children and reading and she said to ignore it and play story CDs. I'd also forgotten that he asks DD's partner to make stories up so presumably all is not lost!!

Hairy Maclary is wonderful, repetitive and very funny.

I have just been sitting with my 4 year old GS reading our way through a set of Julia Donaldson books that I got very cheaply from the Book People - it has The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, Charlie Cooke's Favourite Book and lots more. He really loves them, partly because he remembers the text and it I stop for a second he fills in the gaps. Of all my GC he is the least likely to win Brain of Britain, but he is very engaged with these books - and he's very cuddly!

Ooh, I've got Revolting Rhymes somewhere!

The Dr Xargle series, by Jean Willis. If the family have a cat, he'll appreciate Dr Xargle's book of Earth Tiggers!
Also try Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes, boys usually love them!

Thank you all. They already have lots of books around but it is just trying to find something that clicks with him particularly.

I'm off to the book shop early next week!

Ooops, wrong name ( I put McDonald) but you had the books anyway.Does he also like Thomas The Tank Engine, my DGS loves books about trains.
Does anyone remember The Patchwork Cat ? I wonder if you can still buy this?

Hairy McClary.....from Donaldsons dairy, great series with plenty of disasters! Aliens love underpants is another good one.

Dr Suess books..

Where the Wild Things are,(That night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another)
Anthony Brown's Gorilla, Dinosaurs in Underpants. Anything a bit anarchic. He may just prefer non fiction about rockets and trucks.
Anything with words will do, shopping lists, books about himself with photos made on the computer.
There must be some Ninja Turtle books, or make some on Publisher with him. Bet he likes the computer.

My GS loved the stories of Winnie the Witch and her cat Wilbur. They are very funny stories and the illustrations are wonderful. The Katie Morag series is good too. Simon Bartram's Bob and Barry's Lunar Adventures (especially "A Right Royal Disaster"!). If he likes rhyming stories, The Snail and the Whale (we loved that one) and, if you can get hold of it, The Baby in the Bubble is very funny. And, of course all the ones already mentioned upthread.

Our boys love Night Monkey, Day Monkey, that could be Julia Donaldson. Also The Jungle Run, there is a map at the front and the boys race each other with their fingers before I start reading. They also choose which character they are going to be and ..... You get my drift Kitty

Yes! Love 'Oi Frog!'

Can I recommend 'Oi Frog' it has a strong rhyming text and is very funny too