Mumsnet Talk

We have done some Enid blyton, most Roald Dahl and have exhausted my naughty little sister, mrs pepper pot and read all the horrid Henry books. I am looking for really good stories, maybe fairy and magic related but not too twee. I want to enjoy the stories too. Preferably a novel rather than short stories.

How do you feel about Mary Poppins? I used to adore those books when I was that age. There's a whole series (the musical is loosely based on some stories). Or what about Peter Pan or The Water Babies? These are magical too.
Or have you tried The Worst Witch series?

Is this for her to read alone or together? Pippi Longstocking was Dd and my fave

The Dragons of Wayward Crescent / Olivier Moon / Worst Witch are all ones magic related that my daughter (also 5) has enjoyed. As audio books she loved E.S. Nesbit 5 Children and It, and the flying carpet one, and Harry Potter (book 1). Frances Hodgson's A Little Princess is another recent favourite.

Or how about Julia Dohnaldson's Mirror-belle series. Then a bit sickly (from an adult perspective) but DD likes them - Fairy Bears and Secret Mermaid. We are now rereading Tashi, but that is a collection of short stories. Or the Magic Tree House collection.

I'd also vote for Pippi Longstocking, but haven't read it with DD yet.

Sorry, not fairy/magic, but she might like

Anna Hibiscus books by Atinuke
Little House in the Big Woods

also, have you read her Paddington?

Thanks. They are for me to read to her so can be anything. Not too many big words tho hehehe
I remember reading the worst witch as a child so I think I might try these first.

Not fairies, but the Sophie books by Dick King-Smith are great for that age, as are the Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf books. Also a good age for some classic Michael Bond books like Paddington and Olga da Polga.

I'd also second the recommendations for Anna Hibiscus, and for the Mirror-Belle books.

And have you come across Sally Gardner's magical children series? Not fairy-style magic, but fun and very well written. There are three in one volume here, and I think another three in the series.

I'm reading little house books to ds (age 4) at present. I read them to dd's at about the same time.

Milly Molly Mandy are great too.
To dd1 age 5 I read Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Little White Horse and Wish for a Pony before she got into Harry Potter and wanted to read them to herself. I was very sad when dd2 preferred to read to herself earlier.

I Love milly molly Mandy. I read them to her but she wasn't that bothered. She likes her stories a little more mischiveous

Ds1 (also 5) has just got Frogspell from the library, it's good fun and definitely magical... Also Gobbolino the Witch's cat, Phoenix and the Carpet/ five children and it, DS1 also loves the Dream Master books.

I've just started reading Tumtum and Nutmeg to my nearly 5yo girl. She adores them.

Moomins?
Terry Jones (Python) has written some wonderful childrens stories too, they are shortish, but very good indeed.
DP also reads DD the Teddy Robinson stories he loved as a child.

The owl who was afraid of the dark
The penguin who wanted to learn
The hen who wouldn't give up

All from Jill Tomlinson (I think!)

Also (I hate to write it) my daughter loves the Rainbow Fairies.

But she also loves this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Orchard-Book-Greek-Myths/dp/1852133732/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1328222527&sr=8-3

Thank you. Lots to look out for.

I bought a book called No Flying in the House recently - it's a bit old for DD, but looks good for a five-year-old.

Astrid Lindgren (of Pippi Longstocking fame) also wrote several stories about the Marten family "Mischievous Martens" and "Lotta's Christmas" etc which are wonderful and mostly concern the antics of a slightly naughty 5 year old girl...