Mumsnet Talk

Has your DD read anything by Sally Gardner? My DD (nearly 8) just finished Operation Bunny and loved it. There is a new one out this month I think too. She also really enjoyed the Secret Hen House Theatre, not sure of author.

My dd enjoyed the Land of Stories, with fairy tale characters whose lives have moved on a bit - e.g. Red riding hood with a thing for Jack from the beanstalk etc. I would say it is 8+, a bit slow to start but gets going once they go into the book.

She has nearly finished Philip Pullman's Grimm Tales - with all the original endings, written for an older audience. She also likes Helen Moss and David Walliams, Roald Dahl etc. Hasn't really got into Enid Blyton - despite having all my originals - trying to brainwash dd2 instead!

No, he is vile. But that is not the majority view.

I'm amazed..I thought everyone except weird-little-me though DW hilarious!
Thanks for all the suggestions

I can't bear DW, but DD thinks his books are hilarious...

My DD (8) likes the Lauren St John books - The White Giraffe etc, as well as teh Laura Marlin books
Also like Beswitched/Wizz Pop Chocolate Shop - bit magicky
Recently read A Traveller in Time, A Stitch in Time and The Little White Horse - also all a bit magic/time travelly etc
Read the first Percy Jackson book which she enjoyed, but don't think she wants to do the rest of the series.

Marcus Sedgwick?

David Walliams, try mr stink... The worst witch by Jill Murphy,

I don't like him either

bbh she has a fantastic audiobook collection of all the 'classics'-ballet shoes, little women, secret garden etc which is wonderfully done so I don't think she'd neccessarily want to books too.
I think I have to get over my instinctive and baseless creeped-outedness of David Walliams tv stuff --just WHY is it funny??--and see what the children's books are really like!

these are the new editions: how beautiful

Yes, David Walliams is v popular with my DD too!

She has very similar taste to my DD. Has she tried some of the children's classics: Charlotte's Web, What Katy Did, Ballet Shoes, the blue door theatre (I thin it is actually called the swish of the curtain)...? She recently loved the hobbit and anything by David Walliams (she read them all one after the other!). There is a gorgeous new reprint of some real old favourites out now so for her birthday next month I am planning to get heidi and possibly swallows and amazons.
She has read the shakespeare stories you can get from the book people over and over.

Sorry - typing in haste. Glitterwings, not Giltterwings!!

My DD (8.5) loves all the books your DD loves (Malory Towers is her current top reading), and hates anything pink and/or princess and fairy-related. She found Enid B's Island of Adventure etc too long-winded, but did love the Helen Moss adventure stories. Has your DD read the Mr Gum stories? My DD chortled over them. I think the Faraway Tree would be too young now. How about the Giltterwings Academy series (Titania Woods)? Completely ripped off Malory Towers, but a good read - I've read them, even if DD is put off by the fairy element!

Ballet Shoes - Noel Streatfield (classic)
Soldier Dog - Sam Angus

thanks, we've 'done' Narnia with us and her reading bits as its a family favourite, and she's enjoyed Horrible Histories here and there but not wanted the whole series.

I bought the Helen Moss ones for Christmas and she doesn't like them much (gah!)

Morpurgo - she loved the butterfly lion, so I will dig some of the easier ones out of DSs bedroom for her...

DD1 (8) likes the adventure island series by Helen Moss, but then she loves the famous five too, so may be not for your DD.
Wizard of oz, Alice in wonderland, E. Nesbit (a bit difficult she reads it with her father because we only have unabridge versions) i.e. magic castle and the phoenix of the carpet (or something)
Horrible science
Will have a go at Horrible History soon and Morpugo too.
She had treasure Island and Peter pan for Xmas too still waiting.

What about Narnia for magical?

Apologies, I know this has been done a thousand times before. If I give you likes and dislikes, can you give me some suggestions...

Likes Enid Blyton School stories, dislikes the Adventure/famous five ones.
Likes Darcy Bussell magical ballet shoes, dislikes Harry Potter
Loves Roald Dahl, hates Rainbow Fairies
Likes Jeremy Strong and Horrid Henry, dislikes Susan Cooper

She likes magical stuff without it becoming too unicorny and stories with a strong narrative to keep the pages turning. I think she's an average/good reader for her age but not especially advanced.

When she gets 'into' something she likes I don't see her until she's read it, and when she likes a series, she'll disappear for weeks. But currently casting round for the Next Really Good Book.

Are the Faraway Tree ones too young for her now?

Thanks for your suggestions.