6 year olds: What books/fiction did they love reading with you?

[ElectricBlue]

I want some inspiration for wonderful books with read to my ds. What ones did you and your children enjoy? He likes exciting, adventurous and amusing books and has really enjoyed Roald Dahl (Charlie & Choc), Frank Rogers (The Witches Dog, etc), fairy tales, fantasy, etc. He seems ready for long, thick books that we can snuggle up with at night and read over a fair period of time. He gets excited about bedtime when we read things in instalments. I enjoy them as much as he does - the only books I read these days!

[Dahlia]

What about The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe?

[Frizbe]

have you done the Far Away Tree series, Enid Blyton

[rosebunch]

Have you tried any of the Diane Wynne Jones ones?

[ElectricBlue]

The Narnia books are a great idea - he'll love all of that Dahlia. Frizbe - can you tell me more about the Far Away Tree?

[ElectricBlue]

Oh - I've got to go away and do things. This looks like it's going to be a very informative thread and I'm going to note all these details down. Please name the books too (unless there's too many). Keep them coming! I'll check back later!

[Dahlia]

What about Charlotte's Web? Fab book, and not too girly I don't think. The only thing is if you are reading to him, you may blub at the end. Famous Five books by Enid Blyton are good too. I agree with frizbe - the faraway tree books are awesome, really brilliant.

[jangly]

The Winnie the Pooh books are good for snuggling. And Wind in the Willows.

[roisin]

Top Three for starters:

Caroline Lawrence: Thieves of Ostia
This is the first in the Roman Mysteries Series. It's children's adventure - solving clues and mysteries etc., but set in Roman times.

Jenny Nimmo: Midnight for Charlie Bone - great adventure book from an excellent author. A joy to read aloud. (It's also the first in a series - 3 published already.)

Michael Morpurgo is also fabulous to read aloud: Exquisite, beautiful writing. I'll just go and have a flick on the shelf to see what I would suggest as a first one of his.

The Book People is an excellent site to shop for books. They often have sets of Morpurgo books for very reasonable prices .. but they don't atm, I've just checked!

[roisin]

OK I would recommend
Michael Morpurgo: Kensuke's Kingdom It's the story of a boy who gets shipwrecked to a remote island and finds he is not alone ... The writing is wonderful. I would rather read Morpurgo aloud than any other author (except perhaps Tolkein).

FINALLY (Can you tell I am passionate about children's literature?)

Georgia Byng: Molly Moon's incredible book of hypnotism

Have fun!

[ElectricBlue]

This is great! I like the sound of these books. So glad I posted. Ds has just reached the stage where he doesn't mind if there are only a few illustrations.

Roisin - thanks for that list - we're currently reading the Dog Star by Jenny Nimmo and he's really getting into it, so I'm sure he'll enjoy more by her. I love the sound of the other books/authors - I'm sure I'll enjoy them as much as he does.

Rosebunch, I shall look up Diane Wynne Jones - what would you recommend to begin with?

Dahlia - if it's emotions he'll love it! Me too.

[toomanypushchairs]

Not sure if you will think this appropriate, but my dd(now 10) and my ds 7 have both loved Horrid Henry. Its not really awful, but it does really make them laugh.

[rosebunch]

swallows and Amazons? There are so many good Diana Wynne Jones books that it's hard to remember which ones fit which ages. You could try starting with 8 Days of Luke which is based around Nordic myths.

[morningmayhem]

Have to agree with frizbe The Far Away Tree series is fantastic we're reading it for thr third time.

[ElectricBlue]

I did a quick google search on Horrid Henry TMPC - perfect - will appeal enormously to his ghoulish sense of humour, he likes those kind of illustrations too and he loves a good laugh. Rosebunch - thank you, lovely choice - Oh I knew her by her books .... have a bad memory for authors. More Pooh and WIT Willows is good - we haven't done too much there. I think the library is going to be my first point of call before I get too carried away.

[happymerryberries]

Dd loved Horrid Henry, Dahl and the Narnia books. The last books that we shared on a nightly basis were the Harry Potter series, which we all enjoyed. From 7 on she has been reading to herself for pleaseure every night and we share 'bits'

Oh and Charlot Lawrence's kids go to the same school as mine , so the whole school gets 'encouraged' to read her books They are jolly good too!

[happymerryberries]

BTW, the library is a superb idea. We found it helped us to find what dd liked without bancrupting us!

[roisin]

Really? Hmb - bout CL? I'm impressed!

[toomanypushchairs]

happymerryberries, glad you backed me up on the Horrid Henry. Thought i'd killed 2 threads sujjesting that. Nothing like the kind of things I read as a child but harmless I think. Have you done Captain Underpants? My ds7 is just getting into these. they were recommended by a friend with boys so not sure if a girl would like them.