To think that some children's stories are awful to read aloud?

[VioletBam]

Enid Blyton I'm looking at you.

Also...while I love My Naughty Little Sister...the way the stories are written are terrible to read out loud.

It's a very specific style that author has....sort of child-like...Enid bloody Blyton though!

Just churned my way through 2 chapters of The Magic Faraway Tree and God! It was hard going.

Those short sentences...how she mentions everything umpteen times.

[TheAnswerIsYes]

I have read The Enchanted Wood to my (then) 4yo and we're now halfway through the Faraway Tree. I think it's just just the right level for a 5yo and I am just so pleased to not have to read those awful Mr Men books.

We've read some Roald Dahl and I think we'll try some more once we have finished the Faraway Tree trilogy. Esio Trot, Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were popular.

Look up the author Johnny Duddle. Fab books for reading to your kids.

[Somerville]

YANBU about reading Blyton aloud.

I quite enjoyed reading My Naughty Little Sister stories aloud though. especially The Naughtiest Story of All. My 9 year old still sometimes requests that one, but she has to hide under the cover for the really naughty part.

Do not read Rainbow fucking Magic aloud. No parent deserves that.

[Thymeout]

I saved Enid Blyton for when they could read them themselves. Easy readers. I chose more difficult books, that weren't as irritating, for reading aloud to them. I could always abridge or substitute words if it was a bit heavy going.

[VioletBam]

Oh The Naughtiest Story of Them All! That's such brilliance!

I also love the trifle one and Bad Harry.

[RattusRattus]

Can't stand reading any Lauren Child books aloud. Esp Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Book.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I want Robert Munsch to go to hell and his punishment is to have his books read aloud every minute of every day. Is that wrong?

[ParanoidGynodroid]

Those books which feature songs are a bugbear of mine. Am I supposed to make up a tune that will work with how it scans and sing it?


Roald Dahl and Julia Donaldson I'm looking at you (amongst others)!

[ParadiseCity]

I used to hide one about this Troll who went off to be a pirate or something. It was just all the wrong words to say aloud. Also tyrannosaurus bloody drip.

[phlebasconsidered]

Dogger is brilliance to read aloud. I have a large version any class, even big ones, will listen to.

I got lumbered with Gangsta Gran as a class book. It is very very boring to read aloud.Most of Walliams is. Relies heavily on large printed wailing sounds when he's run out of ideas. On the other hand, the wholeclass loved Kensukes Kingdom.

I second the pp who mentioned Rainbow Fairies. I have to try so hard not to nod off when kids read me them. I actually think they are dire. When I question a child about them to check understanding I am hard pressed to know if they are recalling the story they have just read or one of the other five hundred that are exactly the same. Same with bloody Beastquest. At least Wimpy Kid is funny.

[SaturdaySurprise]

I can't stand We're Going On a Bear Hunt. I skip the pages of repetition about going under and over things.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Fucking Space Mouse.

I can't wait until DD learns to read.

[Purplepicnic]

Oh god. Who mentioned Tyrannosaurus Drip.

[ParanoidGynodroid]

Oh I hate Tyrannosaurus Drip

"Down with war!" What war?
I hate all those multitudes of stories where carnivorous animals are portrayed as villains. Wolves, foxes, sharks, dinosaurs... all getting their comeuppance. Stupid. Would be OK if the writer/ readers are vegan or something. Actually, even then pretty stupid.

[SlinkyVagabond]

Thomas the bastarding Tank Engine (and all his whiny, class ridden, servile friends)
Every single overly verbose, excruciating, no they aren't fucking funny Mr Men.
That is it.

[trixymalixy]

We're going on a bear hunt. Hate it, don't understand why it's so popular!

[pointythings]

I used to hate the Rainbow Fairies, and the sodding Tiara Club too. Then as the DDs got older I learned that a lot of authors of older kids are also hard going to read out loud. JK Rowling, I am so looking at you...

Then we got onto Terry Pratchett, whose books are made for reading out loud. We finished the Discworld series shortly before DD1 turned 15.

[Tanaqui]

My naughty little sister is fab for reading aloud- you need a hint of a welsh accent for it!

Thomas the tank is the worst for me.

[Ilovewillow]

I feel for you we have read the faraway tree twice now and it's so long!!

[DrasticAction]

I am just so pleased to not have to read those awful Mr Men books

At last, I have heard someone else voice this.

DD got brought a whole set, I couldn't do it, it was painful, I let them slip away to the charity shop one day. Utterly hideous!

YY to Enid Blyton, awful awful awful!

Great ones I have found are R dhal, and the Mr Gum books, a joy to read, so funny and entertaining.

[DrasticAction]

Lemony Snicket, also A JOY to read aloud.

[FedUpWithBriiiiiick]

Oliver Jeffers is brilliant to read aloud. Helps to have a Norn Iron accent.

[Banderwassnatched]

Mr Men surprisingly bad to read out loud. We are currently reading 'How to Capture am Invisible Cat'- I am not loving the story and it is extremely hard to read out loud well.

[Peppapogstillonaloop]

Oh god the rainbow fairies. I can actually feel brain cells dying as I read them.:.
Was so excited to read blyton to dd as loved it as a child but just started faraway tree and it is SO painful..
Yy to songs..smartest giant in town..someone give me a tune!!

[IrisPrima]

Oh I too hate Mr Men. Sooooo over long and tedious.

I love Elmer but the way the words are spaced on the





page makes you read





it weird





ly.


Also Winnie the Pooh. Long rambling sentences with lots of sub clauses. Horrendous.

[Banderwassnatched]

I LOVED reading T Drip. Up with fighting! Up with war!