Need another perfect bedtime story (for dd age 8)

[Takver]

So, I'm just about to run out of our current bedtime story (Laura Ingalls Wilder's Farmer Boy), and need another one. Ideally I'd like another book that

• has absolutely no suspense (and certainly no cliffhanger chapter endings)
  
• is equally interesting for me as for dd
  I'm thinking that another 'real life' book would be ideal - anything featuring animals/farming/wildlife would be a plus for dd.
  I was trying to remember if any of the Gerald Durrell books might be suitable (I have My Family & Other Animals, but I think its too old for dd atm) - was also wondering if James Herriot's books might be the thing, but again couldn't remember if there was any overly adult content . Any great suggestions?
  Otherwise I have the first Chrestomanci book hidden away, but it has been such a blessing having a book where we can stop at any point without stress!

[Jaybird37]

Stig of the Dump is a classic. Doesn't meet your criteria, but lovely.

My Family and Other Animals is a great choice, but I would consider waiting a bit.

Ballet Shoes - Noel Streatfield - has real charm.

As a child I loved the Adventure books - Lion Adventure, Amazon Adventure, Whale Adventure. Lots of information about animals, but a couple of points. Firstly, they were written in a different era - the concept of teenage white kids bossing around the simple natives reads very differently now and really grated on me. Secondly, there are some cliffhangers.

Dick King-Smith writes a lot about animals, but Friends and Brothers was our favourite.

[Takver]

Thanks for that - dd's read most of the Noel Streatfield books, you're right, though, they might hit the spot, I think I've still got Growing Summer & a couple of others tucked away.

I vaguely remember the Adventure books, but I think you're right, probably a bit dated.
Will have a look again at D K-S - dd's read a lot of his, but probably the younger age ones, will have a look what the library's got.

Agree about My Family - but I seem to remember that some of the others were more immediately about the animals (maybe 'A Zoo in my Luggage'?) - but perhaps still too old.

Stig of the Dump a good idea - not necc for bedtime story, but I'm sure dd would like it to read.

[swanandduck]

I'm a bit Noel Streatfield fan but really hated The Growing Summer. It gives such a false, diddely eye impression of Ireland and I always thought 'shame on her' for that awful stereotyping, particulary as her books were so popular in Ireland.

Would something like Black Beauty suit your daughter? Or the Narnia books (although they are fantasy).

[swanandduck]

BIG Noel Streatfield fan.

[SleepingLion]

I just read DS Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert O'Brien and he loved it. Although the chapter endings can be a bit cliff-hanger-y, it is animals/farming/wildlife

[SleepingLion]

Sorry, DS is 7 - so similar age.

I am reading him The Indian in the Cupboard at the moment which he is loving too.

[SleepingLion]

What about Rumer Godden's books? The Diddakoi and so on. I remember loving those when I was little.

[Takver]

Rumer Godden is an excellent idea - I read DD The Story of Holly & Ivy as a bedtime book at Christmas, keep meaning to look for a copy of Miss Happiness & Miss Flower, but she'd definitely be old enough for the Diddakoi as well now. Mrs Frisby also a good idea.

Interesting about the Growing Summer swanandduck - I loved all her books as a child, & I'm not sure that it made a particular impresssion that it was set in Ireland, I just remember the eccentric great-aunt. TBH coming back to NS's books as an adult they don't stand up as well as some other books I used to love (Just William even funnier now, partly because dd is rather too like him on occasion ). Ballet Shoes & White Boots are still lovely, but some of the others feel a bit like the same characters re-hashed.

DD likes the Narnia books, hasn't read Black Beauty yet, but I think giving the sad and tense bits that is one for her to read herself and not for me to read as a bed-time story!!!

[BelligerentGhoul]

Charlotte's Web? Be prepared for tears though!

Milly Molly Mandy is lovely and old fashioned but I can't remember any animals in it.

Yes to Dick King Smith.

[BelligerentGhoul]

The Borrowers - but there is deffo suspense and tension in those!

[Takver]

Many thanks for suggestions - dd's read Charlottes Web, DKS, MMM, Borrowers etc.

Specifically looking for non-fiction really I guess - she's a very keen reader herself, but still likes to be read to at bedtime, but as she's also not a great sleeper very non stressful things are best

[DandyDan]

Break out the Chrestomanci, or get some of the Hilary McKay "Casson family" stories, or The Penderwicks (and its sequel) by Jeanne Birdsall.

[Fennel]

I loved Gerald Durrell's the Talking Parcel at that sort of age, one of my all time favourite books. I don't know what it's like really, haven't seen it for years.

it's fantasy not real life.

[Takver]

That looks wonderful, Fennel. Obviously lots of people like it - just looked and it goes for £20 + on Abebooks!

However, they do have a copy in the stack in our county library - just need to see now whether they will actually produce it rather than marking it 'missing' as soon as it is requested

I'll also look for the Hilary McKay & Penderwicks books - don't know those ones. Our library's very tiny, so its always good to have things to look for as dd's read most of the age appropriate ones on the shelf (not hard - about 10!) so mostly has to work on requests.

[Fennel]

oh yes it is popular isn't it? I've never met anyone else who's read it. Now I want to read it again to see if it's really that good.

I think it was a bit along the lines of Tree that sat down and Stream that stood still - books that you never see around and that most people didn't know about.

my 8yo's favourite book last year was The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, another one that's fiction but quite addictive, and there's a long series if she gets into them.

[iheartdusty]

some other fiction ideas:

Professor Branestawm - no suspense, lots of humour. Also other books by the same author, eg The Dribbling Teapots.

The Family at One End Street books by Eve Garbnett

Books by Eva Ibbotson - Journey to the River Sea, Dragonfly Pool etc