What next for 6 yr old Dick K-S fan?

[PatsysPyjamas]

She says she likes the way he writes, rather than animal stories in particular. We've been reading the Young Corgi books - for younger readers.

Thanks!

[Alonglongway]

Has she tried Jeremy Strong?

[PatsysPyjamas]

Not really, any suggestions? I did get an audio cd of My Brother's Famous Bottom out of the library, but it didn't go down that well. That was a couple of years ago though.

I read her a Dick King-Smith book this evening and was thinking about how he has a really interesting turn of phrase. Quite old fashioned and mildly amused. I'm not sure if this is what she likes.

[Leeds2]

Mr Majeika series, by Humphrey Carpenter?

[hatgirl]

the younger end of Michael Morpurgo?

Roald Dahl?

Mr Majeka was a good suggestion.

[fallenangle]

Michael Rosen? Have you workedbyour way through all the DKS books? There are loads.

[hatgirl]

I was annihilating books by that age and i'm trying to think back to what I liked/ liked being read to me.

I vaguely remember the Ramona series and Vlad the Drac being used by slightly younger siblings.

We used to get a lot of story tapes from the library and I particularly remember enjoying the animals of farthing wood, a simpler version of little women and anything by Roald Dahl (but not the witches - too scary!)

I absolutely adored all the Enid Blyton boarding school type books. Malory Towers, The St Clares series and also Famous Five and Secret Seven. I read them so much I started speaking like the characters and thoroughly embarrassed my mother by speaking 'posh'.

[hatgirl]

Oooh yes Michael Rosen....

which then leads me on to Philippa Pearce and Anne Fine as well.

This is why I have bad eyes, too much reading under the covers as a child!

[PatsysPyjamas]

Thanks everyone. We have a Michael Rosen book of poetry which she likes, so I'll look for more of his. Also remember an Anne Fine went down well (any suggestions of titles? - she's written a lot).

I bought Ramona a while ago, which I've v much enjoyed myself, but is a bit old for DD at the moment. I also bought Superfudge! (Judy Blume) Again, a bit old but I had a great time reminiscing. Also, Little House on the Prairie, What Katy Did, The Borrowers.... I have been getting ahead of myself as I get so excited by children's books, but I do think that part of the magic of reading is in reading the right books at the right time.

Roald Dahl - hmm, I am kind of saving these for her to discover by herself in a year or two. They are rebel books, aren't they? Better to read alone than be read to by mummy.

We haven't read everything by Dick King-Smith, but we have just read about 8 books in a row, so I am ready for a change even if she is not. They are a little bit samey

I'll add Mr Majeika to my list.

[Takver]

If she likes the Sophie books by D K-S she might enjoy the Anna Hibiscus books - they're not exactly 'like' him, but they also have that attention to language and writing IYSWIM. Good stories for a 6 y/o too.

Other thoughts that are nice for reading aloud - the Professor Branestawm books, and the Wombles chapter books if you can get hold of copies (I got the ones I didn't have from my childhood very reasonably from Abebooks).

[Arithmeticulous]

Mr Gum?

[exexpat]

DD was also a big Dick King-Smith fan, and her favourite book at age 6 was Evangeline Mudd and the Golden Haired apes of the Ikkinasti Jungle. She also liked Jeremy Strong, Horrid Henry, and Sally Gardner's 'magic children' books. Also, have you tried Chris Riddell's Ottoline stories, or Madame Pamplemousse?

Anna Hibiscus books are brilliant, as are the Mr Majeika and Ms Wiz series.

Louis Sachar's Marvin Redpost series is perfect for that age - well-written and very funny, as long as she doesn't mind the American setting. Likewise Judy Moody.

There are so many good books around for that age...

[Tgger]

Would she think Mr Men and Little Miss are too young for her? My two seem to really enjoy them (6 and 4). Then DS (6) has been a Horrid Henry addict for ages. He also enjoys Mr Majeika and just starting on the Worst Witch. We did quite a few Jeremy Strongs too. Flat Stanley went down quite well- also well written.

There are some Roald Dahls that are good for younger ones- have you done them- Enormous Crocodile, The Giraffe the Pelly and Me, Esio Trot and Fantastic Mr Fox- those are the ones my two like. We tried James and the Giant Peach with DS but it was too scary! Am going to wait for the other ones like you.

Oh yes, fairy- tales- My Mum bought Ladybird Classics version of Peter Pan and both children loved it. Actually DD has nabbed it now and is having it read so often she will know it off by heart soon- it's a chapter book version, with a few pictures, I'll find it for you, here you go www.amazon.co.uk/Ladybird-Classics-Peter-Pan/dp/1409312224/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359327711&sr=1-2&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[PatsysPyjamas]

Thank you everyone, loads of ideas on here! I am at work at the moment, so just having a quick scan. Will come back later to write my list!

[ShowOfHands]

My dd is 5yo and has read quite a lot of Dick K-S recently. Last one was George Speaks iirc. She has also enjoyed the Mr Gum books and a couple of David Walliams' books. Oh and The Queen's Nose was a hit. She's read most of the Dahl books already but is currently finishing The Magic Finger and has only The Giraffe, The Pelly and Me to go and is also about halfway through Five Children and It. She is quite keen on books about King Arthur, having loved Merlin on television. Oh and she appears to be reading the bible when she should be asleep!

Her blooming friend keeps lending her those bloody Rainbow Fairies things and while she can read them in a night so thankfully the hell is short lived, I'm not a fan of them at all. Steer clear at all costs!

She has loved a lot of classics too like Wind In The Willows, Tom Sawyer, The Secret Garden, Alice, Narnia, Jungle Book, Black Beauty etc etc. She has a shelf full of my old books and a million of her own and sometimes her choices surprise me but largely she gravitates towards the same things I adored as a small child.

[PatsysPyjamas]

Oh I'd heard David Walliams is brilliant but thought his books looked as if they were aimed at older children.

Funnily enough, DD read her first Rainbow Magic book last Friday. She was very pleased with herself as it was the first chapter book she has read in one sitting. I had tried reading one about a year ago and said she'd have to wait until she can read herself to read the next one - so it was a bit of a challenge for her!


I am quite surprised by some of the classics you've mentioned, ShowofHands, as they seem v mature. Has she read them herself? She must be very bright. I think my DD would find most of those books either too complex or too sad. She is a bit of a wimp though!

I am adding to my list: Mr Gum, Mr Majieka, Peter pan, Flat Stanley, The giraffe the the pelly and me, Evangelije Mudd, Anna Hibiscus, Madame Pamplemousse and Ottoline. And probably others but I'm on DH's iPad and finding typing really annoying! Sorry for the typos.

[Leeds2]

Anna Hibiscus books are lovely!

[PatsysPyjamas]

Just read 2 chapters of an Anna Hibiscus tonight. Really sweet!

[wearymum200]

Mrs Pepperpot; astrid Lindgren Lotta books: Brigid Lucy; Madame Pamplemousse; Jenny Nimmo's Tom and the Pterosaur; take it you've done My naughty little sister?