Thread of assistance for people who find it tricky remaining breezy about the books their dc choose in the library.

JW is rather good, mind. Although when DD1 started writing a loooooong story of her own in a sub-JW genre, all about separating parents and Mum's New Boyfriend, I was slightly taken aback.

They do grow out of fucking Rainbow Fairies, they really do.
I refused to read them to DD, but she read them to herself for what seemed like forever, but was actually only about 18 months.

Currently it's All Jacqueline Wilson All The Time, but this too shall pass. I've just dug out my old copies of the Gemma books and left them surreptitiously on her bedside, I don't think they're actually objectively better books, but it would give me a nostalgic glow to see her enjoying them.

Thank you, PP, I was dreading googling. Mind you will Mr Inferior get all optimistic that I'm reading erotica, and attempt to remove my vest?

www.amazon.co.uk/Xanth-15-Color-Panties-ebook/dp/B000FC14O4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328381743&sr=8-1

I might see if they're available on my kobo app, i like a bit of daft punnery

I used to absolutely love those Point Horror books. I read a lot of Stephen King and James Herbert novels as well as a teenager and also went on to an English degree (am not a librarian though, sadly )

I struggle just to get DS to pick a book at all rather than an audio book or DVD. He has brought the same book about spiders home from nursery five times so far, I actually know it off by heart. DD also loves Rainbow Fairies, as well as Disney Princesses and My Little Pony. This too shall pass

At least yours go to the library. Mine frequently refuse my jolly invitations. It is most shaming.

I find that the worst, the absolute grimace-inducing worst, are the books based on Disney films. All plot, badly worded, yet lengthy. DD loves those.

My dad used to tell me off for 'just reading novels'. I was EIGHT. I read, voraciously. Any normal father would have been chuffed. But no, he told me off again and again for 'novels'.

I now have two English degrees (and a really crap relationship with my father).

None of which stops me 'just suggesting' books the Inferiorettes might like . There is a great joy in seeing one's child reading the work of Sir Terry Pratchett.

Oh and Elizabeth ends up with Bruce Patman.

No point reading it now really...

Just back from library. I was forced to read DD a 'My Little Pony' book involving princess ponies and rainbows, complete with a cover in a sick-making shade of lilac. Pity me.

Jessica had stolen Todd from Elizabeth, who had moved to new York to get away from it all.

Stephen had turned out to be gay and left his wife for Another man.

Enid turned out nasty.

Winston made a fortune in dotcom, turned into a dick, and died in an accident.

Sparkly fairy series books - useful in their way, I think, for building confidence and discernment, and the joy of getting through tons of books. They do outgrow them. DD's at granny's this weekend and I hope she's taking the opportunity to plough through the entire set of The Famous Five.

I don't like Michael Morpurgo though

but I devoured the Rhanna series way too young so what do I know

to fellow librarians

Pushing books on children is a sure-fire way to make them start seeing reading as a chore. All age-appropriate reading is going to improve reading skill. In fact if the child chooses books that they enjoy reading, and end up reading them quickly, they will improve their fluency which is a skill a lot of children struggle with. Fluency is by far one of the best skills a child can have as it helps them greatly in exams and in studying in later life.

I bet you'd be pretty peeved if someone came along and told you your book choices weren't good enough and you should start reading books about particle physics. It would be quite insulting on a personal level. Children see it that way too, reading is a personal activity and you shouldn't interfere with their choices.

Olga is divine (DP was rather at the Loose Guineapig Morality too, the visits from the father of her children with whom she has enjoyed a brief but fruitful liaison).

Have you tried Olga da Polga? I bought them for DD when I couldn't face another rainbow fairy unicorn and she loved them and I figured that since I loved them when I was young, I can refer to them as "children's classics" should anyone happen to ask...

Am rather longing to read 'The colour of her panties' now.

Leave them around where other people can see them. I feel your pain re Rainbow fucking Fairies. And the tiara-wearing hamsters. This too will pass. Really. Eventually.

Yes I want to know what happened in SVH but I really don't want to read it

ds read loads of the beast quest books when he was 7/8/9. He's now 12 and admits that they were quite rubbish and all the same

At my year 7 parents evening, at the Grammar school no less, my mum was asked by my English teacher what I was reading.

She has never let me live down the book

"The Colour of her Panties" (in my defence, it's fantasy/sci fi NOT erotica)

Even more ironically, I'd read Wuthering Heights the week before.

Poor Mummy