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Original poster

What books for a Roahl Dahl obsessed 7 year old?

26 replies

SarkyWench · 09/02/2012 12:23

He wants to buy some new books with his pocket money...

He also loves beast quest, secret seven and famous five.
He's enjoyed the first 2 harry potters but I'm trying todrag those out a bit.

Found Horrid Henry and Mr Gum ok, but not to the same level.

Any suggestions?
Think it is the exciting/adventure aspect that he likes.

OP posts:
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helenlaycockauthor · 25/02/2012 14:30

I agree that David Walliams' 'Mr Stink' book is similar in style to Roald Dahl's. In the same vein are the 'Mr Gum' books by Andy Stanton, although it seems you're not too enamoured with those! Livi Michael's written a lot - the 'Frank, the Hamster' books as well as 'The Whispering Road' which has had some excellent reviews on Amazon. If you type into Amazon the title of a book/author your son has enjoyed, you will be given suggestions of other books enjoyed by the people who liked that author.

EmmaGoldman · 18/02/2012 16:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

seeker · 18/02/2012 10:06

You can't go wrong with Hiccup is a comment, not the title of a book!

seeker · 18/02/2012 10:05

Cressida Cowell- you can't go wrong with Hiccup.

Auntiestablishment · 18/02/2012 10:01

Bit late to this but how about Enid Blyton's Adventure series?

Very exciting adventures of 4 children who get into adventures more dangerous than the Famous 5.

Tonksthecat · 15/02/2012 22:23

Yay!
Oh yes and if he likes surreal, then Roddy Doyle! We all love "Giggler Treatment" - about how these little creatures get adults to step in dog mess when they've been mean to children.

Somersaults · 15/02/2012 22:15

Another vote for Jeremy Strong :)

Tonksthecat · 15/02/2012 22:12

Another vote for Jeremy Strong - v amusing and anarchic, Pirate Pandemonium" and "My Brother's famous bottom".

Dick King Smith not all as funny but humorously well-written and my 6 and 9 year olds love them.

Astrosaurs and Dinosaur Cove several notches up from Beast Quest, and Magic Tree House has been a hit if you can stand the formulaic-ness and Americanisms.

mum2jakie · 14/02/2012 21:26

Another recommendation for the Wimpy Kid stories.

Katie Davies (The Great Hamster Massacre etc) books have also been a hit with my oldest son. Very funny and entertaining. They had a set of all three of her books in WHSmith for just £4 that I spotted today.

workshy · 14/02/2012 20:52

another vote for Walliams
his writing style is very similar to Dahl and humour definitely appeals to small boys!

cerys74 · 14/02/2012 20:48

How about the Terry Pratchett kids books? Johnny and the Bomb, Only you can save mankind etc. They are for young adults but he might still enjoy them (mainly concerned with adventures etc, no budding relationships as I recall

joanofarchitrave · 14/02/2012 20:45

I'm surprised to find myself reading the Narnia books to ds who has just turned 8 - I read them myself at 11. He saw one of the films which introduced the characters to him. He's really enjoying them - we read a chapter to him then he reads another to himself.

ceeb · 14/02/2012 20:43

These are all great suggestions, my 8-year old has just roared through Horrid Henry, then Wimpy Kid, and now Beastquest, after I read Roald Dahl to him when he was 7, so I need to know where to look for the next hit. Will try Tame a Dragon and Walliams, cheers! :o

JiltedJohnsJulie · 11/02/2012 11:22

Agree with Takver. Our DS is 7 and just know he couldn't hack the HP books at the moment. Am saving them for later.

Takver · 10/02/2012 18:43

Gumby, I think re Harry Potter it depends on your 7 y/o. I think a lot would find the later books too scary. In fact I know one of dd's friends (9 going on 10) stopped after no. 2 because he prefers more gentle books.

Original poster
SarkyWench · 10/02/2012 12:14

good point Grumby.
DH has also read the hobbit to him - and is trying to work out how long he has to wait for Lord of the Rings :)

Thanks for all the suggestions.

OP posts:
Gumby · 09/02/2012 22:41

Oh yes he loves the how to tame your dragon books

Gumby · 09/02/2012 22:40

I wouldn't drag the Harry potter books out

What on earth for?!

My 7 yr old is on his second reading of the whole lot

He loves horrid Henry, famous five, roald Dahl , wimpy kid books, dh just started reading The Hobbit to him

everpuzzled · 09/02/2012 22:38

How to tame your dragon books

Takver · 09/02/2012 13:46

The Charlie Bone series by Jenny Nimmo is rather like Harry Potter but less dark than the later HPs

Original poster
SarkyWench · 09/02/2012 13:02

thanks :)

OP posts:
whyme2 · 09/02/2012 12:48

Anything by Jeremy Strong. Dd's favourite is "There's a Pharoah in our bathtub."

Also recommend David Walliams books too.

Thetokengirl · 09/02/2012 12:37

Should have said not a patch on Roahl Dahl, but far far better than beast quest.

Thetokengirl · 09/02/2012 12:36

My 7 yr old DS likes anything by Steve Cole: Cows in Action, Astrosaurs, Astrosaurs academy, Slime something or other.
I'm not sure they are great works of literature, but they are amusing and keep him reading Smile

JiltedJohnsJulie · 09/02/2012 12:33

Alternatively he might like George's Secret Key to the Universe.