Recommendations for 6 year olds?

I am just bumping this thread as it's so useful! Some fab recommendations that I keep going back to. Thanks again all!

If you want a story about a fairy with a bit more literary quality, The Night Fairy is supposed to be very good (lots of good reviews on US Amazon, although none on co.uk yet). I've just bought it as a present (for a 7th birthday) so haven't read it from cover to cover, but the opening pages look great (there's a big chunk of it in Look inside the book). I saw it recommended on a US librarian's blog.

Thanks for the advice MrsHeffley. He is still passionate (strange but true) about Magic Key stories so I've kept him in supply, although I am getting a bit tired of them myself . Luckily he's reaching the last levels of those soon- well errrr there are theoretically quite a few more to go but I'm going to try to avoid buying too many more, they can come from school!

We've tried Horrid Henry and although he's a bit shy of reading them to us he has been found reading them so that's good. Yes, I can see the gently gently approach being good. We often find that he'll enjoy something we read to him that is perhaps a bit tricky but then he'll pick up by himself as the story has "got him" (ideal!).

Thanks for other suggestions, will look out for them in the library.

Tgger you can read what you like at home.

Try The Magic Treehouse/Corgi Pups/Horrid Henry Early Readers,Happy Cats for boys.

If you go to your library they have loads of different schemes/early readers which would give him confidence to try books other than ORT.Don't make it a chore and go very gently,kind of leave them lying around etc

Ooooo, exciting to see your kids addicted to reading. Just wondering when did they start really reading more? DS is a bit younger and enjoying reading his scheme books but not quite ready for the stuff you are talking about. I just hope I can write a post like this in 6 months to a year or so.

So far he reads to us at bedtime and will often read before going to sleep, but not really during the day- well rarely. I'm hoping once his reading gets going just that bit more (he's at about purple level), he'll have access to more substantial books (ie not just Magic Key etc!!!) and will also become addicted. We shall see!

If you get Spiderwick get the trunk set(better value).I forgot Sally Gardner's Magic Children series, Corgi Pups,My Naughty Little Sister and the Oliver Moon series.

Enjoy.I love this stage,it's a joy to see them getting addicted to reading.It's like a whole new world.

By order I meant in order of difficulty.

Do use your library,don't buy the lightweight stuff as they literally devour them.My dd gets through around 10 a week as they're quite thin.The books on the long list last longer.The Lotta books are good too.Don't be scared of Horrid Henry.

If I had time I'd order the long list but Amazon often has a look and see thing to click or look in the library.

The Ivy and Bean sets come with a secret notebook and a lovely paper doll set.They are American though so may need more explanation re vocab. The Daisy books might be good to start with. Reading books in a series helps with confidence and fluency at this age.

DD is also in the Rainbow Magic stage (I get told off for calling them rainbow fairies apparently that's only the first 7...). Other stuff I've forced onto her she's enjoyed are:

Tumtum & Nutmeg series
Jeremy Strong
Wishing Chair
Faraway Tree
Usborne fairy tales set
Dr Seuss books
Flat Stanley
Magic Treehouse series
Horrid Henry

You might not want to buy her the 42 box set from TBP for her bday if they're driving you insane which is what I did-she will read every one.

Hmm my dd could read one in an hour at 6 so I'm sure the op's dd is reading them particularly considering how addicted they can get with them.My dd 7 is now on number 50!!!!

Sorry I don't get the snobbery they're just cute formulaic twee books .They kick started my dd into devouring paperbacks.Dd will read 1 a night then a few chapters of something heavier.She has an amazing imagination and devours all types of books.Soooooo some that my dd has enjoyed in no particular order:-

Ivy and Bean(the entire lot,bloody fantastic and funny)
The Trouble With daisy series
Judy Blume The Pain and The Great One series
Enid Blyton Amelia Jane
Bella Donna series
The Worst Witch series
Chris Riddel's Ottoline books
Lauren Child's Pippi Longstocking
Anna Hibiscus series
Mrs Pepperpot
the easier Jacqueline Wilson books
Tumtum and Nutmeg series
Felicity Wishes series
Flat Stanley series
Horrid Henry
Spiderwick Chronicals
easier Roald Dahl
easier Rummer godden
Sophie series
Wimpy Kid series
Judy Moody series
Humphrey series
Madam Pamplemousse books
the big fat Usborne collected stories books

Lots more I can't remember, don't forget the more heavy weight picture books like Katie Morag,Percy the Park Keeper etc.

For more lightweight stuff(which I think they need just as much to keep them addicted to reading)dd has loved:-

The Fairy House series
Lily's Dressing Up Dreams series
The Secret Mermaid series
Magic Pony series
The Pony Mad Princess series

We're just getting into the meatier paperbacks now,masses of Enid Blyton I think starting off with The Wishing Chair books,The Faraway Tree books,Secret Seven,Famous Five etc,rest of the Roald Dahl books etc,etc

My dd reads a good 2 hours a day to herself now so don't worry re Rainbow Fairies-it's reading and a reading child is a good thing.

you asked for recomendations for books!! sorry i took that as books in geneal yoir child could read.

I doubted it as it would take a while for a child to read two of those books a day at least a couple of hours and i would wonder how she would fit it in let alone how you could fit it in having 2 of those books read out loud to you. I also said it as, my dd, who is also an avid reader and may at a push read one of those books a day, I dont think she would have the concentration or interent to read any more than that, she often sits with a book and looks at it, supposidly reading it and I feel she is going through the motions of reading but is not activly engaged with the story, just reading the words. I would also be concerned about her interest and involvement of other cativities if she was reading 2 books a day. she is similar age to your dd. so although I belive you, I doubt she is activly reading and comprehending and engaged with it. but that is my opinion and does not take away the recomendations for you even though you have now decided they are not what you are looking for despite being what you have asked for.

My dd is currently reading the tumtum and nutmeg books by emily bearne.

she loves them and there are 7 books in the series. there are lots of basic everyday words in there, with a smattering of higher level words.

Anne Fine Jamie and Angus

Astrid Lindgren Lotta books

The "Daisy" chapter books

My DD (now 8) LOVED the winnie the witch box set at that age - and still re-reads them all now. Also the Delphie series (written by good old Darcy Bussel). Delphie seems a bit of a step up and less "glittery" than the rainbow books. I bought both box sets from either the book people or amazon at a really good price.

My friend's daughter who's a similar age is currently enjoying the Enid Blyton Enchanted Wood/Faraway Tree series.

Ismeyes - dd was exactly the same at that stage, she'd get 2 or 3 Rainbow magic books out the library & just sit & read straight through them. If it helps it may feel like forever but they do grow out of them (comfortably away from that stage now and more at the is-there-too-much-sex-or-violence-in-it stage, at least you don't have to worry about that just yet )

Have just introduced DD who is 6.5 to the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary. I loved rhem when I was younger and still do :) is lovely discussing them with her. And the rainbow magic books are gathering some dust .

I also love the Sophie books although DD nor as interested (more mummy reading yo her rather than her curled up in bed reading them iyswim).

Definitely Dick King Smith - not just the Sophie books, but all the various animal books (The Invisible Dog is particularly sweet IMO)

Also the Anna Hibiscus books by Atinuke - a series, but there are only 4 or so, not 000s

And what about the regular Animal Ark books? A gentle step up from Rainbow magic but still the comfort of familiar characters etc

i doubt very much she manages truelly to read two of those books a day. dd same age loves horid henry, rohl dahl, she also loves quintin blake mr gum, very funny. Classic fables etc. I would add variety if I where you some poetry, illuistrated big books of information information, dd loves guiness book of records just now any thing usborne. she is also in to reading about other countries and facts etc, so i have invested in a couple of atlases and encyclopedias. my dd does find some of those rainbow type books and similar painfully boring and switches off from them and I tend to agree with her. they are painfully, non expressive crap!! they do not really help with developing or nurturing and real skill or love for rewading IMHO.