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Simple chapter books for 6 and 7 year olds

33 replies

Kitsandkids · 31/10/2015 01:38

My 2 boys are 6 and 7 and I am trying to move them on a bit in their comprehension and enjoyment of books. Until the summer holidays I always read picture books at bedtime, but once the oldest went into the juniors I kind of insisted we move onto me reading chapter books to them.

I don't want anything too complicated for them. I know some children can handle Harry Potter at 4, but my 2 just wouldn't understand a story like that. My 7 year old is on the special needs register at school and is emotionally quite young for his age. My 6 year old isn't on the register but isn't particularly high achieving (on Level 5 Oxford Reading Tree books) and still seems very 'little' for a Year 2 child.

So far we have read Paddington, The Worst Witch, The Enchanted Wood and a couple of books of short stories. What other recommendations do people have? I keep seeing books and thinking, oh yes that will be great for when they're about 9, but I'm not sure what to read to them now. I don't want Horrid Henry as the youngest used to have some behaviour problems, which now seem much better, and I don't want him getting any ideas!! He got given a Captain Underpants book for his birthday and I thought it was a load of dross!

I think a relative is buying them some Roald Dahl books for Christmas but I would love some other suggestions too. Many thanks.

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AGD · 03/12/2015 11:55

Hi KitsandKids. There are some fab short picture heavy chapter books that are perfect for kids moving from picture to chapter books. I particularly like the Claude series by Alex T Smith, and the Jolley-Rogers series by Johnny Duddle as they are both funny, warm and engaging with fab illustrations. Claude's sidekick, Sir Bobblysock, cracks me up every time I read one. (My blog H Talks Books has some reviews of these if you want a bit more info).

emmaMBC · 26/11/2015 15:45

There's a list here of chapter books for early readers which might be useful.

Alex T Smith's Claude series is really great too.

Tiddlypom1 · 09/11/2015 18:12

Andy Griffiths Tree House books - silly and fun. Our 10yo loves reading them to his 6yo brother.

IndianMummy · 06/11/2015 22:37

Try Nina and the Kung Fu Adventure. Not as big and complicated as Harry Potter, not simple either. My 7 year old loved it

BlueChampagne · 06/11/2015 20:50

Time Hunters is enjoyed by my 2 (8 and nearly 6)

kateandme · 04/11/2015 14:04

Dick king smith.Charlottesville web.
Famous five allthough older are great adventures if u read to them

VinoEsmeralda · 02/11/2015 20:41

Happy families series is very popular, funny and not too challenging

DuchessofMalfi · 02/11/2015 20:39

DS has recently enjoyed the Mr Gum series by Andy Stanton, and loves David Walliams's novels. Also, he really enjoyed The Bolts by Julian Clary - lots of silly jokes to laugh at. We haven't started on Roald Dahl yet but I'm sure he will also like them. And he's eager to try Harry Potter but I'm in no hurry for that because I don't think he's ready yet.

ArcheryAnnie · 02/11/2015 20:25

Seconding the Beast Quest books - mine devoured them at that age. They aren't War and Peace, but they get them reading.

Also loved How To Train Your Dragon series, maybe reading with at that age, and reading by themselves in a short while.

cornflakegirl · 02/11/2015 20:22

We're currently reading Mango and Bambang too, and it is very good. Even DS1 who is far too grown up to be read to has stopped to listen.
Fortunately the Milk by Neil Gaiman is fantastic, with great illustrations by Chris Riddell. And Chris Riddell's Ottoline series.
Also Roald Dahl - especially BFG. David Walliams and Mr Gum also v good. They might not get all the jokes, but DS2 likes them anyway.
And actually, there are lots of great, more grown up picture books - the Emily Brown series by Cressida Cowell, Johnny Duddle's pirate books, Anthony Browne's books about My Family (eg Zoo). Picture books can still have great stories!

sofaloafbanana · 02/11/2015 19:38

My 6 year old likes reading Ivy and Bean to herself, but I've also been reading books by Dahl and dick king-smith. I also recommend charlotte's web and maybe the Indian in the Cupboard or a Cricket in Times Square. (USA favourites)

DreamingOfAFullNightsSleep · 02/11/2015 18:53

We just read Mango and Bambang (which I won on mn) and is 4 short stories and funny. My 5 year old DD also enjoys Roald Dahl the shorter ones as mentioned above and some of the Micheal Morpugo stories are lovely. She likes a collection of shorter stories and loved the Butterfly Lion (a boy is the main character with another good female character too).

Seyles · 02/11/2015 18:18

My 7 and 10 year old absolutely loved a new book, Crumble's Adventures. It's about two little dogs that have great adventures, sometimes a tiny bit scary but always a happy ending. The boys really identified with it, and the 7 year old has read it twice. It's quite Blytonesque, charming outdoor good times and gorgeous illustrations. Do try it, author is Mike Beale, I got it from Amazon.

Simple chapter books for 6 and 7 year olds
Sonotkylie · 02/11/2015 18:06

Oh yes to Mr Gum, Claude and Magic Faraway Tree! Also Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Broomsticks which DS loved, even though I tend to find the language in older ones can be harder to access. How do you feel about Famous Five? They do seem to love them and I personally think they see it as 'olden days' ie not as it is today.

emmaMBC · 02/11/2015 17:58

Pugs of the Frozen North has plenty of illustrations, so will work beautifully for both.

The Puppy Academy series by Gill Lewis, is fast paced, light hearted & fun. With the added benefit they'll soon be able to read them to themselves too.

Take a look at Alex T Smith's Claude series, (great illustrations too), and then of course there is Fortunately, the Milk ... soon to be made in to a film!

Iwanttobeadog · 31/10/2015 23:19

Lurking

Kitsandkids · 31/10/2015 23:11

Thanks for all of the ideas, I shall definitely look into them all.

OP posts:
madmotherof2 · 31/10/2015 22:43

My nearly 7 year is particularly loving Roald Dahl at the moment. He loves the twits! Very easy to read, sort chapters ( literally 2 pages!) make it easy when they ask for just one more!!

He also has enjoyed dinosaur cove and a couple of the spy pups range

mamaduckbone · 31/10/2015 22:38

Definitely the shorter Roald Dahl books - The Twits, Enormous Crocodile, Fantastic Mr Fox; Winnie the Witch, The Magic Treehouse, Beast Quest (although beware buying too many - my ds1 loved them for about 6 months then realised the stories are all pretty much the same and went off them really quickly.)

EElisavetaOfBelsornia · 31/10/2015 22:33

Mrs Pepperpot is good for this age.

BlueChampagne · 31/10/2015 22:32

Sophie and the Shadow Woods
Don't cook Cinderella

BlueChampagne · 31/10/2015 22:30

Mr Majeika?
The Owl who was afraid of the dark?

ninja · 31/10/2015 21:17

Any Dick King-Smith books are good, mainly animal stories.

I wouldn't worry too much about moving on from picture books though - many of them are great!

unicorn501 · 31/10/2015 21:16

Definitely Roald Dahl, also Dick King Smith books are great. My DDs love My Naughty Little Sister...maybe the Just William books would be a boy's equivalent?

Wandastartup · 31/10/2015 21:16

Olga da Polga & Dick King Smith popular here.

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