Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

Original poster

Very British books for a 7 year old American girl

36 replies

PepeLePew · 07/01/2017 12:04

I'd like to send some and am struggling to think of some lesser known classics. I've got White Boots (or whatever it is now called...) for her and am stumped. Looking at dd's shelves and all the much loved ones from that age are American - Harriet the Spy etc. Please inspire me.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Saradlwood · 09/01/2017 19:32

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MinnowAndTheBear · 07/01/2017 13:07

Michael Morpurgo, Roald Dahl

lljkk · 07/01/2017 13:05

Dick King Smith is good, funny.
Some of the longer picture books, there are versions of James Herriott stories that are done with nice illustrations, like Moses The Kitten.

YesThisIsMe · 07/01/2017 12:56

But probably not Jacqueline Wilson, which looks and reads like it should be age-appropriate but has content of which parents will not approve. She has written some stuff for 7 year olds but those books aren't classics.

YesThisIsMe · 07/01/2017 12:54

If the OP is doing a bundle she can combine things like The Worst Witch, which is definitely age-appropriate with stuff that will be good in a couple of years time.

Vagndidit · 07/01/2017 12:45

My American niece enjoys Jacqueline Wilson books, which are quite difficult to find over there. 7 might be a bit young though...

BuntyFigglesworthSpiffington · 07/01/2017 12:37

Anne Fine too has some very funny chapter books for that age group.

BuntyFigglesworthSpiffington · 07/01/2017 12:36

Maybe look at some more contemporary authors too like Hilary McKay and Cathy Cassidy.

bruffin · 07/01/2017 12:33

good night mr tom is not really suitable for a 7 year old

JellyWitch · 07/01/2017 12:32

The Borrowers?

Burntbum · 07/01/2017 12:32

Jacqueline Wilson's Hetty Feather series,

lljkk · 07/01/2017 12:31

Horrid Henry. Enid Blyton.
So many of these suggested were way too long for my (said to be gifted precocious reading) 7yo to want to read.

For an older kid I'd say The Secret Garden.

MargotMoon · 07/01/2017 12:29

Back Home and Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian. Back Home is about an evacuee returning to Britain from the USA so a good crossover.

Howie Gorby Plays Chicken and The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler, both by the same author (Gene Kemp?? Or have I completely made that up?)

MargotMoon · 07/01/2017 12:26

Definitely Ballet Shoes and The Worst Witch!

Pippi Longstocking isn't British! Swedish I think...

How about The Railway Children? The Naughtiest Girl series by E Blyton?

Or some feminist fairy tales? My mum got me Mizilca and Other Stories and The Clever Princess which I loved.

GraceGrape · 07/01/2017 12:26

The Milly-Molly-Mandy books are very accessible for a 7 year old.

SittingDrinkingTea · 07/01/2017 12:25

Ah, okay I advised in error.

Ticketybooboo · 07/01/2017 12:24

Malory Towers and St. Claire's series. Stayed up most of the night reading them they were so awesome. MT better than St. C though. Carries War was also a favourite.

SittingDrinkingTea · 07/01/2017 12:24

And Olga da Polga books by Micheal Bond.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 07/01/2017 12:24

How about Milly Molly Mandy or My Naughty Little Sister?

MrsSchadenfreude · 07/01/2017 12:24

The Warden's Niece
Five Children and It

VanellopeVonSchweetz99 · 07/01/2017 12:22

Pippi Longstocking is Swedish, sorry.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 07/01/2017 12:22

Sittingdrinkingtea - White Boots that the OP has already bought is by Noel Streatfeild.

MrsSchadenfreude · 07/01/2017 12:21

Carrie's War
Sting of the Dump
The Diddakoi

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 07/01/2017 12:21

The Little Princess and The Secret Garden are v. British but not really lesser know. But to be fair, White Boots is a bit of a well known classic!

How about Apple Bough or one of the genuinely lesser known Streatfeild's?

MrsSchadenfreude · 07/01/2017 12:20

When Marnie was there.
Miss Happiness and Miss Flower