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Original poster

Books I can read to 6 - 8 yr old child

32 replies

confusedinlondon · 20/08/2020 20:15

Hi All,

Can someone please suggest some books that I can read TO my child. He is 6.5 years old and I want to get into the habit of reading to him 3 or 4 times a week. His isn't too keen on reading so i am hoping that by me reading to him it will spark an interest.

His school as a list of books children his age should be reading themselves but they don't have any details of books a parent can read to a child.

I am looking for books that will take 7 - 10 days to read through. Any suggestions?

I haven't read to my child since he was around 3 - 4. Our reading consists of him reading his assigned book from school to me or from him reading phonics / decodable books i have purchased online.

OP posts:
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IwishIwasyoda · 26/08/2020 14:33

DS (7) likes reading some books himself (worst witch series, dirty bertie) but I read books for slightly older children to him. He liked 'The Lion the witch and the wardrobe' but lost interest 2/3 way through 'The Magician's nephew'. Reading a junior star wars book to him at the moment. Magic Faraway Tree was good but he wasn't interested in the sequel. The Hobbit was too old for him. He liked the Pamela Butchert series for older children (demon dinner ladies etc). It's a mixed bag to be honest.

AnnieWay · 21/08/2020 01:39

Dick King Smith was popular with mine around that age.

PhilODox · 21/08/2020 01:22

Missed off Stig of the Dump and The Indian in the Cupboard

Original poster
confusedinlondon · 20/08/2020 23:00

Thanks for taking the time to advise about the best books.

OP posts:
MinaMurray · 20/08/2020 21:32

Oh, and reading scheme books - I got my 8 year old a set of the Project X Alien Adventure reading scheme books when lockdown started, and my 6 year old DS loves those.
He’ll read them to himself, but he also asks me to read them as bedtime stories sometimes.

MinaMurray · 20/08/2020 21:30

My 6 year old likes the 13 Storey Treehouse series, Sea Quest books, and Woodsword Chronicles (the Woodsword Chronicles are based around Minecraft, so I’d only recommend those if your DS likes Minecraft).

He’s also been enjoying the Mortimer Keene books recently, although these are a lot shorter and can be finished in one night.

1970schild · 20/08/2020 21:22

My 6 year old is loving the "Daisy and the Trouble with....." series and the spin off Jack Beechwhistle. His older sibling will happily listen in too.

Streaker the dog stories were popular too.

School reading books are deadly dull. They make reading a chore which I think is counter productive.

Quornflakegirl · 20/08/2020 21:18

My girls are 7 they gave enjoyed me reading these to them
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Little House on the Prairie series
Fudge series by Judy Blume

Tinyhumansurvivalist · 20/08/2020 21:14

If you want things to spark his interest look at

Diary of a wimpy kid
Captain underpants
Artemis fowl

Maybe try some of the more eccentric roald dahl, fantastic Mr fox, George's marvellous medicine, giraffe the pelly and me, james and the giant peach

Alex rider

Whybirdwhy · 20/08/2020 21:11

My DS is the same age. I’ve just read him Charlotte’s Web, he loved it. It’s a really sweet book.

He also likes:
Mr Gum series
Beast Quest series
13 story treehouse series
Roald Dahl
Abridged versions of classics like Oliver Twist, Treasure Island, Gullivers Travels

LilyLongJohn · 20/08/2020 21:09

Julie Donaldson books are always a good starter

Yellowcar2 · 20/08/2020 21:08

Going on a slightly different track, especially if he is not keen on reading, but keep it short with great illustrations. As if he is not into reading keeping a story going over a week with minimal pictures may not help. My son loves reading and reads lots of the suggested books above but he still loves to sit and listen to younger picture book stories I read to his little sisters. He really likes anything by Julia Donaldson, Oi Frog type, Dr Seuss etc

EnidMatilda · 20/08/2020 21:00

Definitely the Magic Faraway Tree. Charlotte's Web, A Series of Unfortunate Events, How to Train Your Dragon, anything by Jeremy Strong.

Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons · 20/08/2020 20:56

Last few books I’ve read to my 5 & 9 yr olds (together)
Podkin one ear trilogy
First aid for fairies series
Enchanted forest chronicles (Wrede - first book is Talking to dragons)
Royal rabbits of London

The 9 yr old is currently reading the 5 yr old the 13 storey tree house series (hurrah as I hate reading them Grin)

AdaColeman · 20/08/2020 20:53

Paddington Bear series.

The Borrowers, and anything by Mary Norton.

Five Children and It, and everything by E. Nesbit.

Drogonssmile · 20/08/2020 20:47

Oh yeah he likes all the Roald Dahl ones too. He's had Charlie and the Chocolate Factory read to him about four times!

Cheerybigbottom · 20/08/2020 20:46

You can never go wrong with Roald Dahl. Also Dr Seuss. How the grinch stole Christmas and Fantastic Mr Fox are still my 8 years olds favourite stories.

Drogonssmile · 20/08/2020 20:46

My 6.5yo DS1 likes the Harry Potter books, Enid Blyton Magic Faraway Tree trilogy and The Hobbit (he always falls asleep in this!).

I also have the Harry Potter books in audiobook format so I can stick them on for him to listen to if DH is away and I have to see to DS2. He even has a headphone headband that he can wear while lying down and goes to sleep with this on.

Kungfupanda67 · 20/08/2020 20:45

Oh yes and the Tom Gates books he reads on his own and loves them.

Kungfupanda67 · 20/08/2020 20:45

My 7 year old loves Roald Dahl and Famous Five. I’m reading him Harry Potter at the moment, but in between the Harry Potter books we read an Enid Blyton or a Roald Dahl, which I like because he can happily read those by himself so if he wants to carry on he can.

magicmallow · 20/08/2020 20:44

My son of a similar age loves the Tom Gates books. They are so funny. Also easy to read for kids and have great illustrations!

Go for something with humour in it, for the age the funny books always get them into it!

Original poster
confusedinlondon · 20/08/2020 20:41

Thank you. I hope to create a mini library of books that we can read at night.

OP posts:
Hillwalker1 · 20/08/2020 20:41

Flat Stanley

FelicityPike · 20/08/2020 20:40

Roald Dahl.
Enid Blyton.
Harry Potter.
David Walliams (I haven’t read these myself).

DarkDarkNight · 20/08/2020 20:32

Oh he liked the Raccoon Rampage books too.