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Original poster

7 year old girl - book recommendations

37 replies

3weeksuntilwine · 13/07/2022 11:30

Hi
I’m trying to gently push my 7 year old DD into reading independently. She’s fairly competent now but dislikes reading really although enjoys me reading to her which we do every night. In the last couple of days, I’ve managed to persuade her to read alongside me as I’ve read my book and I want to keep momentum going!

She enjoys books about girls like her. So 7/8 year old girl, school/friendship type things. We’ve read all of The Trouble with Daisy recently and we’re half way through Anna, Banana et al series. We’ve read all of Isadora Moon too.

I’d prefer to steer clear of Fairy/magic type books. I’ve bought Wimpy Kid but she refuses to read it as it’s got a boy as the main character 🙄

So, any recommendations? Thanks all!

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Sunnysummeragain · 07/08/2023 20:10

13 storey treehouse series
Nothing to see here hotel
Grimwood

Magazines

National Geographic

Go to the library and let her get whatever she wants go even if you think it’s too old or young or an OS map.

BoleynMemories13 · 07/08/2023 20:02

Holly Webb animal stories

Zoe's Rescue Zoo

Isadora Moon and related series (Mirabelle, Emerald)

Kitty Series by Paula Harrison

Bear and Rabbit stories

Jasmine Green series (animal stories by Helen Peters)

Jacqueline Wilson books

Dick King Smith stories

ginny93 · 03/08/2023 17:31

How about the Animal Ark series if she's interested in animals?

WhisperTree · 03/08/2023 17:05

How about the Ramona books? Vintage, but still quality

TheMurderousGoose · 22/06/2023 11:20

ah, have just seen that this is an old thread!

TheMurderousGoose · 22/06/2023 11:20

The Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens are great fun. I'd have devoured them at 7.

moonnery · 22/06/2023 11:15

Try reading a collection of fairy tales - 25 stories for young children and 20 Stories for Bedtime Reading to Children. I like. Books about friendship and self-confidence

mooner · 20/06/2023 11:41

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beachcitygirl · 05/11/2022 08:35

There are some updated Enid bottoms without
The problematic language. My
Daughter adored "the magic faraway tree" and "the wishing chair"

More modern, at that age she loved all the Jacqueline wilson books. (8-12 age

(7-10)👇🏻
Ella enchanted
Starring sally j freedman as herself by judy Blume.
The secret garden

emsmum79 · 04/11/2022 22:27

The Cookie books by Konnie Huq

BuildersTeaMaker · 31/08/2022 13:40

At that age I loved Joan Aitken - wolves of willoughby chase is most well known but there are a lot in same series. They’re not in “fashion” any more but I assume still in print . They were my favourites at that age - real female hero whodunnits and suspense

laura ingalls wilder - I loved these books…the books target ages increases with each book as Laura ages. Don’t be fooled by the crap TV series, or the slagging off off “Pa” as abusive..I took them for what they were and learnt a lot about America history, the push west, and how to survive in a wilderness with bog all 🤣stuff I can still remember.

CS Lewis is also suitable- again lots of titles other than ones people know .Some I loved and other just ok.

Noel Streatfeild - not massive keen myself but the girly girls liked them and very popular at time

it depends on how mature she is then, there are a lot of books out there related to relationship or political or war type themes but they might be a bit too much for her at this age still…Alan garner, John Christopher, rosemary sutcliffe, Ursula la Guin, as authors. then individual books like , summer of my German solider, be ready with bells and drums, the endless steppe, I am David, the silver sword, Flambards series, …an advanced reader with intelligent mature mind would get a lot from them.

I have to say many childrens books for late pre teens and teens are better written than adult books ..historically they had to be precisely and ruthlessly edited to get down to a manageable “puffin” title size. Some absolute gems of writing out there, including some of ones listed

BlueChampagne · 31/08/2022 13:07

Adventures of Algy might be worth a go adventuresofalgy.com/books

beachcitygirl · 30/08/2022 14:04

My daughter loved Jacqueline wilson at that age. Particularly plum which is about a budding young suffragette. All terribly miserable in an age appropriate way x

greywinds · 30/08/2022 12:36

National geographic kids books are great as are almost anything done by DK for non fiction.

Michale Morpugo

Bridget46 · 19/08/2022 17:25

Try using search and filter, or start with an award collection, e.g.
thebookseekers.com/collection/guardian-childrens-fiction-prize-winners/

My kids loved this one
thebookseekers.com/book/lauren-child/utterly-me-clarice-bean-3/

namechange5575 · 13/07/2022 21:09

Was going to say Ivy and Bean too, my daughter also liked the Violet Mackerel books (they have great titles).

cumbriaumbria · 13/07/2022 20:53

Definitely Worst Witch series, not much a magic focus
Secret Seven have a really good intro series which are brilliant for early independent reading, I think they are called Adventures with the secret seven or something
Lizzie and Lucky are lovely books too

GibbonsGoatsGibbons · 13/07/2022 20:51

Ivy & Bean fits the bill - Fabulous funny stories about two 7yr old best friends.

Redpanda99 · 13/07/2022 20:47

Oh yes, like a PP said My Naughty Little Sister books. I loved them. And what about the Narnia books? I loved the first 2, I didn't read the rest.

Happyelfjokeday · 13/07/2022 20:23

Princess Disgrace (set of 4 - princess school with main character someone independent/different to the norm)
my naughty little sister stories are nice although old some some stuff might need explaining

HeyMicky · 13/07/2022 20:19

DD got the 13 storey treehouse series for her 7th birthday and loves them

AdriannaP · 13/07/2022 20:15

Isadora Moon series

fruitpastille · 13/07/2022 20:09

Bookfortopics.com (sorry I can't make my link work on my phone) has great recommendations for each age group. Have a look at their list for age 7-8.

My dd was a bit reluctant to read independently. I know you said no magic but she loved a series called Unicorn Academy by Julie Sykes. They are quite an easy read but she was genuinely excited to get each one and zoomed through them. She also loves reading the Beano - maybe worth a try? Minnie the minx is a great character!

givealittlewhistle · 13/07/2022 20:00

Dork diaries

givealittlewhistle · 13/07/2022 19:58

givealittlewhistle · 13/07/2022 19:57

Diary of a Wimpy kid series

Just realised this was a no!