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Original poster

I need some new ideas for books to read to dd (nearly 6)

106 replies

imaginaryfriend · 28/05/2008 23:10

She's only just moved from me reading her picture books to reading her chapter books. I've found it quite hard to come up with things that appeal to her, but thanks to some great suggestions on here I've had huge success with:

Princess Mirror-Belle stories
Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf
George's Marvellous Medicine (Roald Dahl although she doesn't like any of his other books)
Arabel's Raven
Pinnocchio
All the Amelia Jane stories

She generally seems to favour books which are quite funny and a little bit surreal / magical. She hasn't liked any of the Animal Ark type stories, nor the Magic Unicorn / fairy type books.

I'd love some new suggestions. I've just started an Ottoline book by Chris Riddell but she's not too impressed so far!

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littlelapin · 30/05/2008 10:44

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Hulababy · 30/05/2008 10:43

LOL!

But have to say that reading the books haven't ade DD want to do any of the stuff, honest. Thing she just loves reading about what naughty things he gets up to, like with My Naughty Little Sister and Naughty Amela Jane.

Bit different when your ouwn name I guess though

littlelapin · 30/05/2008 10:41

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Hulababy · 30/05/2008 10:36

She reads Horrid Henry herself. I do sit with her and hear her read the odd passage or so and check understanding and that she knows longer words. She tends to use a Horrid Henry story each week at the moment for her weekend reading journal - which helps with making sure the comprehension is there when she is tackling longer books.

There are a couple of others she can manage alone too now.

Not sure wat the norm is. Certainly there are children on MN that appear to be agead of Dd in terms of tacklig longer books, but there are also many not doing so. In her class DD is one of a couple tackling longer books by themselves (still have normal school reading books though; these are for fun) and most are no where near.So huge variation at this age.

A lot fo children are capable of reading the words but the thought of tackling such a big book alone puts them off.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/05/2008 22:20

Does she read them herself Hula? What kind of age would one reasonably expect them to handle that much text?

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Hulababy · 29/05/2008 22:19

Story thee for the Molly Moon one seeed a bit more grown up compared to Oliver Moon. I am tempted to get some Oliver Moon ones to share ith DD; they look a bit different to what we already have.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/05/2008 22:18

Caprica, we're currently reading Ottoline and the Yellow Cat funnily enough!

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Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/05/2008 22:17

Hula, it looks to me like the Molly Moon ones are aimed at an older reader. I don't know if that matters if you're going to read to them. Dd's not ready to read chapter books yet so I'm really just looking for what she'd like me to read to her.

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littlelapin · 29/05/2008 22:14

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CapricaSix · 29/05/2008 22:08

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Hulababy · 29/05/2008 22:04

What age range littlelapin? My own Mollie fancies them because of the name, but looking on Amazon they seem to be aimed at a bit older - top end primary perhaps? The Oliver Moon seem aimed at a younger audience by looks of it.

littlelapin · 29/05/2008 21:59

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Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/05/2008 21:59

snice, we've got those, dd loved them.

LL, on my way to your other thread now

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Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/05/2008 21:58

Thanks Hula, I'll search for Molly Moon too.

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snice · 29/05/2008 21:57

The Owl who was afriad of the dark by Jill Tomlinson is lovely and is part of a series of 5 or 6 books that you could get if your DD enjoys it

littlelapin · 29/05/2008 21:57

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Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/05/2008 21:52

LL I like the look of the Oliver Moon series, dd hasn't got anything like that. Do you think a nearly-6-year-old-girl would go for it?

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Hulababy · 29/05/2008 21:51

We got a big set of the HH books from the school book club - worked out a good deal.

Not tried the Oliver Moon, but there is also Molly Moon too - not sure whether right for 6y or not yet as not started any.

My Naughty Little Sister books are fun too.

Hulababy · 29/05/2008 21:48

6y DD and her friends all love Horrid Henry.

HH is also good for newly confident readers too as a lot of simple words used, and a lot of repetition of longer words. Plus each book is made up of 4 shorter stries, so holds interest until they have completed it.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/05/2008 21:46

dd doesn't have a problem with long chapters, in fact she always asks for more. It's more the pre-amble, scene-setting type stuff she gets bored with.

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Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/05/2008 21:45

Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf is just brilliant, really funny I thought. It's by Catherine Storr and was written in the 1950s I think. Has your dd heard the Princess Mirror-Belle stories by Julia Donaldson? My dd found those very palatable and amusing. Or Amelia Jane stories?

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MaltesersAndMarmite · 29/05/2008 21:13

Ballet Shoes is about three orphans sent to a stage school, White Boots about Ice Skating, and Thursday's Child is set in an orphanage. I think they're all fairly straightforward story but chapters are much longer than say Horrid Henry. I have not read them yet to dd(5) as she has a tiny attention span! Who is Clever Polly and the Wolf by? That sounds like something my dd would enjoy.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/05/2008 20:58

I don't know as I haven't read those. She's a bright little girl but she's not yet that sophisticated in what she can handle listening to. The story has to be fairly direct!

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MaltesersAndMarmite · 29/05/2008 19:34

Is she too young for Noel Streatfield yet? I adored Ballet Shoes, White Boots, Thursday's Child etc.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/05/2008 19:01

Thanks everyone, I'm checking all these out. Keep 'em coming!

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