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Chapter books to read to six year olds

40 replies

JingleCells · 09/11/2025 14:38

Can anyone recommend any books for my six year old (Year 1) girl/boy twins please, for me to read to them?

Some of the main ones they have already enjoyed:

Naughtiest Unicorn
Geromino Stilton
Mr Penguin
Claude
My Naughty Little Sister
Sophie books
Horrid Henry
World's Worst Children
Mummy Fairy and Me (I think that's the titles, the Sophie Kinsella ones)

Ideally I have a preference for books with female main characters as we've read quite a few with male ones/they seem to be more common. But happy to have ones with male main characters too.

My son has enjoyed all of these. My daughter is a much more reluctant reader, and often rejects things if she thinks they'll be scary. She loves unicorns, mermaids etc but refused to even contemplate the Rainbow Fairies ones, I don't really know why.

They're being read Roald Dahl at school so would prefer to avoid at home. I also really hated the David Walliams as reading it made me feel sick so would rather not read more of his! I think I'd generally prefer more modern stuff though, I was surprised at how old fashioned the Sophie books were in terms of lots of negative stuff about being fat etc.

OP posts:
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BabyToothbrush · 14/11/2025 02:48

What about comic style books ? Cat Kid Comic Club, Dogman. Captain Underpants.

Dave the Pigeon series.

biddybid73 · 12/11/2025 21:15

Rabbit and Bear - I think there are at least three

Imenti · 12/11/2025 20:33

13 Storey Treehouse books are great - totally off the wall but funny with pictures too so a good transition from the younger books to reading by themselves.

Leeds2 · 12/11/2025 20:20

Paddington books.
Humphrey the Hamster books by Betty Birney.
Clarice Bean.

Linzloopy · 09/11/2025 22:30

JingleCells · 09/11/2025 21:17

They have loved the Plop and others in that series, and the Zoey and Sassafras ones, so these suggestions are spot on. Lovely to have so many to check out, thank you, we will enjoy making our way through them!

And thanks for the reassurance about the Worst Witch.

I think Beaver Towers are brilliant but properly scary though unless I've got it confused with something else?

Edited

You probably are thinking of the right ones, but I see them as sort of "safely scary" (and children usually love Baby B and the silly way he talks). But if you think it’s too scary for your DD, wait a year or so! My seven-year-old loved them.

oustedbymymate · 09/11/2025 21:36

faraway tree. Wishing chair. Worst witch. My 5 year old has enjoyed these

YellowStockings · 09/11/2025 21:35

Oh also at this age my DD loved the Paddington books (loads on audiobook!), Winnie the Pooh, Beatrix Potter, Brambley Hedge, etc!

MrsMAFs · 09/11/2025 21:34

Holly Webb books about puppies / kittens are lovely. Had a fair few off Vinted.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 09/11/2025 21:32

weisatted · 09/11/2025 18:36

Daisy and the trouble with.. series

Came on to say this, my dd loved those books at that age and I credit that series with getting her into independent reading.

They are funny.

Worriedmum40284 · 09/11/2025 21:28

I'd also really recommend the Hotel Flamingo series. My son loved them at that age - main female character and nice stories. I had great fun perfecting (or not) the different voices for each animal!

JingleCells · 09/11/2025 21:17

They have loved the Plop and others in that series, and the Zoey and Sassafras ones, so these suggestions are spot on. Lovely to have so many to check out, thank you, we will enjoy making our way through them!

And thanks for the reassurance about the Worst Witch.

I think Beaver Towers are brilliant but properly scary though unless I've got it confused with something else?

OP posts:
DreamingofBrie · 09/11/2025 21:08

I'd also recommend Gobbolino the Witch's Cat and Plop, the Owl who was Afraid of the Dark.

DreamingofBrie · 09/11/2025 21:06

This is still one of my favourite books of all time,OP, Harry's Mad! My son loved it too.

https://amzn.eu/d/8zCHfHK

Chapter books to read to six year olds
DeathMetalMum · 09/11/2025 20:47

Worst Witch,
The Magic Faraway tree,
Winnie the Witch or Winnie and Wilbur
Animals of Farthing Wood
Charlotte's Web

muminherts · 09/11/2025 19:01

Try the vet series with different animals - Jasmine Green series. A kitten called Holly etc.

DesperatelySeekingHelp · 09/11/2025 18:59

A friend bought my son the Magic Faraway tree for his seventh birthday. I read it to him every night and he loved it. When he was old enough he read it himself again and I definitely think this is where he got his inspiration passion for reading because from then on he devoured books and still does.

YellowStockings · 09/11/2025 18:59
  • Heartwood Hotel series
  • Ivy and Bean series
  • Violet Mackerel series
  • Moomintroll series
  • Harold and Pigsticks series
  • Harry Stevenson guinea pig series
  • Zoey and Sassafras series
Linzloopy · 09/11/2025 18:58

The Beaver Towers trilogy by Nigel Hinton
Teddy Robinson (old-fashioned but if they like My Naughty Little Sister it might appeal to them)
The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark

nbee84 · 09/11/2025 18:55

You've just book back some lovely memories I have of reading my daughter her first chapter book - it was 32 years ago now and it was 'The Hodgeheg' by Dick King-Smith ❤️

Pistachiocake · 09/11/2025 18:54

When I was younger, I liked some of the Enid Blyton (not necessarily the more popular ones like FF), Dahl and the Narnia books. I think they're meant to be making a new series for Netflix, if that affects whether you'd want to choose these (for some that would be a plus, for some a reason not to choose these). Some of the William books (Richmal Crompton) are chapter books and one of the teachers at school recommended these last year (warned they could be challenging for under 8, but that they're great for developing literacy).

firstofallimadelight · 09/11/2025 18:52

Pamela Butchart Wrigglesbottom primary books are very funny

Illgotothefootofourstairs · 09/11/2025 18:51

Daisy and the trouble with …….
guaranteed to be enjoyed .

Cosycoffees · 09/11/2025 18:49

My 6 year old has liked

13 storey tree house. (Not female characters)
Unicornia
Izzy the inventor

Then the author Harriet Muncaster has several different characters based on witches/vampires/mermaids

Mirabelle
Emerald
Isadora moon

She also liked the Ninja cat series by Dermot O'Leary

DameWishalot · 09/11/2025 18:49

They might be a bit young for Swallows and Amazons (it’s quite slow) but those are great too. DS is about that age and likes Enid Bylton’s … of Adventure series (Island of Adventure, Mountain of Adventure - there are hundreds)

Letsgoforaskip · 09/11/2025 18:48

We also loved Mr Gum. They are hilarious and have a female lead.