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Book recommendations for my almost 6-year-old Roald Dahl fan

57 replies

WigWamBam · 19/02/2007 20:34

Dd is working her way through Roald Dahl's books, and is thoroughly enjoying them. But she now says that by comparison, her other books are boring because the writing isn't as good - she likes the descriptive narrative and exciting storylines, and suddenly Milly Molly Mandy and Enid Blyton just don't cut the mustard!

Any recommendations for children's writers who write exciting, imaginative books with similarly good use of language and narrative?

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snorkle · 20/02/2007 19:01

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foxinsocks · 20/02/2007 13:24

catherine storr (just looked on amazon!)

Original poster
WigWamBam · 20/02/2007 13:21

Tom's Midnight Garden ... oh, yes! She'd love that.

Who is the author of the Clever Polly ones?

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foxinsocks · 20/02/2007 13:18

oh yes, clever polly and the stupid wolf are right up there on my fave stories to read list. They are brilliant and really laugh out loud funny.

Aloha · 20/02/2007 13:16

Tom's Midnight Garden.

Aloha · 20/02/2007 13:16

Clever Polly and The Stupid Wolf stories are SUPERB. And huge fun to read aloud.

fuzzywuzzy · 20/02/2007 13:15

How about;
Polly and the wolf (there are quite a few in the series)
Simon and the Witch
The wizard of Oz (or is that too old for her do you think?)

foxinsocks · 20/02/2007 13:10

aah thanks for that jodee. Will look out for those.

jodee · 20/02/2007 13:07

Foxinsocks, just done a search and it is Jeremy Strong (There's a Viking in my Bed, Viking at School) - not heard of the CC books you mentioned, will look them up - thanks.

Original poster
WigWamBam · 20/02/2007 13:02

We haven't got as far as The Twits yet - that's the next one

A lot of his characters are caricatures, aren't they - almost cartoon characters. But they all exist alongside ordinary, well-rounded characters too.

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foxinsocks · 20/02/2007 13:01

yes, those are the moomintrolls . I got them from the book people (on offer) but I think the books might be too old for them at the moment.

foxinsocks · 20/02/2007 12:59

Jodee, are those the Cressida Crowell ones (How to Train Your Viking, How to Speak Dragonese, How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse)?

those are popular here too (worth looking at WWB, to see what you think).

The other ones that dd likes are the Rescue Rider series but they come out of the school library so I'm not sure whether they are still in print.

Other good ones (bit shorter than any of the above) are the Ahlberg's Gasskit family series (The Man Who Wore All His Clothes, The Woman Who Won Things, The Cat Who Got Carried Away). Both mine think these books are hysterical!

Aloha · 20/02/2007 12:54

But also lots of lovely women, like Miss Honey, and awful men too, Like Mr Twit.

Original poster
WigWamBam · 20/02/2007 12:53

Finn Family Moomintroll ... another one I'd forgotten about. Tove Janssen, aren't they?

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Original poster
WigWamBam · 20/02/2007 12:52

I had wondered about The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe - wasn't sure whether it would be a bit dark, but my memory of the books is a bit dim. I was probably about 7 when I first read that and was OK with it. Dd would really identify with Lucy, I think.

Jodee - yes, you're right, it is always the women who mistreat the children ... I guess that's a tradition that goes right back to fairy tales - wicked stepmothers and all that.

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foxinsocks · 20/02/2007 12:49

think they were £18. Amazing bargain (also got the Finn Family Moomintrools set!).

foxinsocks · 20/02/2007 12:47

we got those too Aloha. Kids have been lying in bed (they are knackered from swimming) listening to the Twits for ages!

Aloha · 20/02/2007 12:46

I second Sherbert's recommendation. It is the world's greatest bargain!
I'd do Lion witch and wardrobe and work from there. Some of it is darker and scarier, but I think Lion, witch is good, and the youngest girl is the heroine, which is nice.
Worst Witch is fun. Arabian Nights also good (if v gruesome!)

jodee · 20/02/2007 12:46

DS (nearly 7) loves the Dahl books, (and he always has women mistreating the children, doesn't he - Sponge, Spiker, Grandma); reading our way through the Narnia stories as well, and we have some about a Viking (could be Jeremy Strong?)

Original poster
WigWamBam · 20/02/2007 12:43

Bit of both, Aloha - but mainly for us to read to her at bedtime though because it's faster that way!

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Sherbert37 · 20/02/2007 12:42

Not a book but watch out for the complete set of Roald Dahl DVDs from the Book People. I got these for DS2 for Christmas for under £20 (Should be over £120) and they are great. Come in a neat zip around case.

Aloha · 20/02/2007 12:38

Is this for reading by herself, or for you to read to her?

Original poster
WigWamBam · 20/02/2007 12:34

Oh, I haven't come across those at all, fox. I can't believe the huge gaps in my knowledge of children's literature!

She's read some Milly Molly Mandy, PM, and although she liked them at first, she has now declared them Too Boring. She has really loved the excitement and the fun that the Road Dahl ones have (plus I think she likes the slightly subversive side to them!) and wants more books like them. She's really been captivated by them in a way she never really was with MMM or Enid Blyton.

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foxinsocks · 20/02/2007 11:07

ooooh WWB my 6 yr old dd likes similar books to your dd.

She LOVED the Dimanche Diller series - you start with Dimanche Diller, the others follow on. You can probably find it in the library.

pretendmum · 20/02/2007 11:03

Have you tried MIly Molly Mandy, I loved these books when I was younger (I'm only 18 now), Dick King Smiths Sophie series was also quite good.

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