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Original poster

Not Famous Five ... What is it that we need?

54 replies

roisin · 04/02/2005 20:27

Ds2 is almost reading to himself in bed. We were reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and it was so exciting he wanted to read on, so each night he read a couple of chapters in bed.

Please remind me what else is out there (other than Roald Dahl) of a similar length and complexity, exciting - a real page turner, but not too scary (as he's a sensitive little flower).

Michael Morpurgo seems a bit too heavy atm.
I can't face fancy Horrid Henry or Enid Blyton.
Olga da Polga didn't do the trick
He doesn't like books with animals as the characters - like many Dick King-Smith books.
Flat Stanley, young puffins and the like are a bit too short for what we're after.

I'm sure there's an author I must be missing for this stage/phase..?

OP posts:
Original poster
roisin · 05/02/2005 09:44

I agree completely WWW!

I suffered the Famous5 with ds1, but have since hidden them I haven't disposed of them, but will do if ds2 gets over this stage without recourse to them.

With ds1 I spent loads of time pointing out the dodgy bits, such as their comments and assumptions about 'the little gypsy girl' or whatever. But it's such hard work to do so, and it's unreasonable to expect young children to notice it themselves.

I listen to yr4 readers in school, and loads of them are reading Enid Blyton at home. Well great that they are reading, but when I talk to them about how attitudes have changed in 50 years, none of them have noticed these things in Blyton.

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Yorkiegirl · 05/02/2005 09:42

Message withdrawn

lowcalCOD · 05/02/2005 09:39

ooh you miserable old withc
I love them

WideWebWitch · 05/02/2005 09:38

Oh roisin, I SO agree with you about Blyton, she is completely doing my head in. I'm reading a few chapters a night to ds and we're only on book 8 of 21 of the bloody things so I've a long way to go. I read them interspersed with the odd comment like 'more fool Anne for doing all the washing up, she should get the others to help shouldn't she?' at which ds rolls his eyes and says 'muuuum, read the story. Please.' He loves them, I hate them. What about Alice in Wonderland? I know it's maybe not a typical boy book but I've just bought it to read to ds. Or Charlotte's Web? Or My Naughty Little Sister? Or The Lion the witch and the wardrobe? I know, they're all books from when I was a child and it's obvious isn't it?! Ds liked Charlotte's Web at 5 though and Naughty little sister.

Barbaloot · 04/02/2005 23:18

What about Diana Wynn Jones Chrestomanci series?

jangly · 04/02/2005 22:45

Yes, she's written quite a few longer ones, but they'd be for older children. (Flour Babies, Goggle Eyes, our favourites). Would think any of the books "for middle children" on that link web page would be long enough for him to get into.

Original poster
roisin · 04/02/2005 22:35
Grin
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soapbox · 04/02/2005 22:26

Turgidness I should say

soapbox · 04/02/2005 22:26

Roisin

Sexism...racism... turgindness OMG

Where was I when all this was going on

Original poster
roisin · 04/02/2005 22:19

Ah Miggy, I think that might just be the missing link I've been searching my brain for. I'm sure it was about this age that ds1 latched on to the Caroline Lawrence Roman Mysteries (Thieves of Ostia and so on). Secret clubs, finding clues, solving mysteries etc. - a la Enid Blyton, but without the appalling racism, sexism, and generally turgid writing (apologies to all Famous Five fans out there!)

Thanks Miggy!

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miggy · 04/02/2005 22:13

"Spiderwood chronicles"-nice short chapters-pos a bit scarey though.
"thieves of ostia" and sequels
two american series of chapter books for early readers, I had to get mine from states but have seen them here now. "the secrets of droon" and "the magic treehouse"
"adventures of the little wooden horse" ursula moray

Original poster
roisin · 04/02/2005 22:12

Jangly - Anne Fine - great suggestion. He's enjoyed quite a few of her books from school. I don't know her work very well, most of the ones he's read are the c.70pp size. Are there any longer ones?

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Original poster
roisin · 04/02/2005 22:11

Yorkiegirl - I had discounted MM as being too demanding, but maybe that was a bit hasty. I'll go and have a look on the shelf ... Maybe Cool would go down well ... What else would you suggest?

I've just thought, I bet he could cope with/would enjoy Molly Moon. That's gone back to the library though, I'll have to go and get it again!

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Original poster
roisin · 04/02/2005 22:09

Loads of great suggestions here

Sorry I didn't say his age: He's only 5.5 ... but very able/fluent reader, hence the difficulty in finding appropriate material.

Bit too young (sensitive) for Eva Ibbotson, Harry Potter, and Lemony Snicket atm.

I am looking for things for him to read to himself, as well as for me to read to him.

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KatieMac · 04/02/2005 22:07

I have to say my DD LOVES the FF too
She even worked out how to order them (in the right order) from the library

soapbox · 04/02/2005 22:04

Oh whats wrong with the famous 5

My 2 love the stories.

I read all of them in the summer when I was 7 - was addicted to books from then on in! I spent every penny of my 'holiday money' on them.

BTW - do children still get 'hoilday money' or is that too old fashioned???

jangly · 04/02/2005 22:04

Anne Fine books? here

KatieMac · 04/02/2005 22:03

Arthue Ransome - swallow & Amazons (but there are 11 more)
My DD loves the Animal Ark books (about kids not animals as such)

Original poster
roisin · 04/02/2005 22:03

Hey! Thanks for the replies

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marthamoo · 04/02/2005 22:03

Oh and yes, pixiefish - Lemony Snicket. They are fantastic to read aloud!

marthamoo · 04/02/2005 22:02

How old is he, roisin?

Ds1 loves the Horrid Henry books (Henry is very horrid though - but funny too) and we have also enjoyed everything we've read by Jeremy Strong. Also enjoyed the Mortimer Books by Joan Aiken. At the moment I'm reading him a book about the Fantora Family by Adele Geras (about a family who all have magical powers). Also liked "The Invisible Boy" which I think is by Sally Gardiner. I'll have a look on his bookshelf tomorrow - there are lots more I can't remember now.

And of course Harry Potter - all read at least twice, the first three read three times!

I hated Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator btw. But we have really enjoyed The Twits, George's Marvellous Medicine, the BFG, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Giraffe, the Pelly and Me, Esio Trot and the Minpins.

May do The Witches soon - I thought it was a bit scary before (and sad) but I think he's love it now. He's almost 8, btw.

prunegirl · 04/02/2005 22:01

Message withdrawn

Yorkiegirl · 04/02/2005 21:56

Message withdrawn

pixiefish · 04/02/2005 21:54

secret seven- i know it's blyton but easier than famous 5. real page turners.
what about the lemony snicket books

Original poster
roisin · 04/02/2005 21:53

bump ... is no-one talking to me

Or is it just that you can't think of any books/authors?

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