Which books do your primary-aged children love?

[QuantumPixies]

I’m starting a primary PGCE very shortly and we’ve been asked to start getting to know children’s books that are around at the moment. The recommended list is a bit dull.

I’d be really grateful if you were happy to share any books you’ve really loved reading with me. It would be helpful to know the rough age the book is best for.

I suspect this might lead to a bumper Waterstones visit next week...

The david walliams books are popular among ds’s friends (age 9+)

David Walliams - world's worst children, gangsta granny, mr stink, demon dentist..etc
Roald Dahl - Matilda, The Witches, The Twits etc
All the Mr Men and Little Miss
Julia Donaldson... everything!
Boy aged 6

Mine like Timmy Failure books They are funny, easy readers. It's about a boy and his pet Polar bear and scrapes they get into.

Yes to David Walliams.

They also like Rick Riordan books, both the ones about the Greek gods and the Egyptian ones.

They also like non fiction books as well.

6yo reading herself:
Dogman
Dotty Detective
Far Away Tree series
Ottoline
Puppy Academy series
Puffin Book of Stories for 6yo
Worst Witch (loves the tv show!)

Ones we loved younger reading together:
Mick Inkpen books
Noddy books
Julia Donaldson

David Williams books.
Jacqueline Wilson books.
Goth Girl books.
Wimpy Kid books.
Tom Gates books.
Dork Diaries books.
Middle School books.
All age 8+.

Worst Witch for aged 5+.

Thanks for all these so far.

Some old favourites of mine up there.

There’s a Worst Witch TV programme?! I loved those books.

Top end of primary - Alex Rider series (and other Anthony Horowitz stuff) , Hive series, Young Bond series.

13 story treehouse and all the follow ons are v funny

They are meant to like Michael Morpurgo, but mine find him a bit hit & miss.

My DD has just turned 11 and she loves Jacqueline Wilson books.

DD who is 8 is really enjoying a book by Clare Balding at the moment called something like The Pony that Couldn’t Gallop.

Ds aged 9 loves

Wimpy kid
Tom Gates
Michael Morpurgo
David Baddiel

Doesnt really like David Walliams

Pokemon (and similar characters )Manga was very popular with my daughter's class last year (Year 5). Graphic novels are great in general. A lot of popular novels have been re done in graphic novel form (Alex Rider for example). I love Jacqueline Wilson. Daughter (age 10)is starting to not be as excited by her books so I went and got the latest 'Rose Rivers' for me (age 43) !
I also love the Alex Rider books, books by Cathy Cassidy, the Ramona series by Beverely Cleary, the Daisy series by Kes Grey, Dirtie Bertie books, Horrible Histories and The Beano.

Younger ones -infants-

Sendak- where the wild things are
Donaldson-the Gruffalo

Mine don’t really like David Walliams either. Lots of Jeremy strong books have gone down well, especially ‘Lost: one hundred mile an hour dog’

David Walliams Worlds Worst Children series are a good bet for not very keen readers as they are short stories but relatively grown up.

Oh and loads of usborne non fiction books. And the collection by someone I can’t remember but includes ‘the owl who was afraid of the dark’ and ‘the gorilla who wanted to grow up’ or something like that! There’s six or so, very quaint but cute and DS (6) loves them.

My DS (dyslexic) loves the Julius Zebra series.

Please, please, please read up on dyslexia (and other learning difficulties) and engage in best practice - DS's teacher last year did lovely horrid things like read the class's spelling test results aloud. I've just found out they even announce in assembly which kids are behind the others! [anger]

Wow, I’ve been out for the evening and wasn’t expecting to come back to do many responses. Thanks so much all.

fermat your son’s teacher sounds absolutely horrendous. Even if she didn’t know much about dyslexia, knowing not to read out test scores should have been obvious. I can’t believe they call out students who are behind in assembly. Dreadful. I’ve worked as a TA for 18 months, mainly with children with SEND so I really hope I’m going in with a fair bit more experience than the average student. I have really cringed when I’ve been in a fair tee mainstream classes at the teacher’s lack of awareness when it comes to proper differentiation and inclusion for students who need extra support. I hope your son gets someone better this year.

Thank you Quantum - the more teachers like you, the better!

Books we've enjoyed reading together, which most late primary kids would be reasonably confident reading themselves - Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, David Walliams, Roald Dahl, the "My head teacher is a vampire rat" series, The Silver Sword, the "My brother is a superhero" series. (DS is sat here saying "Maze Runner", but strictly that is YA, rather than primary school, and has added "Lord of the Rings", which probably isn't what you were looking for either... I think I'm owed some sort of parental medal for heroic efforts in reading aloud, though I must confess I skipped the poetry... on the minus side, I get parental bad behaviour points for not getting him reading independently as well as I might have done, but I'm very wary of nagging as I don't want to suck the fun out of reading and put him off.)

For lower end of primary, mine love "Oi frog/dog/cat" Fabulous books.

DS1 age 8 reads to himself:
King Flashypants series
Captain Underpants
Dogman
Mr Gum
Percy Jackson

DS2 age 5 likes many of the same, I'd we read them to him.

Age 9+ I'd really recommend The Mysterious Benedict Society series.

Horrid Henry
All the Julia Donaldson books.

DD 7.5 years likes The Secret Rescuers series by Nosy Crow (they also make apps for kids and are breaking into the book market), The Storm Dragon is the first book. There's much to like about them but they are quite repetitive (which she has pointed out too). Too girly for my liking.

The New Adventures of Mr Toad (two books so far, by Tom Moorhouse and Holly Swain) are fab. The are re-imagining the classic Wind in the Willows characters. DS (9.5) loves them too. The school had an author/illustrator visit by the creators, five out of five stars. V unisex.

P.S: For KS2 the Wolf Brother series by Michelle Paver!
DS was also really touched by Wonder by R J Palacio, the teacher read it to them in year 4.

I love those “oi” books. I’ve read them all with my little reception group. They’re great fun to sign!

Kes Gray writes a series with a protagonist called Daisy. They’re absolutely hilarious.

fermat it sounds like you’re doing a great job with your son’s reading. I’m sure I’ve seen some year 6 pupils around the school reading Maze Runner. It’s on my personal reading list!

This thread makes me so happy. I really appreciate all the replies.