Enjoyable Children's Books That HAVEN'T Been Made Into Films / TV Series

[UsefulSmartPrettyHappy]

I'm just thinking of books to read to my 9 year old that don't have a film or TV series attached to them.

Something I read the other day, about how the films and the merchandise attached to children's books has become more important than the actual books, has made me stop and think.

Most of the books I've read to my ds do have films based on them.

I don't think that's necessarily an awful thing. However, there must be loads of other overlooked and underrated books I could be reading too.

All suggestions appreciated

Hermux Tantamoq — a mouse who's a clock maker ends up solving mysteries.

Thanks everybody 😊

I'm giving this another bump In case anyone has any further suggestions.

Given the travesty that was the recent Swallows and Amazons film I wouldn't let film or TV execs anywhere near the other Arthur Ransome books.

The Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries by Robin Stevens, though they are probably more suitable for late primary/ early teens than younger children.

The Redwall books by Brian Jacques went down well with my DS when he was 9/10.

If it hasn’t been mentioned - the Nevermoor series is fab.

Another vote for Michelle Paver - Chronicles of Ancient Darkness -a surprisingly massive hit with my kids!

Wings of Fire - a mix of graphic novels and novel novels

The Skulduggery Pleasant series! We absolutely love them!

The Wizards of Once series by Cressida Cowbell.

*Cowell 😁

Fab, thank you.

Alan Garner: weidrstone of Brisingamen, Elidor
Noel Streatfield Gemma Series, White Boots

Wow what a brilliant thread - so many books I have never heard of !

My suggestion might be a bit mainstream and it will I believe be made into a film but my 9 year old is enjoying Amari and the Night Brothers.

Can I ask a question too ? How many of these books do you get through ?
My DS won't read alone for pleasure and each book feels like it takes forever to get through ! We can't pick more than a few books to read or it becomes overwhelming!

I know what you mean about how the books can take an age to get through.

I usually read a bit of the book myself first, to see if I think it's worth investing the time in because my ds will always want to break off from reading the book to chat about what's happening.

Books I'm not too fussed about ds will read by himself.

I mainly like to give him loads of options of books I'll like so we're not reading something one of us hates.

Also, I do quite like reading children's books anyway, so some stuff I'll read and keep for ds to either read to himself or with me at some point in future.

Sorry, I think I might be waffling too much but basically when ds reads to himself independently he reads quite fast but, yes, shared reading at bedtime is a slow process and we've read about 1 and a 1/2 books this year. That was only because ds got really into Matilda and was desperate to finish it.

I read a few chapters each night of a novel to my son before bed, then after I've gone down stairs he'll read a few chapters of a different novel each night! So about two books every 10 days. We always have two on the go.

He gets tonnes of books for Christmas each year and we work our way through them and then by that point it's his birthday so he'll get a tonne more!

Not sure if they've been mentioned but Diana Wynne Jones' books are largely unadapted, except for Studio Ghibli's rather lovely version of Howl's Moving Castle. Her Chrestomanci series has Harry Potter vibes, and the Dalemark Quartet is just beautiful.

Sorry if any of these have already been mentioned!

The Wizards of Once series by Cressida Cowell hasn't been adapted...yet.
Besides Ramona there are some good Beverly Cleary options e.g. Dear Mr Henshaw.
See Ya, Simon by David Hill which is very sad but beautiful.

If your son enjoys quite dark fiction, Robert Swindells is fantastic.

Oh, I love The Wild Hunt of Hagworthy -- that would be excellent. And yes to Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea books, and Alan Garner's Weirdstone of Brisingamen (though I suspect the Fundindelve tunnels bits would give me severe claustrophobia, as I find reading them almost unbearable...)

And a non-travesty version of Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising series.

What about Robert Westall's The Scarecrows?

A pony in the luggage by gunnel linde was a firm fave of mine and my kids loved it too. Laugh out loud funny and would be an excellent film.
Another vote for the ogre downstairs by Diana wynne-jones too
The Carbonel books are brilliant
And green smoke by rosemary manning

Every now and again another book from my childhood pops into my head and I track it down on eBay. It's utterly joyful sharing them with my kids. I used to read favourite books over and over.

aaahshoot, thanks for that.

The silver sword by Ian serellier.

L1ttledrummergirl - I keep meaning to read that book. When I was at school I was meant to read that book. I was given a copy of it to read, and we'd get time in class to do silent reading to ourselves.
I was a good reader and a compliant child but for some reason I just didn't want to read that book. I can't remember why. I used to just turn the pages and pretend to be reading!