to ask for book recommendations for children

[cheepsskram]

I'm putting together a list of books as some parents at my children's school would like to donate books as part of a school celebration. Some of us are trying to put together a list of 'essential reading' for each year group.

So AIBU to ask for the collective Mumsnet help? And we could share our favourite child's book memories

(I'd be ultra grateful if you could put the year group too)

I'm thinking of donating My Naughty Little Sister. Even my son loves the stories in there!

Personally I think that it would be better if you asked each class to come up with a wishlist compiled by the teacher and their class.

I'm not big on the whole essential reading list. These tend to only target more able readers and often do not take into account the children's tastes or good new books which are proving popular. For example would you know to include the wonderful Claude books (one of which was just shortlisted for this year's Red House Children's Book Award)? In fact, that would be a good place to start as the books shortlisted for this award are chosen by the children. You might not consider Wimpy Kid or Percy Jackson to be essential reading but children love them and the waiting lists for them at local libraries are huge. Also it may be worth getting in a couple of copies of the most popular books as many children will want to read them.

Visit your local library and book shop as well as staff should be able to tell you what are the current favourites in your area.

If the children have a say and can choose books they recognise or which their friends or teacher can recommend, they will be more likely to want to read them.

I'd put in a word for Tyrannosauras Drip which is one of the lesser known Julia Donaldson books as it predates her partnership with Axel Scheffler so it doesn't "look" like one of hers. Fabulous rhyming and a nice story about not fitting in.

Just seen other posters recommending the Claude books. They really are fantastic.

Depending on the ages of the children, the books and authors that stuck in my mind are:

Dick King-Smith
Diane Wynn-Jones
Terry Pratchett (starting with Truckers and the Carpet People and onwards)
Roald Dahl
Leon Garfield
Neil Gaiman

Ferdinand the Bull
Fatipuffs &Thinifers
Anne of Green Gables series
Little House series
Flat Stanley
Emil and the Detectives
My Friend Mr. Leakey
To Kill a Mocking Bird
The Friends
Calvin & Hobbs
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy