Dh nearly finished reading HP to dd(9). What could be next?

[emkana]

Thank you for any suggestions!

Diana Wynne Jones' books read well aloud, I think. Have read quite a few of the Chrestomanci ones to dd (8), though she then read the rest herself as we had other stuf on the go at bedtime.

The Power of Three & The Homeward Bounders are two of my favourites, a bit darker but would be fine for a 9 y/o who was happy with the later HPs.

Agree Philip Pullman fab too, though.

YY to Ursula le Guin & Earthsea too :)

If she hasn't read them, DD & I both enjoyed the Lionboy trilogy by Zizou Corder loads.

A large glass og whisky for getting through the turgid later books [bwink]

also we recently read helen cresswell bagthorpe series, bit dated (i loved them when i read them late 70s early 80s i think) but bit of judicious editing as you read and bob's your uncle. very funny books.

At the age of about 10 I became obsessed with David Eddings, very addictive and readable fantasy. I think it starts with Pawn of Prophecy? I had so much enjoyment out of the first couple of series. Not as cool or modern as HP though.

Terry Pratchett's Young Adult Tiffany series! Tiffany [the main character, who is a witch] is 9 in the first book "The Wee Free Men" which may give it extra appeal for her. Warning though - lots of accents which may add extra hilarity if your DH is like me...(I try, but they're very giggle worthy).

Would she enjoy the full version of Alice in wonderland/through the looking glass? Not as childish as it may seem.

Allnew - DH loves the David Eddings books :) I've been buying them as gifts and he's now got the belgariad and mallorean series.

Btw emkana I'm assuming you buy the books as they take so long to read - don't forget to look on the book people website, they often have collections of books nice and cheap :)

We too have just started book 2 with our six year old
will it really take until 9?

Gerald Durrell, My Family and Other Animals (just spotted it in dd's room).

Have you read the later ones, compo? I wouldn't read them to my 8 y/o - certainly not at bedtime .

Ursula le Guin - another plug for those, also Alan Garner, Owl Service and his other ?trilogy.
Susan Cooper 'The Dark is Rising' series (forget the awful movie of the book if you ever saw it) is miles and miles better than HP (sorry, JKR!)
All the Narnia ones? We've just finished those with DS10
Michael Morpurgo?
Alexander McCall Smith (Ladies' detective chap) has a wonderful series on a little African boy who has fab adventures on his Dad's game reserve - Akimbo and the lion/snake/corocdiles etc...exciting, well written, gives a real flavour of another culture and would be a blessed relief for your poor DH after all thet HPing!

We alternate - one night I read to dd1, dh to dd2, the next night we swap. No reading on Saturday night. Dh does about 10 pages a sitting - at which rate the current book he's reading with dd2, Order of the Phoenix, will take six months!

Pterosaur, I'm reading a Gerald Durrell to my dd at the moment (one of the more wildlife-y ones, can't remember the title), both very much enjoying it.

I was wondering when she will be old enough for James Herriot after I saw it mentioned on another thread, can anyone remember if they have any inappropriate bits?

Lots of my old favourites being mentioned here, I've got 3 of the Dark is Rising series, but need to get a copy of the first one.

Alan Garner - be warned - DH says the Owl Service gave him nightmares for months . . .

There's a point somewhere after the middle of Order of the Phoenix where I almost lost the will to live - he might need a bit longer than that.

The interminable camping trip in book 7 affected me similarly.

I am fond of them on the whole (and they will have been a major part of my dds' childhoods), but they did so badly need editing.

The dds completely disagree though.

I wouldn't worry about reading them to an 8 year-old (well, it obviously depends on the child) - they work up to the darker, later books gradually. You do need to read them yourself first though and make your own decision.

Respect to your DH - I gave up after reading half-way through book 2 and let DS take over by himself.

Suggestions for now:
Diana Wynne Jones - pretty much anything

Eva Ibbotson - some of the ones aimed at younger children might appeal to someone still in a Potter frame of mind, eg The Secret of Platform 13 or Island of the Aunts. Or at 9, your DD might enjoy the slightly older ones, like Journey to the River Sea.

The Boggart and The Boggart and the Monster by Susan Cooper (younger than her Dark is Rising series, but that could also be worth a look)

Ingo series by Helen Dunmore

James Herriot - fine I'm sure, though neither of mine have got into him. I loved him as a child, though older than 8 I think. Dead animals, obviously, a bit of inappropriate drinking and doubtless some rude animal behaviour, but very gentle and jolly.

I agree about The Owl Service, Takver. It's fantastic, but I can remember how much it scared me.

Another vote for Philip Pullman - fab :)

yes to gerard durell!

am currently reading HP3 to DS (8) who likes it, but I find it quite poor really.

Am thinking of switching to Just William next.

Girls that age would also love Ronia the Robber girl (or robber daughter) by Astrid Lindgren. Great book for that age. Might read that to DS also.

I think I'll have to get the first James Herriot - think it will be just dd's cup of tea, she really likes 'real life' books (I had to plough through the entire London Child of the 1870s/London Girl books after reading a few interesting bits, though I flat refused to continue to the later one)

Ooh Takver, you could try Period Piece on your dd? Bet she would love it, especially the Religion chapter which has got to be the funniest.

what about Rosemary Sutcliffe - the Eagle of the Ninth etc? Are they for older people?

Maybe Treasure Island, Kidnapped?

we have HP on audio books every night (read by Stephen Fry) it is excellent

Am going to, mackereltai, but wanted a break from Victoriana!

I tend to stick to older classics, or else new books I haven't read myself. Successes have included Judith Kerr, "When Hitler stole pink rabbit", "Charlotte Sometimes". (actually this makes me realise I haven't read them much for a long time.. but I would go for things like Carrie's war, Silver Sword, Noel Streatfield, Swallows and Amazons)

DP reads them books he wishes he'd read as a chid, so he reads Arabian Nights, E Nesbit, Sherlock Holmes.