what next after 'The Ordinary Princess'?

[witnessprotection]

My 8 y.o (Y3) DD has just finished 'The Ordinary Princess' by MM Kaye and absolutely loved it. It's the first book in about 18 months that she's talked about incessantly, named her doll after the main character, written about it at school, quoted dialogue from it, etc. etc. etc. It's lovely to see her so enthusiastic about something she's read.

Problem is, how do you follow that?

She's just coming out of a lengthy Jacqueline Wilson phase, which I don't object to per se, but it's nice to see her reading something else. She's a competent reader, but leans more towards numeracy than literacy, so anything too densely typed or inaccessible and she'll fall at the first hurdle.

She likes (her words, not mine):
books set in the past
books with good descriptions of characters' looks and personalities
books where people say funny things

Any suggestions?

Firstly - your dd has very good taste! Its a lovely book, and hard to see exactly what would be a good follow on.

Rather different, but possibly meeting her requirements - has she read Little House in the Big Woods?

The other series which springs to mind is the Jennings books - obviously not so far in the past (but far enough to an 8 y/o I should think!), very funny, and very good character descriptions I would say. I don't know if she's the sort of girl who would mind it being all boys in the stories, though?

I don't think she'd object to boys in the stories, she has a houseful of brothers so she's used to boys!

I think she would absolutely love the Little House books but I don't know if she'd be able to read them to herself yet. I quite enjoy reading to her as it's nice to have some 'special' time, but I'm so pushed to carve out enough time every single night to keep something going.

My dds loved this book. They are currently 10 & 9, and have got on well with Cat Royal series by Julia Golding (plucky heroine, set in the past). The 'Little House on the Prairie' series are also quite engaging. Recently have enjoyed (as read-together-at-bedtime-books) The Search for Wondla by Tony Diterlitzzi (futuristic heroine on a 'road' trip), National Velvet by Enid Bagnold (really good but needed lots of explaining), and E.Nesbit (Railway Children and The House of Arden). Oh yeah, also The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall is more modern about a group of plucky sisters.

Sorry, just saw your comment about the Little House books. I think if she can cope with Wilson and got on with The Ordinary Princess she would be okay with the Little House books. Big Woods is the first one I think.

I'd also think that LHiTBW wouldn't be any harder to read than the Ordinary Princess.

'The Dumpy Princess' by Karin Fernald is a great read for any young child interested in history with a humorous edge.

Jane Nissen Books, who publish The Ordinary Princess, have quite a few others in the same vein.

Just to agree that Little House in the Big Woods is much simpler than the other Little House books. Our's even has large text and illustrations if dense text puts your daughter off.

How about Just William? I think they say funny things.