DD (6) - sudden surge in reading - what to read "on her own"?

[AnonymousBird]

DD (Y1) was a bit slow off the mark but is now cantering through the reading levels at school and catching up fast.

Roald Dahl, Secret Seven etc all still a bit advanced for her - I'd be reading more than she would. What is there out there that she could read "alone" (ie. her doing the bulk of the reading, me along side to give minimal assistance).

I've tried the town library and there seems to be something of a gap between the "learning to read" section, which is too basic and the "young readers" which are just beyond her right now.

She is desperate to read something other than the school reading books, that she can 90% manage herself.....

TIA.

Dd is at a similar stage,she got a 'magic Molly' book for free with her world book day token and that seems to be pitched at the right level. I am encouraging her to read picture books with more text, like Isabella's toy box as the pictures motivate her.

Her friend reads those blasted rain ow fairy books, but I have been avoiding them

Thanks - will look at those.

That said, at bedtime today, she read me best part of two pages in total of Fantastic Mr Fox without all that much help and was soooooo eager to read it! Knowing the story helps her work out what is coming. But, it does require more help than really she wants, she wants to be an independent Mummy not allowed to but in too often reader - I just don't want her to run beforeshee can walk and have her lose her confidence if I'm helping her with every other word, just need something pitched a bit lower than the full on reading books for 7/8+....

Come to think of it, I have sneaking feeling there are a couple of rainbow fairy ones on the shelf..... will vet it before showing DD!

Would something like the 'Little Animal Ark' books hit the spot? (They're a spin off from the A A series but simpler, more pics, bigger text etc.)

Also the Winnie the Witch chapter books might be worth a look - perhaps a little more complex but def. easier than something like Secret Seven/RD.

the Usbourne young readers are good & series 2 sounds about right. For example: www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Garden-Young-Reading/dp/0746077130/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331151037&sr=1-3

There is a series of books called 'Daisy and the Trouble with...' by Kes Gray, featuring Daisy from the picture books such as 'Eat You Peas'. These are really funny stories and pitched at just the level you are talking about. My DD loved them.

There are Horrid Henry early readers too (each book is one chapter from the original HH's, but with bigger text and more illustrations).

The Daisy books are great!

Have you looked in m&s? They have some great early reader books for £3!

Alfie and Olly & Me by Shirley Hughes are lovely.

See what your library has to offer. You can buy when you see what she likes.

i read mrs pepperpott and milly molly mandy.

Oh some great ideas here, things I'd never heard of (where have I been?!?!?) and JUST what I was looking for but could not find. Usborne young readers and Daisy look perfect - she will be sooo keen on those. Also, have requested a Mrs Pepperpot and Shirley Hughes from the Library, thanks for that - had not seen those before.

Very glad I asked the question. Not sure how I skipped this slightly in between stage with DS, but I have lots to go on here.

We went via 'Walker Stories' says on the back cover 'the perfect first step into fiction' and Usborne young readers.
Then 'Magic Treehouse' series.
HTH

I was also going to suggest Walker Stories or Colour Young Puffins. I read a Walker Stories book called Toffee and Pie at bedtime the other night; three short chapters with simple sentences and pictures on each page and would have been just right for my daughter to manage on her own.

My daughter is the most able reader in her Year 1 class (she's just moved up to gold books) but still not reading fluently enough to pick up things like Mrs Pepperpot/Roald Dahl/Secret Seven yet.

SnorkMaiden I thought the same when my DD was at this level but a few of the shorter Roald Dahl books are suitable for this ability (e.g. Fantastic Mr Fox) and give them so much reading confidence.

I might see how DD gets on with FMF then :) We got the Roald Dahl box set for her birthday in January from my sister.

I might see how DD gets on with FMF then :) We got the Roald Dahl box set for her birthday in January from my sister.

We got the box set too. The Giraffe the Pelly and Me was another she enjoyed at this point. The box set has a good range of reading levels that will keep her going for a few years. My DD is in year 3 now and still hasn't read them all. Fantastic present.

Horrid Henry Easy Readers are great for this stage.

Snork - my DD is about the same, but can manage some FMF - we alternate paragraphs and she copes with it really well, better than I thought she would. Also have Giraffe the Pelly and Me for her to read with me....

Others requested from the library as none in stock but look forward to getting them and trying soon!

DD is nearly 6 and has just started on the Rainbow Fairies books. I am just pleased that I dont have to read the wretched things. But this thread has been helpful because I was just about to come and ask the same question.

Ha, love it or hate it; magic rainbow fairies. Both my dds must have read about 100 of them. They like/liked it it, are easy to read at that stage (they were also in year 1), and once they had "done" the 100 books they were ready to move on to other things!

My DD is in yr1 and she loves Jill Tomlinson - The Hen who wouldn't give up, The Owl who was afraid of the dark, The Cat who wanted to go home etc.

My DD (7 Yr 2) has been very slow reading (dyslexic + vision issues) but has started being keen to read on her own so although she's older than your daughter it's similar situation (and also keen to be seen to be reading 'proper books' - although not too daunting)

The Winnie the Witch chapter books are good.
Also try the Worst Witch.

She has enjoyed My Naughty Little Sister books. Each chapter is a self-contained story so they are a bit less daunting. The line spacing in the copy we have is also really wide so they are easy to read. The text is fairly repetitive so although the words are familiar you still have to check they are actually reading the words rather than just saying what they think comes next!

My son in Yr 1 enjoyed Captain Underpants.
Magic Tree House also recommended ( although too many lines on a page for my DD at the moment)
Also Jake Cake (title not author) - 3 long stories in each book so good for longer reading but not a whole book.

I think so much is whether they like the cover / font / page layout etc as well as the actual stories!

Enid Blyton books are too text heavy and old fashioned. (although DD determinedly read 4 pages of Famous Five all by herself yesterday "this is my book for me to read" - I was busting with pride, but I suspect she'll find it too hard to keep going with...)

Actually the Amelia Jane books by Enid Blyton might be good for her too (about a naughty doll that comes to life)

Not too much text, nicely spaced etc.

Also just found a reference to Teddy Robinson books on another thread and I remember LOVING them! I'm not sure about the line spacing etc but you can get old copies on Amazon.

Also Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf

dd is 5 and in year 1 and she loves books and SAYS that she can read Roald Dahl although I know that she cant really ;-) The Usborne books are really good (our library has lots).

Also, don't forget picture books! There are some gorgeous ones out there (Frog In Love, Meg and Mog, Badger's Parting Gifts, Six Dinner Sid, Dogger), beautiful to look at and some challenging language although not many lines on a page. Don't be in too much of a hurry to move onto 'proper' books!