What should I read aloud to DD (7)?

[betterwhenthesunshines]

Bit of background. DD has just turned 7 but struggles with her own reading and now diagnosed with learning difficulties in that department but she is top 4% in terms of verbal reasoning & understanding, working memory, high IQ etc

We have been concentrating on helping her with her own reading and she hasn't been that interested in having longer books read to her (although I have read her The Indian in the cupboard, The little princess etc) as she seems to lose interest. I do read to her every night, although she generally chooses much simpler books.

But I'm a bit out of touch with what other girls her age would be interested in (DS was reading Harry Potter, CS Lewis by her age). So not Worst Witch type books that she might read herself, but something more complex - any ideas please?

I'm thinking Five Children and It, The Borrowers?

Mine is 7 and she loves Tracy Beaker...she's also been enjoyng What Katy Did (though I have to explain the older language and the Americanisms) and she has liked E Nesbitt and The Famous Five too.

I might be tempted to say avoid the older classics as they can be a bit "hard to get into" for a child who wants simple things...fun is the main thing at this age...mine also loves Roald Dahl.

I think it's good to alternate classics with more modern books - Matilda followed by Ballet Shoes - IYSWIM.

If she struggles with maintaining interest in a longer book, would short stories be more suited?

DD has a lovely book called The Story Giant which is basically traditional tales retold with a surrounding framework story.

Or Atticus the Storyteller - the Greek myths retold again with a framework story.

Or, completely different, does she like non-fiction - something like The Way things Work?

My DD adores Pippi Longstocking. It's not one long story - each chapter is a different story about her adventures. Might be a good way to hold her interest.

Malory Towers or the "Adventure" series, or the Barney books, all by Enid Blyton.
The Serpent in the Glass (I have it as an ebook on Kindle, and it was free last week when I downloaded it - my 9 and 7 yr olds loved it and my 5 yr old listened in too)
The Borribles - by Michael di Larribieti (sp?) - are good - there's a trilogy, and you can get an omnibus too.
The Golden Acorn was a free download too.
If she's into ballet at all, the Sadler's Wells series by Lorna Hill are nice.

Thanks all, We've started with George's Marvellous Medicine which she said she really didn't want, but I just started anyway and now it's all "read the next bit, read the next bit, pleeeease just a little bit more!" :)

We also have Pippi Longstocking on the go, and I think the Greek Myths book you recommend looks good too, but I was after a single longer story really.

Borribles and Serpent in the Glass I've never heard of and will keep a note of. It's always good to hear about new authors.

The faraway tree...............................

I think the books in your OP sound too long and complicated for a 7 year old. At 7 my middle daughter loved roald dahl, carbonel, pippi longstocking, mrs pepperpot. Long books with dense language can be tremendously offputting for young children. At 9 she is gifted and talented at literacy so not reading the classics at 7 obvoiulsy didnt put her off . We also read very young books together at that age like Puzzle School and the rest of the usborne puzzle series.

oh yes, malory towers and the naughtiest girl at school were faves too.

The Worst Witch series?

Little House in the Big Woods?

We've just been reading stories from the Thousand and One Nights, and I so recommend them. They're made to read aloud which so many chapter books aren't and to be memorable and involving even if they have very complex language. Hans Christian Anderson would also be good.

I would say, enjoy the reading aloud bit and sharing these stories, which are the imaginative heritage of humanity, with her, and don't worry about them improving her reading.

Thanks - yes 1001 Nights and Hans Christian Anderson would also be good. And maybe some of the Just so Stories & Aesops Fables I remember my Dad reading to us and really enjoying.

One of the Michael Morpurgo's.

Anne of Green Gables.

Family From One End Street.

Percy Jackson series.

How about the Puffin Book of Short Stories for Seven-year-olds (and if she likes them, go for the 6/8/9year old ones too)? I think they're meant to be read aloud. Macmillan also do collections called Magical/Funny/Adventure etc. Stories for X-year-olds.

They tend to be very well chosen and have stories by people like Philippa Pearce and Joan Aiken in them - you can then go on to books (chapter or other short story collections) by authors she particularly liked.

Linked story collections would probably also be a good idea - as well as 1001 Nights (I must get that*) things like The Ten Tales of Shellover or Sam Pig (which DD is loving at the moment).

*Which is the best 1001 Nights to get - the Jan Pienkowski one?

I bought the Atticus the Storyteller which looks great, but my 10 yr old has nabbed it!

Family from One End Street looks good - I think she would enjoy that as she loves My Naughty Little Sister so I think she might go for that nostalgic era thing! Also a second hand copy of Teddy Robinson arrived today so I might start that tomorrow.

1001 nights - I have an old one so I haven't looked around - I think it really depends on the illustrations.

Secret Fairy Talent Show by Jeanne Willis and Penny Dann. It is amusing and on one page there is a slightly rude rhyme that a 7 year old would appreciate. My 7 year old GD loved the book.

She also likes the Famous Five and the Naughtiest Girl series by Enid Blyton.

The Jan Pienkowski 1001 Nights has such beautiful pictures. His Grimm's fairy tales is lovely too.

We also borrowed Aladdin retold by Phillip Pullman from the library, which was absolutely wonderful and read brilliantly, as did Michael Morpurgo's retelling of Hansel and Gretel. They each took several days to read.

Beverly Cleary Ramona books (or any of hers)?