DD (7) - books she can read alone - struggling slightly.

[AnonymousBird]

DD (Y2) is a reasonable reader, though it doesn't come that naturally to her and she has to really work at it. She is improving, and she reads her school reading book to me every night (ORT Level 12 equivalent I think, but a large number of her class are past this). She stumbles over easy words sometimes, but can self-correct and also sort of skips trickier words/makes them up, if I don't watch every single word very carefully.

I'd love for her to have a few books that would count as "independent" reading, to build her confidence, but which are within her capability. Her older brother (8) has Beast Quest, Astrosaurs, How to train your dragon series which he reads himself.. but obviously they need to be quite a lot easier than that for her to have the confidence to read independently (though I would listen in to the "independent" reading to keep an eye on the skipping over words bit). Secret Seven springs to mind, but it's just a bit too much of a stretch right now.

I'm thinking a series of shorter books maybe, to not overwhelm her and to maintain interest. We've tried Rainbow Fairy books and they don't really draw her in, she isn't particularly girly so finds them a bit dull and gives up.

Any suggestions please?

The stumbling/making up words bit you mention is weirdly a good sign - children start to do this as they are becoming more independent readers and relying on sight recognition more than sounding out.
There are some good Roald Dahl books which might work - Magic Finger and George's Marvellous Medicine? Or if you type "Early Reader" into Amazon there's a series on there which are shortish chapter books. (If they're too hard or she lacks confidence you could try the Frog and Toad series? They're funny and simple too.) Or, since you say she isn't very girly, how about trying some non-fiction books? They're often good for emerging readers as they can be "dipped" in and out of rather than having to be read as a long stretch.
Hope that helps!

My dd got going with reading when we found Pippi Longstocking. Not a 'girly' book at all, very funny and quite straightforward writing I think.
What else?
Dr Seuss
Horrid Henry (I hated but she loved!)
this?
Poetry and joke books were popular.
Enid Blyton : Amelia Jane, Magic Faraway Tree, Wishing Chair Adventures
Naughtiest Girl in the School
The Worst Witch
Mr Majeika

Any good?

Thanks both.

We do have Pippi, though I wondered if this might still be a bit beyond her? I will take a closer look. I'd love her to read that!

We have read some of the early Dahl's together. Now she knows the stories, perhaps she could tackle these on her own a bit.

I hate Horrid Henry, but interestingly, that is what she chose at World Book Day!!! And frankly, if it gets her reading, I really don't care! That is a good shout.

Granny is giving her Magic Faraway Tree as her Easter gift, but again, I think it might just be a bit too advanced, but we will see. Love the look of Daisy!

I will look up some of the others - I am not that familiar with them all.

THANK YOU!!! That was very helpful. Lots for me to go on....

There are Horrid Henry early reader books, which might be good?

I recommend these us borne early reader books.

I read Pippi to DS1 and found the translation didn't always flow, so it might be one to read to her rather than try and get her to read. Though it she likes it you might suddenly find the book mark has moved!

Jacqueline Wilson has written some books for young/early readers. DD read one recently - Mark Spark in the Dark. There are more. Might be worth having a look at her website. It wasn't at all girly :o.

DD likes JW and we are reading some of her books at bedtime - the ones for slightly older children (ages 8 -11 ish) as well.

What about the range of books by Jill Tomlinson about the animals.
The Owl who was afriad of the dark springs to mind

Thanks all. I went to the library to have a delve before collecting DD and now have a Worst Witch, a Horrid Henry Early Reader, a couple of the early reader Jacqueline Wilsons and one of the easier Morpurgo books.

We actually have, and have read together, the owl who was afraid book and she loved that - it's a really good suggestion as she could probably manage it on her own as a re-read.

Brilliant, all you lovely lot, we have loads of ideas now, and DD even looked fairly interested when she saw them on the table after school!

Good news - hope she becomes as keen as reader as dd! can't keep her nose out of a book now

That sounds great. Just a word of warning - I'd suggest having a quick flick through the Michael Morpurgo. I remember dd coming home with one from school about that age (Fox Friend ). It was definitely an easy read, but it had an extremely sad ending which really distressed her. Basically, just be aware that any animals in MM books generally get the chop at the end!

I take your point on the Morpurgo - will scan it first for sure. She definitely won't read that one first up, so I have time!

Anyway, the really good news is that since Thursday she has read TWO of the books I got out. A little help needed but not alot, and she is still at the stage of reading out loud (which is fine and I am happy with) and yes, it may have been Horrid Henry but right now, that is no problem!!!

We now have a good stash of reading material for her for the long 3.5 week holiday that is about to start, plenty of variety, nothing too long and my MN book giveaway of Monstrous Maud even arrived at the weekend to add to the collection

Thanks everyone.

we have

My Naughty Little Puppy series
The Magic Toy Shop series
Winnie the Witch chapter books
Naughtiest girl in the school
Milly Molly Mandy
Rainbow fairies
mermaid something or other
Mammoth Academy
Claude in the City
some of the Usborne first reading series stories - stories of dolls (book band 10) went down well with my 5 year old but they have different levels of them so if you look on the Usborne website you will probably find some are level 12 equivalent and might appeal to her. They have nice pictures, clear text and nice stories.
Gobbolino the Witches cat is on our shelf too, I remember loving that when I was a child.
Ramona the brave - there was a series of books about a girl called Ramona which I really liked when I was about 7ish, I think they are still available. worth looking into.

Usborne books are good. Series one, and then series two. Lots to choose from: www.usborne.com/catalogue/catalogue.aspx?cat=1&area=YR&subcat=YRS1

DS read a whole load of Horrid Henry's, both Early readers, then the normal ones

Have you tried the blue and red bananas? There's a lot of variety and some are very good. And the happy families, allan ahlberg. Has she got this www.amazon.co.uk/Illustrated-Stories-Girls-Various/dp/0746074603/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365281836&sr=1-4&keywords=usborne+book+for+girls. Some lovely stories and she can probably manage them?

Although I hate them(!) my dds both love the my naughty little sister books by Dorothy Edwards.

Dd1 is 6 and not girls at all and she likes them.

I got the box set from the book people for about £5.

The print is slightly larger, and vocab pretty easy..... If you can get past the fact the her sister is "naughty" for doing things like jumping in puddles then they're a reasonable read and good confidence booster.

Dd is not girly sorry. Autocorrect fail.