Books to read to my 7 year-old DD (similar to C S Lewis, Roald Dahl....)

[Rockdoctor]

DD is a good reader but she still likes me to read "harder" chapter books to her. We'd been through The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by the time she started school. We've done most of Roald Dahl and most of Enid Blyton (she loves Malory Towers but seems to have outgrown Secret Seven/Famous Five). So... where next? I'm tempted to introduce Harry Potter at this stage, partly because I haven't read them.... and I've also thought about the David Walliams books but am wondering if the themes in these are still too old for her. Any suggestions?

[DeWee]

Mine liked Arthur Ransome at that age; they are dated in some ways, but no more than Famous Five. I had to explain quarantine and mumps to ds for Winter Holiday, and why they couldn't go back to school (he was very envious) and I think one of those sparked in interest in old money for a while (calculating how many shillings he was paying was very funny at times) but that's it.

[fatwad]

Crumble Tales is a short story collection and is getting some good reviews on Amazon for reading to children and enjoying it as well!!!
www.amazon.co.uk/Crumble-Tales-David-J-Boxall/dp/1480263001/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419012899&sr=8-1&keywords=crumble%20tales&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[DeckTheHoopsWithBoughsOfHolly]

I think an introduction to Harry Potter would be OK, but only the earlier books for now.

How about The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry? It's a beautiful story and my DCs all loved it.

[whisperinglow]

My dd loves the Beaver Towers series by Nigel Hinton. Not too hard to read on her own actually but I have been reading them to my dd (same age) and we've been gripped!

[CrispyFern]

Animals of farthing wood?

[CrispyFern]

Gobbolino the Witch's Cat?
Or seasonal, The Story of Holly and Ivy.

I think Swallows and Amazons is so dated that it would be enjoyed more by an older child myself.
Also, the Harry Potters get a bit scary later on, depending on how sensitive she is.

[bebumba]

The Indian In The Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks. It is the first book in a series about a toy indian that comes to life. I really enjoyed reading it :)

[LeBearPolar]

DS loved the E. Nesbit books and they kept us going for quite a while!

[Cedar03]

My 7 year old has enjoyed:
Paddington
Finn Family Moomintroll and other books
Pippi longstocking
A necklace of Raindrops and other stories by Joan Aiken
A book called Wobegon Twins which had lots of in jokes about horror films which went right over her head
100 mile an hour dog by Jeremy Strong and others by him

[Princessdeb]

One of my DD's favourites is The Ordinary Princess by MM Kaye. A delightful tale with a very strong female lead character (and I love reading it too).

[girliefriend]

My dd likes the Flat Stanley series as well....

[ineedaholidaynow]

I am currently reading The Phoenix and the Carpet to DS(9).
How about Paddington Bear books? DS is getting some of these for Christmas.

Phantom Tollbooth is an all time favourite book for me, DH and DS

[Madcats]

Oh yes, the Phantom T. I must buy that (and there I was feeling slightly smug about remembering to get hold of Stig of the Dump). I think it is nice to read a broad spectrum of books.

How to Train Your Dragon series are a big hit (especially after you have heard David Tennant narrating a book). It is a great set of books to read together if your daughter is struggling with expression.

DD is slightly quirky (not especially girly) so we devour anything with Chris Riddell's name on the cover.

A bit harder to comprehend we also like Stephen and Lucy Hawking's George books. I think we'll be re-reading those in a couple of years' time.

School seems to have some old classics abridged for kids and I've found I kept a few of my old books (hoarder here). She loved Alice, Gullivers Travels and Treasure Island.

We've done a couple of Harry Potters, but we'll save the later novels

My brother bought me The Hobbit for my 7th birthday, but I think I'll wait a year or 2.

Happy reading

[OneLeggedCrabGoingInCircles]

Marking page as need inspiration for my DD 7 who is just not as into books as her DS 9 who has read quite a few already mentioned.
DS is loving 'wonder' by R J Palacio at the moment.
DD is reading her DS wimpy Kid series so I'm just grateful for that.

[Elllimam]

Some of Diana Wynne Jones would be suitable for her age group. Maybe start with Charmed Life? Although there is death of parents but also true of Harry potter xx

[Rockdoctor]

Wow - thanks everyone.

We have dusted off our old copies of The Phantom Tollbooth and Professor Branestawm, and I'm compiling a list from the rest for Christmas presents.

Thanks again

[DeWee]

I'm reading ds aged 7yo books that I liked as a child, plus some that passed me by but are in his interest (WWII).

These are ones I've read in the last year that I can remember off hand:

Noel Streatfield: When the Siren Wailed , Caldicot house (I think it's called) Tennis Shoes
Malcolm Saville: Mystery at Witchend, Saucers over the Moor, (am saving Wings over Witchend for Christmas reading) Nettleford series, Ambermere Treasure
Monica Edwards: White Riders, Hidden in a dream, Storm Ahead, Dolphin Summer
Violet Needham: Black Riders, another I can't remember in the Stormy Petral series-the one that introduces the little girl he marries
Arthur Ransome: Swallows and Amazons, Winter Holiday, Peter Duck, We didn't mean to go to sea
Geoffrey Trease: Cue for Treason (this was his favourite and he keeps going back and rereading it), No Boats on Bannermere
Laura Ingles Wilder: Farmer Boy, Little house in big woods, little house on the prairie, Long Winter
Cecil Baldock: Demon Island
Richmal Cromton: Various Just William books (was surprised how funny he found them, I thought they'd go over his head)
Michael Momp(however you spell it): War horse, butterfly Lion
Various Biggles books.

[BiscuitMillionaire]

Charlotte's Web - another classic

[fuzzpig]

The phantom tollbooth is amazing. Actually I might make that one of the books I buy this Xmas. I was in a local theatre play of it when I was 10, I was the Spelling Bee :o (I can still spell antidisestablishmentarianism in under 4 seconds because of that )

[girliefriend]

Meglet wow at doing the voices - that is dedication

Have just bought The Phantom Tollbooth due to your high praise!

[VivaLeBeaver]

Weirdstone of Brisingemen
Toms midnight garden
Swallows and amazons

[meglet]

The Phantom Tollbooth (which is my most favourite book ever)

Mr Gum and How to train your dragon are fun to read out loud.

I've read the first 2 Harry Potters out loud to now 8yo DS. Each book took the best part of a year to read, we dipped in and out of it. I even did voices for all the characters which was bloody hard work.

[imip]

Ottoline and goth girl, chris riddell - my 8 and 6 yo love them!

[girliefriend]

Oh yy to the Mr Gum series -although I find them so random, dd loves them!!

[girliefriend]

The Daisy and the Trouble with... series are great and make me laugh as much as dd!! They also were fab for getting dd independently reading.

My dd is 8yo and loves the David Walliams books but has just got into them this year, we have read Gangsta Granny and apart from me sobbing at the end I would say is fine for a 7yo.

The Holly Webb books are o.kay, dd enjoyed the naughty little puppy series although I found them slightly annoying after a while dd loves dogs though!

She also enjoys the Winnie the Witch books and these have been popular goblin series