I need a great chapter book to read to 6 year olds

[Asleeponasunbeam]

For our holiday in a couple of weeks. It's to read to DD and DNiece. And no doubt their little siblings will have a listen too. Last year we had great success with 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' but both have now heard (or read! DN is a great reader) all the younger Roald Dahls and I don't want to do the rest too soon.

My DD loves animals, fairies and magic - her cousin is a bit more mature maybe and likes school/ friendship stories.

Any ideas for the perfect chapter book for them both to beg for at bed time? Thanks.

The magic faraway tree books?
Any of the David walliams books?

Enid Blyton - I know the language is a bit old school but they are lovely books, Famous Five and Secret Seven, What about Horrid Henry or The Little Wooden Horse?? Good luck....just great to inspire readers ;-)

Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf. It's old but so funny and my kids love love loved it.

Thanks. My DD has heard all the Faraway Tree books, and DN thinks they're 'babyish'. Aren't David Walliams aimed a bit older? I thought they'd be more 8+ or so.

Oh we loved Clever Polly so much!

I think DSIL is a bit anti-Enid Blyton, sadly.

Please keep suggesting.

I don't know The Little Wooden Horse. I'll look it up.

Freaky Friday

I came to suggest Polly and the wolf too......brilliant books!!

Julia Donaldson's princess mirror-belle collection is brilliant, you can get the 3 books in one.

Little Wooden Horse is a contender.

Freaky Friday too scary for DD I think - (over)sensitive type!

Paddington makes us laugh.

Glitterwings Academy- a fairy boarding school, so ticks boxes for magic, fairies, school and friendship! Fairly well written and there's a whole series so they can keep going if they like the first one.

Ah, Paddington. I like the old fashioned ness of it. DD has loved things like Milly Molly Mandy and Teddy Robinson.

I'll look up Glitterwings.

Violet mackerel books are lovely and beautifully written, also there's a series by Phoebe bright called Lucky Stars that might be suitable (certainly for your dd anyway).

I am reading Pippi Longstocking to my DS 7 and dd 5 at the moment they both love it. Next we were going to do the Little a Prince.

We loved Pippi Longstocking too. I'll look up Violet Mackerel.

For anyone else looking for similar ideas, DD has loved the Ottoline books. I'm really enjoying this stage of her wanting and understanding more complex books but needing them to be read to her still!

Carbonel has also been a big hit - I'm amazed she understood it, but she loved it.

Violet Mackerel does sound great. Just like my DD, in fact. I might have to do some ordering...

Are the Clarice Bean books aimed at this age group? Or are they a bit older? Both love (or have loved) Charlie and Lola.

The worst witch books

I used to read The lion, the witch and the wardrobe to my year 1 and 2 classes. Also the first book in the series ( lion witch and wardrobe is book 2)

Ah, we've read all the Worst Witch and DN has too. Not that I'm averse to rereading but I need something new to both of then for the holiday.

C.S. Lewis would be too scary for mine at the moment. I'm sure she'll love them in time.

Anna Hibiscus?

Wings Detective Agency (Operation Bunny is the first one)
101 Dalmatians
Olga da Polga

Green Smoke

Sophie and the Shadow Woods
Ottoline or Goth Girl
A Necklace of Raindrops (short unusual fairy tales from the incomparable Joan Aiken)
The Firework Maker's Daughter
Stuart Little