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.

Dick King Smith, Tumbleweed - about a nervous knight, has a lion and dragons and a princess, but definitely isn't a 'babyish' fairytale. Just a lovely story about being yourself, not judging on appearances etc. but with plenty of funny bits.

Or Dragon Boy (Dick King Smith again) about an orphan in the Middle Ages who's adopted by a dragon couple (the wife's put her husband on a 'no humans' diet).

Aww I was going to suggest Enid Blyton too as my DD loves the faraway tree books and the magical wishing chair.

So much nicer than the hideous my little pony one she's reading at the minute that bleats on about fashion etc.

We're currently reading David Walliams' Awful Aunty to our 6 year old. I've just bought a whole load of chapter books including:

Five chikdren and it
Madame Pamplemoose and her Incredible Edibles
The Worst Witch
Mary Poppins

Oh, speaking of ponies - the Sheltie books are nice.

[disclaimer] These were written by a friend and I edited them, so not entirely neutral, but they are very good, and are getting great reviews. I hope no one minds me linking to them.

They are aimed at slightly older kids, but for reading aloud should be ok for younger ones, particularly as you said your DD thought the Faraway Tree books were 'babyish'.

Lucy Evans, InstaExplorer - they tell the story of a young girl who travels the world, finding out about the places she visits, learning some of the languages, and sending messages back home to her friends.

polkadots I've written that down. We have the large magic pony books but no nice chapter ones so will order some of them.

I read Anne of Green Gables to DD at around this age, and she loved it.

The Borrowers.

Charlottes web?

But to be honest, I think this age would be far better with picture story books.

I've just read Charlotte's Web to DS (5.5). He absolutely loved it.

Also yy to Pippi Longstocking.

When I was 8 my teacher read us Carbonel. I loved it. I have never been able to find it as I couldn't remember the name. I have looked for so many variants beginning with 'c'. I had also completely forgotten abou A necklace of raindrops. I've just ordered both for my son's upcoming 6th birthday. Though I think that are more a gift for me!

Oh, and this isn't a chapter book, but our kids LOVED this book of first poems

Paddington
My Naughty Little Sister
Worst Witch
Milly Molly Mandy

All series my 6 & 8 year olds enjoy together.

the Dribblesome Teapots by Norman Hunter is also a great hit in this house.

The borrowers? Dd age 6 has been reading mine from when I was little

The secret garden

Rainbow fairies

Not sure what the series is called but dd has some about pony camp

DS2 at that age loved

Atticus claw (about a cat who used to be a thief but is now a police cat - funny and nicely written)
The borrowers
Adolphus tips (Michael morpurgo)
Casper prince of cats (Michael morpurgo)
Stig of the dump
Mrs frisby and the rats of Nimh - really wonderful book
Varjak paw (DS2 is obsessed with cats in case you'd not noticed the theme!)

Oh and (I keep thinking of more!) Peter McElhinny - Little Tales from the Tip. They're about Gloobs, little people who look like balls of cotton wool with big feet and big noses (but they recognise each other by the feet, because recognising somebody by their nose is impolite).

It's lots of short stories, and (my version at least) has some illustrations.

What about Beverly Cleary's Ramona books?

Or Mrs Pepperpot?

The Worst Witch

The secret garden is not great for six year olds IMO. We had it in audio book and its main benefit was making the DCs fall asleep in the back of the car. I was really disappointed in it since it wasn't the way I remembered it.

A little princess is wonderful however (although maybe best saved another year)

'Oliver and The Sea Wigs' and 'Cakes in Space' - chapter books with amazing illustrations and each is a great quirky story.

the EB White books, so Trumpeter sWan or Charlotte's web.
I'm trying Jeremy Strong on my 7yo.

Pandemonium at School is fantastic and very funny, if you can manage to read it for laughing.

Baggledorf by zina pearce-tomenius
my charges loved it