Books to read to older children

[NellyTheElephant]

My three children are 11, 9 and 7. All three are avid readers themselves, though obviously at different levels (11yr old lost in endless dystopian futures - Hunger Games, Divergent etc, 9 yr old currently in Percy Jackson phase and 7 yr old into Mr Gum, David Walliams, How to Train your Dragon etc).

I still read to them most nights, which we all love, and I try and choose books which they wouldn't necessarily have gone for themselves (most recently Goodnight Mr Tom, Moonfleet, Watership Down, Dragonfly Pool). I'd like to move on a bit really to the next level and was just wondering if anyone had any recommendations???

I'm assuming HP is a bit too obvious?

What about Secret Seven or Famous Five books?

Roald Dahl?

Terry Pratchet might be good or some Jaqueline Wilson?

Oh, actually.

The Spooks Apprentice books are BRILLIANT.

I got my nieces (10 and 12) hooked on them recently. Big hits!

Some more classics? At least it will help equip them for future pub quizzes!

Swallows and Amazons
Black Beauty
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Tom's Midnight Garden
The Hobbit
A Little White Horse
The Children of Green Knowe
The Silver Sword
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Carrie's War
War Horse
Call of the Wild

How about The Secret Hen House Theatre? There's a sequel too.

Have you come across Wonder? A brilliant novel which will give you lots to talk about.

The Hobbit
Green Knowe books
The Box of Delights
Secret Garden
Anything by Eva Ibbotson

David baddiel's books are quite enjoyable.

I loved when Hitler stole pink rabbit and Rumer Godden's the dolls house, and I'm looking forward to sharing these with my dc.

Here Be Monsters by Alan Snow is great for reading aloud, and pleasantly bonkers. Your 7 and 9 yo are a good age for it. 11yo might still enjoy (DH was gripped!)
Charmed Life (chrestomanci series)/by Diana Wynne Jones
I loved reading aloud the HTTYD series-gutted they're finished actually.
Younger two might enjoy Stig of The Dump.

Watching with interest as 9yo DS is a good reader and avid consumer of stories, but most anti-reading them for himself (there are other SN at play).

Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh was a great read. And the younger Terry Pratchetts - Tiffany Aching books and the Wee Free Men.

DD is 10. I'm holding back on reading Harry Potter 6&7 to her until next year and His Dark Materials too.

Recently we read The Secret Garden, Tom's Midnight Garden an Anne of Green Gables, all very successful.
Less so were Tuck Everlasting, The Giver and A Wrinkle in Time (all of which were new to me, too).
I can certainly recommend the Lloyd Alexander Taran books, great for boys and girls. They were our Summer reading.

She gets Jacqueline Wilson, Percy Jackson, young Terry Pratchett books out of the library to read by herself and seems to enjoy them. I can't give an opinion though!

Place marking!

My DSs are 9 & 11 too and we have been reading the Little House on the Prairie books - they really like them and there is lots to talk about there.

Am keeping this thread for the other suggestions. It's nice to see others still reading to their kids, a friend recently (who has younger ones) commented that she was shocked DH are I were still reading to them.

Your DC all seem to enjoy fantasy, OP, so I would suggest something along those lines. But obvs you'll want it to be well written since you'll be reading it aloud... Hmmm... Under Sea, Under Stone was a nice read and the DC really enjoyed it. It stands well alone but is the first in Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising series, if any of them love it enough to want to read the rest. I also enjoy reading E. Nesbit's children's books aloud, either the Railway Children or one of her more magical ones.

Or, since you've enjoyed reading them Classics so far, something that has classic kind of feel to it but was written more recently. Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell, perhaps. We all loved that book (my DC are 14, 11 and 9).

I also agree with emmaMBC about Wonder. Beautiful book.

Second Susan Cooper!

I began reading Five Children and It to DS1 and found it very dated.

Many thanks for suggestions, some good ideas to look at (although not many that DD1 hasn't already worked her way through), in case you are interested I have accidentally started reading a ghost story to them (The Owl Service, I had no idea what it was about as had never read it) which the girls are loving but little one a bit twitchy.... and next we're going to read Jane Eyre.

I was going to suggest another Alan Garner book: The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and The Ghost of Thomas Kempe by Penelope Lively.

We've just really enjoyed 'rooftoppers' by Katherine Rundell

Kevin Crossley-Holland's Arthur trilogy might appeal.

Following on from Twig's suggestion, I'd add The Driftway and The House in Norham Gardens, also by Penelope Lively.

If it's still in print, The Children on the Oregon Trail is brilliant - with lots to talk about.

My DC loved all the Swallows and Amazons books as bedtime stories but they might not appeal to everyone. It may have helped that we had holidays in some of the places featured in the stories - and read the books to them in those places while we were away.

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman.

The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas is my favourite. Quirky and brilliant,

The Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness is very good, especially the first book. Might be good for your eldest if the others don't like it.

Or narnia?

The Scarlet Pimpernel

I loved the 'Oregon Trail' book as a kid.
Most of my ideas have already been suggested.
I have read Tom Sawyer to mine.
'Holes' by Louis Sachar then they read 'Small Steps' by themselves.
How about some Dickens?

my 7 an 9yo are enjoying the "Witch Wars" books by Sibeal Pounder. There are 3 out so far, number 4 is due out in October.

I have DS (9) and DD (7), they can both read anything they like now, but still like me or DH to read to them.

To be honest, I am enjoying reading to them now more than ever before - certainly more than when they were toddlers and wanted the same picture books over. and. over. again. Now I get to do all the voices and put everything I have into it, lovely!

I'm reading the Roman Mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence with DS and Little House on the Prairie series with DD (seriously good books, and not really as schmaltzy as you would think).

Other books that DS has enjoyed: Swallows & Amazons, Sword in the Stone by TH White. DH has recently read him The Martian (book the recent film was based on) earnestly beeping out all the swearing.

I would love to read anything by Diana W-J as she was one of my favourite childhood authors, but DS not keen and DD too young. I've read them a Christmas Carol, wondered about doing some other Dickens, but might be too much (it's very wordy)