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Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

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Original poster

Book suggestions for child who is able, but too young to read later Harry Potter books

49 replies

brilliotic · 15/07/2017 16:25

DS is nearly 7. He is an able and scarily fast reader (for me anyway, I read slowly). He has just devoured book four of the Harry Potter series (The Goblet of Fire) in 9 days. Now he is clamouring for more.

I was hesitant to let him read The Goblet of Fire in the first place and do not want him to proceed on to the next three books for a good while yet - though some of his classmates have been reading them. I need to present him with some other great books, just as fun but more age appropriate. To stop him from badgering me all the time about The Order of the Phoenix!

I have seen the recent 'bereft after HP' thread but feel that the books on there are way too 'old' for DS.

Any suggestions?
Preferably something a bit meaty, and ideally a series, or an author who was written lots of books, so that he can keep going for a while :)

OP posts:

madcapcat · 15/07/2017 18:21

Dianna Wynne Jones? Lots there to be going on with, particularly the Chrestomanci series and The Ogre Downstairs

Sadik · 16/07/2017 18:14

Second the Chrestomanci series (though some of DWJ's other books are probably a bit old for him)
The Charlie Bone series by Jenny Nimmo is quite HP-esq, but less dark in tone.
I think the first Percy Jackson series is fine for that age - at least I hope so as 15 y/o DD encouraged me to buy them for her 7 y/o cousin as an Xmas present!

Oldies-but-goodies - the Narnia books are ideal for young good readers I'd say.

Original poster

brilliotic · 16/07/2017 18:41

Oh, the Charlie Bone series looks perfect! A shame that it is out of stock over at the book people ...

I had been looking at Chrestomanci but felt it might be a bit old for him yet, but will now have another look (and think). And will check out Percy Jackson too. We tried Narnia not too long ago but the whole thing with Edmund going behind his siblings' back and consorting with the 'enemy' freaked him out. It's very much still black and white/good and bad with him, no shades of grey!

Thanks so far - any more suggestions very welcome!

OP posts:

MaroonPencil · 16/07/2017 18:46

I third DWJ and would also suggest the How To Train Your Dragon series.
I was the same re Harry Potter, although DS has read them all now aged nine.

Sadik · 16/07/2017 18:48

Very different, but dd absolutely loved the Swallows and Amazons books at that age. They're very long and there's lots of them (!) and they're really very gentle with good strong stories.

MaroonPencil · 16/07/2017 18:48

Maybe the Green Knowe books too.

RedSandYellowSand · 16/07/2017 18:59

How to Train Your Dragon.
My 8 year old has loved Diary of a Wimpy kid. Might be worth a look.
Narnia.
And Roald Dhal he hasn't read?

EllenRipley · 16/07/2017 19:06

The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones by Will Mabbit - brilliant for that age, regardless of gender. Really inventive, hilarious and full of magic, pirates, talking animals... think I may have actually enjoyed them more than my son! Couldn't recommend them highly enough. We've read two in the series, I think there's a third.

Mothervulva · 16/07/2017 19:07

Unfortunate series of Events.

Synecdoche · 16/07/2017 19:27

I LOVED the Redwall books by Brian Jacques at his age. Don't be put off by the fact they're about talking animals (!) - they're really well written and engaging stories. Plus there's hundreds of them.

Synecdoche · 16/07/2017 19:31

The first three are Redwall, Mossflower and Mattimeo. Libraries and charity shops usually have them in abundance!

ButtonLoon · 16/07/2017 19:34

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke. (it also has a new sequel but we've not read it yet)

elephantoverthehill · 16/07/2017 19:38

'Captain Underpants?' There is a film coming out soon too I think.

Daffydil · 16/07/2017 19:40

Definitely DWJ

How about Artemis Fowl?

Or the younger Garth nix? (Sabriel might be a bit old)

Judy Blume's Fudge books?

Huffletuff · 16/07/2017 19:41

My DS9 has been a huge fan of the Warrior Cats series. He likes a Series of Unfortunate Events. The Hobbit. Wimpy Kid. Anything Michael Morpugo. He's also read all the Potters.

MipMipMip · 16/07/2017 19:45

Ms Wiz. I kept reading those WAY longer thank should have.
How about Darren Shan? The magicians apprentice series. Someone other than me can likely advise if they're too dark for that age but I enjoyed them as an adult. There's 12 books in the series so would keep him going.

Somerville · 16/07/2017 19:46

YY to How to Train Your Dragon series (very different to the films so don't be put off if he's already seen those) and Charlie Bone.

Percy Jackson way too mature for mine at that age - there is a subplot involving domestic abuse in the first book, for example.

Look at the Warrior Cats series and Rangers Apprentice.

Can you take him to a library and set him loose in the 8-12 section? It's such a golden age of children's fantasy writing at the moment, there will be loads of books out there to appeal to him, but mostly not in massive long series.

Somerville · 16/07/2017 19:47

No-way Darren Shan for a 6 year old - those scare me!

crumpet · 16/07/2017 19:48

Sting of the Dump
Fortunately the Milk

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 16/07/2017 20:13

The Hobbit. Ds(7) loved it so much that he is reading the Lord of the Rings (not sure he will get through). Ali Sparks books - enjoyed shapeshifter series, Helen Moss adventure island series, time travelling with a Hamster, try him on lots of different books and see which he enjoys the most.

MipMipMip · 16/07/2017 20:18

fair enough somerville - I can't judge ages at all. I know I read scarier at that age but I would read everything!

BikeRunSki · 16/07/2017 20:18

Lionboy and its sequels

daisydalrymple · 16/07/2017 20:22

Original poster

brilliotic · 16/07/2017 23:59

Thank you everybody, this is so helpful!

Have put together a list of books/series to try.

Regarding Roald Dahl, he is a big fan but those books he hasn't read yet, is because he finds them too scary (The Witches, The BFG). He has just this week re-started the BFG but doesn't seem to be getting past the start.

He loved 'Fortunately the Milk' and enjoyed Stig of the Dump.

We tried the 'how to train your dragon' books a little while back without much success, will re-visit.

Regarding trying him on lots of different books, that's exactly what I'm trying to do, it's just that he is somewhat reluctant to try anything new. Letting him loose in the library is something that I do regularly, but usually it results in him making a beeline for the BeastQuest books and picking up 10 of those - even if he has read them already. A year ago he would then go home and devour them. Now, they stay in the bag until it's time to bring them back. But he barely looks at anything else in the library! And as I usually have his younger sister to damage control mind, I can't really help him much. More often than not we need to make a fairly quick exit to avoid being kicked out. DD is not really compatible with libraries, yet, unfortunately.

OP posts:

Just2MoreSeasons · 17/07/2017 00:30

Well I'm no help at all but just wanted to wave at you!
I have a 7 year old who loves Beast Wiest and Harry Potter and am trying to get her into some other books/series as I don't want her to go past the 2nd Harry Potter for a little while. My dd is also quite black and white and I don't want her getting too sacred.
And, I have a 2 year old ds who claims the bookshelves in a library like a ladder as soon as my back is turned.
Anyway, nice to know we are not alone, and I'll try some of these suggestions for new books too

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