what are you reading to your 9yr old?

[DeliveredByKiki]

DS isn't a voracious reader, unless it's anything to do with minecraft in which case he's all over it, but he enjoys me still reading to him at bedtime. We've done all the Roald Dahl and David Walliams books, we did Philosopher's Stone but halfway through Chamber of Secrets and he says it's too scary for me to read to him just before bed.

What are you reading your children? I want to read him books above his reading level but not sure what to tackle next - he does love Harry Potter so we'll carry that on in the daytime! I've tried Wind in the Willows, Narnia and various other "classics" but they've been a lot harder going than I remember. Any modern classics I should know about - I read a million books a day at his age and throughout school so I don't know why I'm struggling so much!

I have a similar dc, but with the added complication of needing Welsh language books as well as English.

This is a great list to see what I can get in one or both languages.

Wonderful lists everyone- thanks so much for the input

Anything by Roald Dahl 😊

Second the hobbit 😍

Alice in Wonderland is lovely to read out loud too.

The lion the witch and the wardrobe and the rest of that series are great 😊

I'm reading Tom's Midnight Garden to my DSs (9 & 7) and they are both really enjoying it. It was written in the 1950s but it doesn't seem as dated as some other books from the same period (I read it in the late 70s/early 80s and loved it). Except that Tom is quarantined for weeks and weeks because his brother has measles, which the DCs were a bit puzzled by

Forgot to say that my local independent bookshop recently recommended The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow (Katherine Woodfine) and Cogheart (Peter Bunzl) for this age group - I've just found Clockwork Sparrow in the local library so will give it a try once Midnight Garden is finished. Left to his own devices DS will read books like Tom Gates, Middle School etc which are a bit cartoony, visual gag-type books & not really great for reading aloud at bedtime

This year books I've read my nine year old DS include:
The Dark is Rising - Susan Cooper (possibly scary in same way HP is)
Carbonel - Barbara Sleigh (he asked for this a second time so must have liked it)
Howls Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (yes, that took a while).
Which Witch? - Eva Ibbotson
Marianne Dreams - Catherine Storr (that one is a bit spooky though)

Books we have also enjoyed are The Family at One End Street, Stig of the Dump, The Wizard of Oz, The Children of Green Knowe.

My 9yo loves all Swallows and Amazons; “Red Sails to Capri”; “The Silver Sword”; Laura Ingalls Wilder. I’m currently reading him “Little Britches” by Ralph something.

DS’s reading habits sound similar to your son’s. He’s 10.

We’ve recently finished Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones. Now reading The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. We read The Hobbit for the second time over the summer and he enjoyed it again which amazed me because I think it’s so boring.

I’m amazed how many people have said the Hobbit - I’m afraid much as I loved it as a teen I don’t think I could bear to read the loooooong boring beginning

That age love The Midnight Fox and The Adophus Tipps book by Michael Morpogo.
Both lovely books to read together.

Does the hobbit get better after that long beginning then? I must have started it 10 times in the last 30 years and never got past the first chapter!

Well, it gets better in that you’re closer to the end

Following!

Books by Gareth P Jones e.g. Constable and Toop. Irreverent and a bit unusual.

Just came on to ask the same question!
My boy loves Harry Potter but finds David Walliams too sad as a parent always dies or leaves!
Re-reading cherry tree and Willow farm - really gentle and sort of neutral so great for evenings especially as he’s started having anxiety around bed time - on the hunt for similar non-thrilling things I can read him!

The hobbit isn't that long - are you thinking of the lord of the rings trilogy? Tht certainly has whole chapters of battle scenes I have to skip.

Currently reading Wonder which my kids both love - its a bit American but each section is told by a different kid in the class or family member and I think they love seeing the story unfold from different points of view.

For pure sillieness, The Bolds and Mr Gum

A Surprisingly Fluffy Bird by Jenny Chapman is lovely
Olga da Polga
The Travels of Oggy

My son has loved this year...
The Hobbit
Animals of Farthing Wood
Famous Five
David Walliams
Just So Stories
Wind in the Willows
Just William

The Lionboy books by Zizou Corder

My son sounds similar, except that he has caught the reading bug now!
Alan Snow's Here Be Monsters was wonderful (what the box trolls film was based in, but the book is a hundred times more inventive and funny- both my children were gripped)
At this time of year- The Box of Delights. Yes, it's v old fashioned, but I explained stuff as we went through. The BBC series in dvd was greatly enjoyed afterwards too.
Sam Gayton's The Snow Merchant
Alan Garner Weirdstone of Brisingamen
Clive King Stig of the Dump
Treasure Island
Frank Cottrell Boyce's Sputnik, or Broccoli Boy

We did the lemonade wars over the school holiday . Also 13 storey tree house , the bolds

Seconded Alice in Wonderland. We also read The Secret Garden at about this age and that went down very well.

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy was nicely absurdist and kept us both giggling - occasional explanations were needed though.

Mine reads all the Rick Riordan stuff herself, but if he won't do that, I reckon they'd be rompy enough to keep you both engaged. And there's umpty-diddly series now, so if he turns out to be keen you have a rich seam to keep on mining!

Currently reading my 11 yo DS A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig.

I read it to my 8 yo DD last year, it's a lovely book and as it's probably his last year of believing, it's really special.

I just had my first book published entitled
Mammoot Lost In Time
It is aimed at 6 years + and has had some wonderful reviews.
It’s very funny and exciting with a hint of danger that I think he would love........