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Children's books

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Original poster

We've finished ALL the Famous Five. What next?

42 replies

pupchewsleg · 14/05/2018 10:10

I am sad they are over as DS2 has loved them. He still likes me to read to him at bedtime, so what shall we choose?
DS likes a bit of peril, adventures, animals. We have read all Harry Potter (DS was fine with scary bits). Marcus Sedgwick's Raven Boy and Elf Girl series (brilliant). Mr Gum. Faraway tree etc.
So we would like a series with adventure, danger, animals and likeable characters.
We have tried Secret Seven but not keen.
Any suggestions appreciated.

OP posts:
mammmamia · 14/05/2018 10:14

Five Find outers?

A4710Rider · 14/05/2018 10:15

Does anyone remember the Dragonfall 5 books?

Childrenofthesun · 14/05/2018 10:15

If they enjoyed the famous five, how about Enid Blyton's "Adventure" series - the River of Adventure, Ship of Adventure etc

A4710Rider · 14/05/2018 10:16

It's a bit of a leap from picnics and adventures but I remember going on to Dragonfall 5 after FF and SS.

Gruach · 14/05/2018 10:21

(Assuming you’ve done Dahl ...)

A Series of Unfortunate Events?

The Jungle Book?

The Hobbit?

William!

The Ghost of Thomas Kempe?

The Eagle of the Ninth ++ is excellent - but quite bleak.

Oliver Twist?

Watership Down?

UrbaneSprawl · 14/05/2018 11:16

Arthur Ransome and E Nesbit seem like good candidates...if you’ve read Famous Five together then a bit of old fashioned language obviously isn’t too offputting.

“The Sound of Propellers” by Clive King was a gripping adventure story (set immediately pre-WW2) that I recently rediscovered.

I would see “Northern Lights” as ticking some of the same boxes as Harry Potter (though, IMO, better written and more metaphysical).

SusieFlo · 14/05/2018 13:17

I've got 'The Children of Castle Rock' by Natasha Farrant on our bedtime pile. Not started yet but reviewers describe it as a modern Famous Five.

You could also look at Abi Elphinstone's books, perhaps - and maybe Masefield's 'The Midnight Folk'?

pollyhemlock · 14/05/2018 18:19

If he likes adventure you could try Helen Moss www.helenmoss.org.uk/
Lauren St John is very good: try the Laura Marlin mysteries, or her animal series set in Africa starting with The White Giraffe. A book I am recommending a lot is The Explorer by Katherine Rundell, which is excellent. I liked The Children of Castle Rock, mentioned above, but some might find the tone a little irritating.

Ilovewheelychairs · 14/05/2018 18:23

Animals of Farthing Wood?

parrotonmyshoulder · 14/05/2018 18:24

Joan Aiken - starting with The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.
Narnia Chronicles

PlumsGalore · 14/05/2018 18:24

Swallows and the amazons. I also read the five find outers as a child and much preferred them to the famous five.

PlumsGalore · 14/05/2018 18:26

Oh god yes, the Narnia books, all of them starting with The Magicians Nephew, my favourite

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 14/05/2018 18:27

Don't miss Enid Blyton's Adventure series and the Secret Island... superior to the Famous Five in my opinion!

BrutusMcDogface · 14/05/2018 18:27

Oh, The Castle of Adventure was one of my favourites as a child! As mentioned above, there's a series of them. I read a few (can't remember all of the titles though Blush)

newroundhere · 14/05/2018 18:30

The Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper? How old is DS2?

MeltingSnowflake · 14/05/2018 18:33

Have you tried Just William? 39 books chronicling "the adventures of unruly schoolboy William Brown" Grin

MeltingSnowflake · 14/05/2018 18:34

Oh - and Tin Tin? I think the modern reprints have taken out the archaic (i.e. racist!) language.

Witchend · 14/05/2018 18:35

Malcolm Saville's Lone Pine Series-try ebay.

Pixel99 · 14/05/2018 18:37

Tom's Midnight Garden - Philippa Pearce (I think) I read this to both my DC. Magical ending.

Inkspellme · 14/05/2018 18:38

Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy - one of my son's favorites- full of adventure and fun and the occasional scary bit .

The Indian in The Cupboard is a great story too.

doublerainbows · 14/05/2018 18:44

Captain Underpants
Antony Horowitz
Eoin Colfer
MIchael Morpurgo
Charlie Higson
Marcus Sedgwick
Skulduggery Pleasant

imsorryiasked · 14/05/2018 19:06

Bear Grylls children's adventure books are great (somewhat surprisingly a I always thought he was a prat!)

MeltingSnowflake · 14/05/2018 19:48

Oh and all the Rick Riordan books too - esp Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard - they are really witty and a fun read

Inkspellme · 14/05/2018 23:35

Rick Riordan were excellent.

I’m just curious - did you not find the famous five dated at all? My kids attempted to read them years ago and just couldn’t relate to them. My dd pointed out how the girls look after the domestic stuff and the boys go and be macho. She just couldn’t get her head around them. I loved them as a kid but I could see her point.

Original poster
pupchewsleg · 15/05/2018 17:49

Thanks for all the book ideas. I am going to order a few. The famous five is old fashioned. It made DS think though, when they have to go to the farmhouse to ask to use a phone rather than having a mobile. Also he loves the fact the children go off without any adults for weeks.
You are right about the girls (Anne really) doing all the work and the boys leading the way, luckily George doesn't believe in those gender roles!

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