Fantasy books- 8yo

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

My DD is enjoying the Wizards of Once at the moment. She also likes Harry Potter.

She struggles with reading (maybe dyslexia) so we tend to read together, so need books we can read out loud easily. She does like complex plots. She likes have some illustrations to break up the text otherwise it can become overwhelming.

Does anyone have any recommendations of what else she may enjoy? I'm starting to think about Christmas.
Thank you.

The Narnia Chronicles by CS Lewis? Some nice illustrations. Start with The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. They are best read in the order they were written IMO.

Yes she's enjoyed Narnia as well. She did the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at school last year. We haven't read the whole series though.

The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddel (possible miss spelling). Several books in the series, all fabulous.

Diana Wynne Jones has done some aimed at that age group. Earwig and the Witch and Freaky Families come to mind.

I love all the stories mentioned here. Your daughter has good taste! I'm not sure how appropriate all of these would be for an 8yo, but you might enjoy them too.

The Land of Roar by Jenny Mclachlan, it was Waterstones book of the month in August. I read the blurb and had to buy it for my son (very premature as he's only 3 months and it's aimed at older children, one of the main characters is 11,but I enjoyed it)

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor, they're a series of 3 and a totally different take on Alice in Wonderland.

I back and forth on Philip Pullman, I like the Amber Spyglass but neither of the others from his dark materials.

Artemis Fowl

Noughts and Crosses

Anything by Roald Dahl, his stories are great.

Quentin Blake has written a few, Cockatiels is a good one for easy reading, I'm not sure if it may be enough though as it's not got a complex plot as you said she likes.

Second Edge Chronicles. DS2 (now 9) has enjoyed being read The Hobbitt and Lord of the Rings.

Also recommend Archie Greene series ddeverest.com/, Witchworld series nosycrow.com/product/witchworld/, and Debi Gliori's Pure Dead series www.goodreads.com/series/81880-pure-dead

Thank you. I've lots to look at (and fingers crossed I'll no longer have to read the atrocious rainbow fairy books again)

Oops I can't spell Hobbit!

There definitely comes a point when you say that if they want Rainbow Fairies/Beast Quest, you have to read it yourself.

Unfortunately I have a 6yo as well so there maybe a few more Rainbow Fairies but she's just discovered Famous Five.

My 8 yr old DS is enjoying the Amelia Fang books, I think they are fairly simple and fun but set in a fantastical place.

amazon.co.uk/Phantom-Tollbooth-Essential-Modern-Classics/dp/0007263481/ref=sr_1_1?crid=23DEOSBENDNR9&keywords=the+phantom+tollbooth&qid=1571755564&sprefix=the+phant%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-1 The Phantom Tollbooth]] is one of my favourites. DS really enjoyed it when he was about 8 too.

Well that didn't work, sorry OP!

It's The Phantom Tollbooth by Normal Juster

argh, Norman !

(going to lie down in a dark room now)

Jennifer Bell's Uncommoners books are excellent (the first one is The Crooked Sixpence).

How about the Redwall series by Brian Jacques? They were originally written for Deaf children so are brilliant read aloud as everything is so descriptive. They are old and a little dated from an adult perspective sometimes but all the fantasy and magic is still there.

The Boy Who Grew Dragons series
Dark Waters series
Amelia Fang
The Creakers
Frostheart
Witch Wars

Thank you.

The Tiffany Aching books by Terry Pratchett. The first one is about a 9 year old girl and she gets 2 years older in each one, so check if the later ones are suitable first. Starts with The Wee Free Men.

His dark materials

Nike gaiman has some great little books
Coraline
The Graveyard Book

Michelle Paver - Wolf Brother is a lovely book. It's a series.

Skellig by David Almond, not sure if it's entirely fantasy but it's wonderful

The Giver by Lois Lowry is beautiful

Carpet People and Bromeliads series (starts with Truckers) by Terry Pratchett. No pics that I can remember but really good books and as a bonus you should enjoy them too!

My just 8yo is, and has been for a couple of years, a massive fan of the series which starts with the 13 storey tree house. They're effectively graphic novels so hideous to read aloud but lots if his mates who don't enjoy 'wordy' books love them!
Also Tom palmer books are v accessible. Loved armistice runner which ties running, first World War, dementia and family into a really accessible read.

Try two books by Catherine Fisher, The Clockwork Crow and sequel The Velvet Fox. They are short, atmospheric fantasies.If she’s dyslexic it’s worth looking at the Barrington Stoke website. They publish books specifically for dyslexics and have some great authors writing for them.

These are great thank you everyone.

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend. Loads if similarities to Harry Potter, but better done in DD's opinion (she's 7, nearly 8).
There's a sequel which is equally good.
DD has enjoyed Wizards of Once and Harry Potter. She's now really enjoying The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson. It's about the granddaughter of a Baba Yaga, whose job it is to help souls pass from this world to the next.

Howls moving castle - Dianna Wynn Jones. Also her chrestomanci series and dale mark quartet are fantastic

The Belgariad by David eddings