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Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

Capable but reluctant 7 year old boy

32 replies

Fabuleuse · 24/06/2021 07:38

DS is turning 7 next week and never reads fiction on his own for pleasure despite having learned to read long before school! He's in a reading group on his own at school because he is still ahead of the rest in reading skills and comprehension. I was a real bookworm as a child and would like him to get into the habit of reading too. He wants to do our library's summer reading challenge which I've signed him up for.

I think fairly short books are the way to go, and he's a bit sensitive so nothing scary or emotionally demanding. He likes science, inventions, world geography and adventure stories when we read them aloud. Recent books he has loved when read aloud are Charlie & the chocolate factory, Charlie & the great glass elevator, the Jack stalwart books. We've read loads of Enid blyton including Faraway Tree, famous five and secret seven. Also the magician's nephew which he liked but I think some of it went over his head. He likes humour but not really farting/burping/gross humour yet (though I'm sure that delightful stage will come).

So I would love any suggestions to entice him into independent reading! Series or standalone books are fine. So far I've thought of Horrid Henry. He's not fussed on Beast Quest unfortunately which I know are popular.

OP posts:
Retrievemysanity · 24/06/2021 07:49

What about a kids national geographic magazine subscription or a similar science one? In terms of books, my DD enjoyed the 13 storey treehouse series.

Fabuleuse · 24/06/2021 08:04

@Retrievemysanity thanks, great suggestions! In fact you have read my mind as I signed him up for a nat geo kids subscription recently and it arrived last week. He's done all the puzzles and ignored the articles! I also forgot to mention he read the first of the 13 storey treehouse books with his dad and loved it. I got the full set for a bargain price so will keep him supplied with these but I'm not sure if he'd go for reading these himself yet rather than having them read to him as they are longer books - he seems to have some sort of barrier when it comes to book length!

OP posts:
Retrievemysanity · 24/06/2021 08:21

My eldest DD is like this although she has a learning disability. She hates books that she can’t finish all in one go! Younger DD is a real bookworm although I think at just turned 7 she still preferred to read longer books together. I remember reading the first and second Harry Potter to her when she was that age. She was quite into the rainbow fairy book series which was just the right length and she’d read those herself but appreciate that your son probably won’t be into those! I think she was nearer 7 1/2 when she would sit and read roald Dahl length books on her own. You’ve mentioned about Enid blyton, have you read The Children of Cherry Tree Farm and the sequels? DD loved those.

intheenddoesitreallymatter · 24/06/2021 08:24

Anthony Horowitz books are great but perhaps a little advanced? Maybe more of a read together but the Diamond Brothers and Alex Ryder were brilliant.

Other ones - captain underpants? Diary of a Wimpy Kid? Or appealing to the seven year old in him the great big book of poo? David Walliams books are also very popular here!

whoknew23 · 24/06/2021 08:27

Horrible Histories?

BlueChampagne · 24/06/2021 11:52

How to train your dragon?
A subscription to The Phoenix?

Cheesybiscuitsmineallmine · 24/06/2021 11:55

Tom Gates and The Treehouse series were a big success with year 2/3, very popular and funny.

intheenddoesitreallymatter · 24/06/2021 12:02

@whoknew23

Horrible Histories?
Gosh you just unlocked my childhood!

They also have the full series on audio book - I had them all on tape back in the day but I'm sure you can download them!

FuzzyPenguin · 24/06/2021 13:23

My DS 7 loves
Horrid Henry
Dirty Bertie
Pokemon
Roland Dahl

CatChant · 24/06/2021 13:39

Cressida Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon series
Enid Blyton's Five Find-Outers series
The Phoenix
Aquila

Usernamenotallowed · 24/06/2021 20:19

My son is the same age and Tom Gates seem to encourage him to read a long book alone at night time without it having to be colour pictures/ short enough to finish in one go.

He's also enjoyed reading the short story colour editions of the famous five, adventures of the wishing chair and the magic faraway tree. Each book in the last 2 just covers one of the lands and I think he found it easier without it being such a long book.

He still prefers books with pictures so some other suggestions:

  • the secret explorer series
  • the worst class in the World Series
  • Ricky ricotta
  • Investigators
  • Mr Penguin

He also loves non fiction books and is currently really enjoying the '100 things to know about...' books.

CrabbyCat · 03/07/2021 00:02

Recent successes with my DS include the Real Pigeons series by Andrew McDonald (Australian success that's now been published here), the Rabbit and Bear long picture books series and Magic treehouse.

I'll be trying some of the books listed above though!

Nannyamc · 03/07/2021 00:08

Stick with enid Blyton initially. Language is great for this age group. Topics vary but vocabulary suits them.

Kanaloa · 03/07/2021 00:16

Second horrible histories - they’re very accessible because everything is explained, plus there are funny little comic strip style pictures.

Peabody25 · 05/07/2021 22:52

My DS is 7, nearly 8 and has loved the Dogman series for the last year, he just keeps re-reading them. Also bunny vs monkey, Tom Gates, Ben Fogle's Mr dog series, investigators series (alligators are investigators), Sam Wu series

Pazuzu · 06/07/2021 10:32

Captain Underpants (can watch the movie and TV series too)

Timmy Failure (by Stephan Pastis of the wonderful Pearls Before Swine cartoon). There's a film of that too.

Diary of a wimpy kid.

Tom Gates

Horrible Histories

blackwingedstilt · 07/07/2021 15:27

He might like WhizzPopBang, children's science magazine including craft activities, puzzles and jokes as well as articles. Mine loved this aged 6-10 and still re-read old issues occasionally

mouche202 · 07/07/2021 18:57

My son enjoyed Tom Gates, the Kid Normal series, and the Grunts series by Philip Ardagh. Also the Roman Mysteries series though they are a bit more challenging and can be grisly.

NewallKnowall · 07/07/2021 19:01

Worth visiting the library really often so he can browse and pick up books without the pressure of finishing them if they don't click.

I find suggestions from The Reader Teacher and the 'tube maps' and 'reading roads' from Mister Bodd's blogs just brilliant for discovering new authors/series to tempt my reluctant reader with.

EwwSprouts · 12/07/2021 21:44

Tiger Wars series by Steve Backshall

RestingStitchFace · 10/08/2021 19:29

Does it have to be fiction. I used to be an English teacher and I found it was often easier to 'hook' capable but reluctant readers with non-fiction. Eg Horrible histories. Kids encyclopedia and Guinness records books. Or something that ties with their interests - eg Minecraft etc. Reading is reading - the main things is to just get them interested in something.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 11/08/2021 12:04

Dick King Smith? There's usually a bit of mild peril, but not too bad.

Harry's Mad might be quite a good one to try first, about a boy who inherits a parrot who can speak.

Tumbleweed is an adventure story, but it's knights and dragons etc so I don't know if it will appeal. The first bit is as an example.

Lund · 11/08/2021 12:15

Keep going with the treehouse series - these and captain underpants were the ones that my DS into reading. He was also a very capable reader from a young age but took a long time to get into reading for pleasure. Was probably more like 8/9 when he started to look forward to reading and spending a long time with a good book. So don't panic! Also keep reading to him as much as you can, - DS is nearly 11 and still had a 'bedtime story' until a few months ago! I thnk this really increased his understanding and ability to follow a longer story.

Fizzgigg · 11/08/2021 12:15

Tom Fletcher's novels are great. He's my 8 year Old's absolute favourite author (Enid Blyton close 2nd).

The Christmasaurus ones are fantastic

WeRTheOnesWeHaveBeenWaitingFor · 11/08/2021 12:18

My DS is the same age and loves -
Dogman
Diary of a wimpy kid
The wild robot
Bunny vrs monkey
How to train your dragon (different from the films)
Pretty much anything by David baddiel

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