Wanting to read books aimed at younger children

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

I know reading should be fun. But my 10yo is asking for books aimed at a lot younger readers... like Rainbow Fairies and Unicorn Academy. She is dyslexic, but can read and comprehend a lot 'harder' books.

I do find it hard to find books that match her interests... she wants animal books and school books, not scary or mystery books.

I do have a slight worry about her going to Secondary school soon and being young for her age. Which may be irrational. (In other ways she's very mature and responsible... goes to the shop alone to buy a few things for example)

The question i was trying to ask... should I get her the books she wants, or keep encouraging her to try new stuff aimed more at her age group?

Is there are library in easy reach? Lots of choice and no pressure that way.

I confess I read children’s books when I want escapism and think nothing of it…not a problem if she can do both.

let her read the books she likes. There are loads of good animal books aimed at a range of ages.

look out for dyslexia-friendly books. Lark (& others by the same author) are for teens with dyslexia & v good. Possibly a bit to mature for her in theme.

Library is open on week day mornings annoyingly! (Volunteer run, so can't really complain). And yes, I like reading children books too so I can see its comfort reading.

Agree with a trip to the library. Also how about saying she can read what she wants herself but you'd like to read one to her - that way you can introduce the idea of more advanced stories etc

I agree with PPs that I would keep making a wide range of books available to her (I second the idea of making good use of the library) but I wouldn't discourage her from reading anything on the basis of it being 'too young'. My DD is 11 and has always been a "good reader", but still has an entire shelf of her childhood picture books in her bedroom which she enjoys dipping into from time to time!

My DD also likes animal books and loves the Warrior Cats series.

Thank you for giving me more confidence. We do worry shes a bit immature, but there is nothing wrong with comfort reading.

Shes been going through the Waterstones website coming up with a list of ideas. Looking back to when I was 10, I had loads of Saddle Club, Animal Ark, Babysitters Cub etc but there doesn't seem to be a modern equivalent. I found10 old Animal Ark books in a charity shop last year and she loved them.

One of my Dc was the same they found reading difficult so read books "too young" but really if its for enjoyment does it really matter? . She will have school books she has to read so easy readers might help her to relax.

I don't think it matters, as long as she is reading. But why not seek out more of the books you used to read?

I did wonder if I should be reading the Hunger Games in my 60s but decided if I was enjoying it age didn't matter.

Never ever meddle when a child wants to read! Let her read what she wants - ask yourself why you want her to read other books? What difference will it make if she reads those books now or later?

Also try to intorudce her to a raneg of stories through you reading, radio plays, TV, theatre - keep her interested in stories and literature. My kids have read many books they watched on tv, watched things on TV they liked as books - a love of stories can take many forms.

I read absolute shit at that age, pony books, same ones over and over.

Get her what she enjoys. I'm an adult and still love re-reading favourite children's books. A love of reading should be encouraged, you won't be doing this if you make her read things she's not interested in.

Try The Racehorse who Wouldn't Gallop series by Clare Baldwin. It's about a ten year old girl so perfect age-wise and fits the Animal theme. My DD enjoyed the books.

We do worry shes a bit immature Again, unless very pronounced - this doesn't matter either, all kids mature differently and 10 is actually very young. There will be many like her at secondary.

Also you could try Dick King Smith - lots of animal stories - and some Michael Morpurgo.

Here you go!
www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/

Honestly just be happy she’s asking for books at all!

And she’s definitely not the only one, for every 10 year old that’s already a mini teenager theres one who still just likes kittens and unicorns! Enjoy it while it lasts

Some of the books on the 9-12 list here might appeal? www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/find-a-book/brilliant-books/animal-stories

My DD is v similar. Try Charlotte’s Web, the Sheep Pig, Malory towers (can watch CBBC version first to get her interested)…

@rrhuth

We do worry shes a bit immature Again, unless very pronounced - this doesn't matter either, all kids mature differently and 10 is actually very young. There will be many like her at secondary.

Also, echoing this. Most secondary schools use the Accelerated Reader scheme (AR) and the lower bands of that are packed with ‘younger’ books.

The very most important thing is that she enjoys reading. Long, thick books can be off putting when you’re dyslexic. Font and layout is really important too, and younger children’s books are usually shorter and have more ‘reader-friendly’ layout and type. If she’s enjoying reading and not seeing it as a chore, that’s the most important thing.

Agree with the recommendation for Barrington Stokes books, they are great and you can search by reading age and interest age, there are brilliant books for older children with a lower reading ability. They also print in dyslexia friendly fonts and tinted paper. Utterly fab.

[quote NoSquirrels]Here you go!
www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/[/quote]
Wow, that's such a cheering development in reading.

Has she tried Jaqueline Wilson?

Also, my dyslexic DC likes longer more ‘grown up’ stories on audiobook - it’s a valid way to read, and exposes them to vocab and ideas and more complicated stories without the pressure of the tiring physical act of reading itself.

That site looks fab!

IMO reading is for pleasure and I think familiar series like the ones you mention also are comforting iyswim.

I'd get what she is interested in as better than not reading or having things given that no interest/ finds hard work.

As for age. My mum has always been very isn't that s bit young etc.

I haven't mentioned that DD2 still enjoys watching ben and Holly sometimes. Or that I still read her fave bedtime book since she was a toddler. She's 13!

At school etc all is well with classes so. It makes her happy.

I don't have experience with dyslexia. So can't help but imagine makes things more of a challenge for her.

Idea just popped into head. The amazing thing about reading is imagination, being immersed in another place as it were. Also vocab.

What about reading to or with her? Or audio books even? Ticks a lot of the boxes iyswim. As well as reading books herself.

When dd2 been overambitious with choice. We've done paragraph each. That sort of thing. It's all valuable. IMO.

I'm 46 and often read YA books. Let her read what she likes but why not read to her as well - that way you can read things that she might not choose herself and introduce her to other genres. I still read to my teen. Also if she has a kindle then join the library online service if library opening makes going impossible.