Books/series to read aloud to my 8-year old?

[Changeynames]

For context DS is 8, Y3, massively struggles to read and is nowhere near the point of being able to do it for fun (FINALLY been referred for assessment after over a year of the school wafting away my concerns and telling me he will 'catch up')

Anyway. The good thing is that he still very much enjoys stories, books and being read to and I am obviously keen to keep this up as long possible.
We are currently reading and enjoying Narnia; he has also loved books of myths/folktales, and is into science, nature, reptiles and dragons in a big way😁

So, looking for suggestions of books or series that might encompass any of the above interests, with big bonus points for anything that is reasonably enjoyable for an adult to read out loud too!

Thank you!

I am reading my 8 year Harry potter

Have you tried Harry Potter? I started reading it to my daughter at bedtime a year ago, she's just turned 8 and we're on the deathly hallows. She's very much enjoying it. And you've given me an idea of which books to read next so thanks!

Thanks! I've been hesitant about starting Harry Potter because my memory of it (from reading it myself years ago so could be wrong!) is that book 1 would be suitable but it gets dark pretty fast a few books in?

Would you say the later books are still appropriate for their age?

Mr Gum. We love Mr Gum, and if you get the audio books, get the ones read by the author, not the ones read by Kate Winslet (her version is too screechy).

Mr Gum books are brilliant and we have spent many many a hiday just listening to the audio books while driving round. Dh often had them on while driving to work!

Gobbelino the Witches Cat
Teddy Robinson
Famous Five and Secret Seven
Mallory Towers
St Clares

Not too old yet for Winnie the Pooh, if you've read it before, read it again.

I would do harry potter though, it's so lovely reading it and seeing them so hooked to a book.

The train to impossible places
Frostheart
A series of unfortunate events

and definitely Harry Potter. Reading it aloud to my children is one of my favourite memories. DS was 11 by the time the last one came out but he still made me read it aloud and do all the voices. I’ve just finished re-reading them with DD who is 9 and when her brother is around he listens too (he’s now 25)

A series of unfortunate events

I actually agree that Harry Potter is v dark once past book 2. I've stopped after book 2 with my 9 year old - though we enjoyed what we read I think there's no harm leaving it a year or two.
My son was also a v v reluctant reader - literally this time last year. He is now an avid reader which I never thought would happen.
We've enjoyed the How to train your dragon books, and the Mr Gum books as a previous poster mentioned. The Mr Penguin books by Alex T Smith are fab too. I also read the 13 storey treehouse books with him though they are more comic-ey in style they made him laugh and I was just desperate for him to find enjoyment in reading.
He has now devoured all 13 Alex Rider books, Swallows and Amazons etc by himself. No stopping him now - I think finding things that really capture their interests really helped - Spies and sailing in my son's case!

How to train your dragon

Oh also the Horrible Histories books and fact books about animals- Deadly 60! All went down well fir my fact-loving son though perhaps less bed-time escapism!

Harry Potter I'd say you can do books 1-3 no probs but then have a break after book three and don't start book four til he's older.

The Hobbit could be good.

Maybe the Alex Rider books? Too much for him to read on his own but if you're reading to him? Worth a check on the age suitability of those though, not looked at for a while.

Another vote for Mr Gum. They really are brilliant and great fun to read.

We did Harry Potter all the way through at 7-8 with no problems.
we’ve also enjoyed a series of unfortunate events and how to train your dragon but couldn’t manage Narnia. Films and tv programmes to explore with them all.

I’d try the box of delights if you enjoyed Narnia. the hobbit and the lord of the rings. There are 12 swallows and amazons novels but we only did the one. Age of fire series if he likes dragons.

stig of the dump, ballet shoes, worzel gummidge, professor branestawm, pippi longstocking, the wizard of oz, a little princess, Mary popping, goodnight mister Tom, toms midnight garden, eragon.

Artemis Fowl may work too

Jeremy strong books are good, Harry Potter was a bit too much for mine and it actually gave them nightmares

How to train your dragon
The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper
Wingfeather Saga?
Faraway Tree

Sharable reading might be Dragon Masters. They got my dragon obsessed reluctant reader into reading - we started with a sentence each and went from there.

Definitely HP. I started reading it to my daughter about 8 years old and quite quickly she couldn't wait for me and started reading ahead.

Pamela Butchart books are good too.

The Land of Roar series of books is really good. My Yr 4 son loves them. He too struggles with reading but enjoys bedtime stories.

Edge Chronicles
Definitely How to Train your Dragon
Neil Gaiman's Norse Myths?

Sorry @Changeynames I forgot to reply.
I think it depends on the child.
My daughter who's recently turned 8 is on the last Harry Potter book and I'm loving every minute of sharing this story with her.
She loves HP as much as I do, she even has a Ravenclaw themed bedroom now 🤣 but she's managing to keep up and not be freaked out by the darker bits xx

In addition to many of the above, my 8 year old reluctant reader has really enjoyed the Percy Jackson books (I've read them aloud to him) and Terry Pratchett's books aimed at younger readers.

I think he'd love Diana Wynne Jones.

The Pizazz and Bad Nana books are good when he does start to read himself. The words are different sizes on the page, it really helps the child to read it. It's like the emphasis is put in for you. Plus they are really fun books! By Sophy Henn