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Original poster

Roald Dahl too long.... Help!

35 replies

grey12 · 28/03/2023 05:05

Hi!
I need your advice :)

My daughter loves books but isn't too keen on reading them herself.....

I've bought her a couple of Roald Dahl books but she's finding them too long. After one chapter she's expecting the story to be somewhere more exciting and it isn't 🤷🏻‍♀️ So she's giving up..... I could read it for her but she needs the practice! Really needs it (UK system not really allowing children to defer a year doesn't work at all!! Broken!!)

I wasn't born in the UK, english isn't my first language so I'm not as familiar with books here.

I am looking for a inbetween book. Chapter book but small. Interesting, exciting. Anything comes to mind?

Thank you!

OP posts:
Yayasisterhood · 28/03/2023 05:09

Moody Margaret
Horrid Henry
flat Stanley
isadora moon

NeedToKnow101 · 28/03/2023 05:10

Me Gum!

NeedToKnow101 · 28/03/2023 05:11

Mr Gum

TakingTheLowRoad · 28/03/2023 05:39

If you use the library app Libby (it’s free) you can download audiobooks - then she can follow along in the book while listening to the story?

DrHousecuredme · 28/03/2023 05:59

The Horrid Henry books helped ds to transition to chapter books.
Followed by the magic faraway tree and the wishing chair books. They're harder to read but do move quickly so keep their interest.
The 13 story tree house books and captain underpants were also a big hit.

MargaretThursday · 28/03/2023 19:22

What I found at that stage was books that had chapters that were complete in themselves worked well. Naughty little sister, Family from One End Street, Milly Molly Mandy were all good for that.
I'd often get them to read a page then me a page as well, which made it easier for them. If they wanted a second chapter then I'd be very kind and let them read a second to themselves. They thought they'd got away with later bedtime!

HagWithAtt · 28/03/2023 21:33

Hi OP, how old is your daughter?

Can you possibly explain what you mean here - 'Really needs it (UK system not really allowing children to defer a year doesn't work at all!! Broken!!)'?

HagWithAtt · 28/03/2023 21:35

Another recommendation for the 13 storey treehouse books, and maybe Tom Gates as well - both have text and cartoon drawings so might be able to hold her attention a bit more at the moment.

listsandbudgets · 28/03/2023 21:42

Which Roald Dahls did you get her?

Some are definitely aimed at younger readers than others. You've not said how old she is but if you've not already, you could try Esiotrot, The Twits, Fantastic Mr. Fox and George's Marvellous Medicine.

Books such as The Witches, The BFG, Danny the Champion of the world and Boy are aimed at slightly older readers.

listsandbudgets · 28/03/2023 21:44

Also you could look for Rainbow Fairy books. If she likes them, the good news is that there are a lot of them and you can usually get batches of them on ebay for not very much.

Hollytreenew · 28/03/2023 21:45

Dick King Smith.
Second lots of the suggestions mentioned by other posters too.

Talipesmum · 28/03/2023 21:50

How to train your dragon books are great

33goingon64 · 28/03/2023 21:52

Atticus Claw series

stargirl1701 · 28/03/2023 21:55

Kitty series by Paula Harrison

Isadora Moon series by Harriet Muncaster

Puppy Academy series by Gill Lewis

Dave the Pigeon series by Swapna Haddow

Barrington Stoke Little Gems

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 28/03/2023 21:57

Worst Witch
Sophie series by Dick King-Smith
Isadora Moon
Pamela Butchart school stories - there is a series aimed at younger readers but I can't remember which way round they are.

stargirl1701 · 28/03/2023 22:03

Wigglesbottom Primary is younger Pamela Butchart series.

Needmorelego · 28/03/2023 22:06

As someone said - which Roald Dahl's did you get and how old is she?
George's Marvelous Medicine
The Twits
The Enormous Crocodile
These are all 'starter' Roald Dahl books good for early readers.
I remember as a child reading The Witches, BFG, Matilda etc wasn't something most children did until they were about age 9. Have you got books that are just a bit too old for her?

OpposableThumbs2 · 28/03/2023 22:13

Isadora Moon / Mirabelle
Rescue Zoo series
Rainbow Fairies
Faraway Tree
Brownies stories
Lizzie & Lucky

These are all books my daughter enjoys.

yoshiblue · 28/03/2023 22:15

How old is she? The Usborne reading book sets are excellent, often condensed version of stories.

She may enjoy Tom Gates or Treehouse books. They were the first big books my DS felt comfortable to read.

Macaroni46 · 28/03/2023 22:26

Primary teacher here. There's a lot of value in you reading to her. I would suggest you take it in turns. You read a page, then her, etc
That way she gets to enjoy the books she's interested in and to partially read them.

Littlebummybums · 28/03/2023 22:32

Toto the ninja cat

Tinybrother · 28/03/2023 22:35

The worst witch

flat stanley

also agree about looking for chapter books where each chapter is a complete story

stressbucket1 · 28/03/2023 22:37

13 storey treehouse books are great, not too much text and the kids get through the books faster so don't lose interest.
Sophie kinsella mummy fairy and me books are in between too, as are the rainbow fairy ones.

WhoHidTheCoffee · 29/03/2023 07:45

My DC is 7 and loves the 13 storey treehouse books. But we also started with The Twits by Roald Dahl and that worked really well - we’ve since read Matilda together.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 29/03/2023 13:27

My daughter is the same. I read a page then she reads a page - works a lot better for us as it means we make progress with the story at a better pace whilst she gets used to reading chapter books.

She quite liked the twits and George’s marvellous medicine but didn't want to read pages and pages of it herself so we took turns.

She is currently quite enjoying the Animal Ark books.