Lovely magical books recommendations for sensitive child

[Mumma301]

Hi, my 8 year old boy is a very sensitive soul, he has autism and recently he has been getting really into reading and it seems to help him calm down and brings him so much joy.

I wasn’t much of a reader as a child so I can’t think of any books he’d love. He can’t cope with anything scary, gory, disgusting or with themes like a parents death or being left behind (Disney is a no go 😂). I’m looking for just really lovely sweet stories he might like. He has loved the BFG and Esio Trot but The Twits for example is not for him!

He loved the Faraway Tree. I haven’t tried any David Walliams books yet for him- I suspect there may be too much talk of farts and snot that most kids love 😂 and he’s not keen on reading about people being naughty or breaking all the rules so Horrid Henry style things are also not for him!

Please please please give me as many recommendations as you can, he’s going through a book every 2 days at the moment and as you can see he’s got very specific taste 😂

Ahh he sounds lovely 😊how about the 13-Storey TreeHouse series? They're "wacky" not sure if that's his thing but funny and had my daughter laughing her head off.

Your DS sounds very similar to how I was as a child!

I liked:

The Wishing chair books by Enid Blyton

anything by Beverly Cleary - but especially the Henry Huggins books and Ramona Quimby books

the Paddington books

Winnie the Pooh - he might be a bit too old though

Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit

The One End street books by Eve Garnett

Milly Molly Mandy books (but they might not be so exciting for a boy)

The Alberg books, particularly the Happy Families series.

There’s a lovely set by Michael Rosen- including choosing crumble. Although he might not like fluff the farting fish, the others might appeal.

the rainbow fairies books are popular here for my hugely sensitive 8 year old- I hate them as they are so formulaic, although I suspect that is their appeal.

there’s a new faraway tree, which was similar enough but had new stories.

My lot (and me!) loved The Secret Seven also by Enid Blyton, lots of easy-going but exciting adventures.

He might also like the Cherry Tree farm/Willow farm books by Enid Blyton.
The Secret Island (Enid Blyton) isn't very scary either, although others in the series might be too much.

What about Swallows and Amazon series too? Non-scary (except Peter Duck)and quite gentle.
Also some of the Noel Streatfields, maybe not ballet shoes, but ones like Curtain Up (Theatre Shoes) or Tennis Shoes or The Painted Garden (Theatre Shoes) or Party Frock (Party Shoes) might appeal.

Does he like animals? Dick King Smith, Holly Webb and Helen Peters all have lovely gentle reads for this age group. Some of Dick King Smith's can be a bit emotional but others are very easy going. George Speaks in one that jumps to mind immediately as non-threatening. Holly Webb write for a variety of ages so some of her books are a bit heavier or but her many puppy and kitten tales are as gentle as you can get.

Secret Seven is a good shout too.

Claude books are very short but humorous without being rude.

David Walliams is probably a no-go at this stage as many are rude or contain upsetting themes (lots of death of parents or grandparents).

When I read magical I instantly thought of the Ben Miller books. The Day I Fell into a Fairytale description mentions a witch but the peril is very mild and the books are sweet.

Jeremy Strong - Streaker books.

The Alex Milway books have been a big hit with my daughter, Hotel Flamingo is a series about a girl who goes to run a hotel with a staff of bonkers animals, and Big Sky Mountain is about a girl who lives with her grandmother in the wilderness.

The Whatever After books are great and my son sounds very much like yours, he loves them!
Whatever After g.co/kgs/M4oQ2Cm

Another vote for dick king smith. Especially the Sophie books.

Nevermoor books. They do have mild peril but no grossness and definitely very magical. I love them and I introed them to my friend by saying "they are like a hug in a book"

wow! Thank you so so much I didn’t expect so many replies. These suggestions are fab! I’ll get ordering 😀

just thought of another one - the Pamela Buchart Wigglesbottom Primary series - very funny, very silly, great for independent readers. Worth checking if your local library has them!

I think he might love the Moomins.

The wild robot series. My boy has absolutely loved them.
Wilf the mighty worrier was also a hit here.

He might like the ‘Bobby Brewster’ ones; I used to love them… (gentle boy detective stories as I recall). Out of print now, but I see you can pick up 2nd hand on Amazon still.

Anne Fine? Care of Henry is a lovely book (quite short).

I loved Judy Blume's Superfudge books too, but maybe better for when he's a bit older.

The Dragonsitter series is nice - chapter books, but not very long, and although they're a bit daft, nothing genuinely perilous happens and they're sort of gently humorous.

Also Katie Morag?

What about the Worst Witch books? I was an avid reader as a child and loved books about magic. Favourites were the Magic Faraway Tree and the Worst Witch.

The Worst Witch series are excellent and age-appropriate.

DD loved the Noisy Village books by Astrid Lindgren, especially the winter one. I remember them as very gentle old fashioned stories.

Olga Da Polga and Paddington by Michael Bond

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Haven-Point-Lisette-Auton/dp/024152203X

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stickleback-Catchers-Lisette-Auton/dp/0241522056/

Are worth a try! Lovely books, my boys really enjoyed them!

I know what you mean about Disney stories being horrible. my go to is defiantly Mr men books and topsy and Tim. I grew up reading these and im now reading them to my two girls which they love the light hearted humour in the mr men books. The topsy and Tim books sometimes have the interactive puzzles at the end of the stories which my two love as well.

I got my little girl this Mr men set from amazon at Christmas and she is still asking for them at bedtimes 😅https://amzn.to/45uvl47

Hi I recommend 'Half of my heart' by Dilly Quinn, I'll attach an amazon link below. It's well written, very sweet, and the illustrations are hand-drawn and fit the rhyming storyline perfectly!
'Half of my heart'