Katie Kirby - Lottie Brooks books

[Glitterball93]

Have these books been a success with your little ones? Our LG is 7 and loves reading so looking for some new books and these were recommended by her teacher. I just wondered if anyone had had them and think they’re suitable for 7 yo or perhaps we should wait a year or 2?

I’d wait a year or two, due to Lottie being at the start of secondary.

I know they are very popular with year 6 and year 7. The first book is about her transition to secondary so it's perfect for that age.

Hi, my daughter loved these books but not sure I’d recommend them for a 7yo. Although I’m sure she could read them easily enough, they’re better suited to older primary as they tackle puberty, friendship issues, the transition to secondary school etc.

My daughter adores this series. She probably did start them around 7, we were struggling to find anything that engaged her so I gave these a go despite being a little reluctant as probably ideal for bit older really. However, she loved them from page one and laughed and laughed. Nothing makes her laugh like this series. Yes some of the themes and jokes are aimed for a little older but its nothing too bad and the enjoyment outweighs it for me!

My dd read them all during year 3 (she is a summer baby so was 7 for most of the year). Theres a few bits that are aimed more at slightly older children but there's nothing inappropriate in there, she adored them and they prompted some good conversations (at this point she's read them all about 3 times). For a series aimed at tweens the writing style is very accessible for children younger than this.

Personally I feel they're aimed at Year 5+. Not because they're inappropriate for younger, but just because they cover life experiences more relevant to the Upper Key Stage 2/Key Stage 3 age group.

I'd imagine most readers of the series to be 9-13 (Year 5-8). I'm quite surprised a teacher is recommending them for age 7 (just starting Year 3?).

DD (now 9 and still a massive fan) started them when she was seven and was hooked, though we’d read them together as well as her reading them on her own. They helped with a lot of conversations about friendship issues that started coming up in Year 3 (and increased in Year 4). Her friends just started getting into them towards the end of last year though. She likes diary format of books generally- Lottie Brooks came after she’d rinsed all the Wimpy Kids and Loki, though now she’s also read some that seem a bit younger like Tom Gates and the Accidental Diary of B.U.G. She also has started Dork Diaries too.

The only thing I was worried about were some subtle comments about Father Christmas and a less subtle story about the elf on a shelf, but DD still seems to “believe” in both.

What other books has she enjoyed, OP? We can probably recommend something more age appropriate.

My children both love Lottie brooks (one read at 6, one at 8) but I have only read books 1 and 2 on repeat so far, and with both,.we had to trick them to listen to start of the audiobook / work hard to convince them to even start a book that long (!) but we knew they'd love it it and we were right - as soon as they started, it gripped them and had them in laugh out loud giggles. I do think they both started struggling with their behaviour though upon reading them, maybe it gave them ideas or courage to act upon them or maybe it's coincidence but they both read at different stages and both times I did notice this. I think they're well written and would recommend but may be it's worth waiting a year or two but I'd say but it and have a pre-read and see what you think. Or see if you can get it for free from library or library app etc.

In case it helps, they also like 'Daisy and the Trouble with..."books which are equally funny but audience is firmly for pre-tween age. Other books they've enjoyed reading themselves or being read to them are: Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf, Faraway Tree (you can buy the coloured adventures box set which breaks it into small books which is much better to read imo), and all the Box Car Children books.

To be fair the also like very simple books like Billy B Brown, and picture books (they love all the 'you choose' series by Nick Sharratt). They also like graphic novels like Secret Garden, and the short story ones where we read one part each (cat and cat adventures,foxtails by Tina Kuger, Hello hedgehog, bunbun and bonbon etc).

I would save them till she's a bit older, Lottie has crushes and badly shaves her legs and stuff that would be far more relatable in a couple of years.

Daisy and the trouble with... books are similar to Lottie Brooks in the whole unfolding disaster theme but much more aimed at 7 year olds (and brilliantly funny).

Thank you everyone who took the time to comment ☺️ perhaps I will try and hold off for another year or 2 and find something a little more age appropriate to bridge the gap.

if I see the books when I’m out and about I will have a scan through so I can check their content in person.

I will have a look for the ‘Daisy and the trouble with…’ series.

When recommending the books, her teacher did say some of the content of the Katie Kirby series might be little too old but overall they’d be suitable.

Thanks again xx

You could get one from your local library and read it yourself to judge if it's suitable?

Yes, I’m going to call in today and see if they have the first one ☺️

Hi..I work in a library and these books are nearly always out on loan! So popular! Maybe phone first or reserve on their catalogue to avoid a wasted journey. Unless you are going anyway of course.