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Children's books

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Recommendations for enjoyable chapter books to read aloud to a six-year-old

82 replies

AliasGrape · 21/06/2026 21:50

DD will turn 6 in the summer holidays.

We have endless picture books and forever picking up more, but I’m finding it hard to find chapter books to read to her that she enjoys and don’t make me want to jump out of the window whilst reading them (I just cant face another bedtime of Rachel and Kirsty helping their fairy friends find the three magical objects over and over).

Any recommendations for chapter books for this age? She is, despite my best efforts, very into the stereotypically girly princess fairy sparkle unicorn stuff, but I would like to also encourage a bit of branching out where possible.

Things we’ve got/ read with her -

Rainbow bastard magic fairies - she loves, but even she is getting a bit over the exact same plot every time now

Secret Seven - Her dad’s been reading his old ones to her. She quite enjoyed them on and off, but has said she’s bored of them now!
I was a Famous Five girl myself and might try her with those at some point.

Magic Faraway Tree - she wasn’t interested, though to be fair she was probably still a bit young when we tried and might be worth another go

Sophie Mouse - I think they’re sweet, I think she finds them a bit dull

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - she loved this, tempted to try other Dahl’s now but she can be a bit sensitive and I think she’d find Trunchbull too scary in Matilda, I also think the BFG might scare her (might be projecting as I was terrified of him as a child!) Same for The Witches but I know there’s others. I do struggle with people being described as fat and/ or stupid on every page, think I need to get over myself a bit though.

The Worst Witch - I had high hopes but she couldn’t have been less interested!

We’ve tried a few from the library but the selection is crap and we tend to fall into the trap of grabbing anything with a fairy/ unicorn/ mermaid on the front and then they’re just not very good. Or she’ll gravitate towards stuff that’s too old for her. So I’d like to have some suggestions to reserve, or to put on her birthday list to buy please.

She is gymnastics obsessed at the moment also - don’t know if there’s any books with that as a theme?

Shes not overly fussed about independent reading yet unless it’s information books - she’ll have a go, but this is still mostly for us reading to her as she likes a story at bedtime.

OP posts:
Everything0Everywhere · 22/06/2026 23:24

I recommend the Hotel Flamingo books.

Also, I'd suggest watching the Faraway Tree film and then starting the book again.

CatherineCawoodsbestie · 23/06/2026 07:40

Agree with Gobbolino the Witches Cat, and UMW other books - The Little Wooden Horse and Jeffy the Burglar’s Cat.

Charlotte’s Webb and Stuart Little

Nurse Matilda (written by Christiana Brand and the basis for Nanny McPhee).

My Naughty Little Sister

The naughtiest Girl in the School series by Enid Blyton. My daughter always found the Secret Seven to be too goody goody!

pompomtiddly · 23/06/2026 07:43

My daughter loved Henrietta. It’s quite a quirky child’s eye view of the world, imaginative, funny, and a good antidote to fairies and unicorns. This edition is 3 books in 1.

Henrietta, the Greatest Go-Getter (The Henrietta Series) https://amzn.eu/d/07Nxiqji

Amazon

Amazon

https://amzn.eu/d/07Nxiqji?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-childrens-books-5545315-recommendations-for-enjoyable-chapter-books-to-read-aloud-to-a-six-year-old

painttheworld · 23/06/2026 08:08

Polly and the stupid wolf
Pippi Longstocking
The Borrowers

Silverbirchleaf · 23/06/2026 09:40

These used to be huge amongst kids so definantly worth considering.

Also another vote for ‘Gobboliba, the Witches cat’.

AliasGrape · 23/06/2026 11:28

Can't reply to everyone individually but really grateful for all the fantastic suggestions, already picked a few of them up used and will have a good idea of what to look for on our next library visit.

OP posts:
Piglet89 · 23/06/2026 11:31

Anything by Road Dahl? My son (6, turning 7 in August) loves the Twits.

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