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Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

Original poster

What are your best _new_ children's (chapter) books

35 replies

Takver · 31/03/2009 17:35

say written in the last 20 years or so? Just thinking that we always seem to get lots of 'classics' listed on here, but it would be nice to find some good new books too. Ideally ones that are good for adults too, as we are always looking for new bedtime reading!
FWIW my list would start with the Cressida Cowell Dragon books and also include the Anna Hibiscus books by Atinuke.

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Original poster
Takver · 31/03/2009 20:01

Anyone? Am a bit stuck as our library is very small so we end up ordering books, and so it tends to be old favourites like Enid Blyton all the time - am sure there are lots that dd is missing out on . . .
Would be nice to find some good modern books that a 7 yr old would like (ideally not full of 'ishoos' or part of a squillion book series about fairies )

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troutpout · 31/03/2009 20:04

Both of mine have roared with laughter (in fact we all have) at the mr Gum books. I think they have been my favourite books to read to the kids.

Themasterandmargaritas · 31/03/2009 20:10

Michael Morpurgo books are a favourite at the moment, beautifully written and interesting.

Original poster
Takver · 31/03/2009 20:11

hmm, dd has read the first one - she thought it was 'ok but not funny and too short' - tbh I wasn't that inspired by it either, I think we are both missing something drastically here as everyone else seems to think that they are fantastic . . .

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Original poster
Takver · 31/03/2009 20:13

Any particular ones by him margaritas? Did he write the story about Whale growing in a garden??? (dd has it on a storytape & I think its great)

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troutpout · 31/03/2009 20:16

oh yes... Michael Morpugo's 'kenzuki's kingdom...i could hardly read it at the end i was so choked.

Kathyis6incheshigh · 31/03/2009 20:16

the Clarice Bean books by Lauren Child? or are they too young?

Themasterandmargaritas · 31/03/2009 20:18

Dd is 7 and we went for one aimed at slightly older than her and she just loved it - Casper, Prince of Cats. It is about an orphan boy, who becomes a bell boy at The Ritz, befriends a Diva, ends up with her cat, cat and he befriend a rich American girl, there are some adventures and a tie in with the Titanic. It wasn't short and dd loved it. We then spent a GREAT deal of time googling The Titanic

Another one is The Butterfly Lion, which is shorter and probably more resonant for us as an element of the story is Africa based.

We have a younger one for ds who is 5, about a farm cat, which is not nearly so good, so perhaps look at the ones aimed at slightly older readers.

Original poster
Takver · 31/03/2009 20:19

I had though CB too old? I don't know as I haven't seen them but I know a friend's 9 yr old reads them.

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Themasterandmargaritas · 31/03/2009 20:21

Yes I thought they were too old for dd too.

VintageGardenia · 31/03/2009 20:25

My ds is a bit older - he's 10 - but we've just read Harriet the Spy which he really enjoyed. And even though Noel Streatfeild is usually more popular with girls he enjoyed The Circus is Coming.

Animal-wise there's Varjak Paw and its sequel, also Spy Dog and its sequel.

Michael Morpurgo is fantastic.

Original poster
Takver · 31/03/2009 20:27

Casper Prince of Cats sounds fantastic -unfortunately they don't have it in the county libraries - will have to put it down on our Amazon wishes. But they do have the Butterfly Lion
If it helps, dd is only just 7, she reads well (as in, don't leave letters on the table if you don't want awkward questions asked), but otherwise is quite young for her age. I guess this is why we tend to end up with rather old fashioned books where you get more story with less trauma IYKWIM.

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Original poster
Takver · 31/03/2009 20:29

Hey, Varjak looks cool - dd is cat mad too

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Themasterandmargaritas · 31/03/2009 20:30

Also both ds and dd really like The Magic Tree House series here Which even though they are American they are well written and interesting usually based on something factual, ie what and how the pyramids came into being.

Original poster
Takver · 31/03/2009 20:36

They look excellent - dh is from the States so no objections to US books here.
Am now realising why we end up with so many old books - not many of those getting mentioned are in the county library catalogue - disadvantage of a small county I guess . . . Anyway, they do have a couple of the Tree house ones.

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LadyGlencoraPalliser · 31/03/2009 20:45

Newish books my nine year old likes and I can thoroughly recommend:
The Lady Grace series by Patricia Finney
The World according to Humphrey and sequels The Tail of Emily Windsnap - Liz Kessler
Ottoline and the Yellow Cat - Chris Riddell
Also agree re Michael Morpurgo's Kasper - DD2 (9) and DD1 (11) both adored it.

karise · 31/03/2009 20:59

DD loves the Jake Cake and Agent Amelia series' by Michael Broad! Also, Geri Halliwell's Ugenia Lavender. Lauren Child does some great Clarice Bean picture books like the one about the environment (name escapes me!). Not too long, but a good standard of reading is required.
I hope these examples help as they have all worked with DD to persuade her away from that unmentionable fairy series at times!

Original poster
Takver · 31/03/2009 21:03

Aha, we're doing well here! Keep 'em coming.

karise, luckily dd has finally outgrown the damn fairy books - but I do wonder if an uninterrupted diet of Enid Blyton and Noel Streatfield might be equally bad - hence this thread!

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LadyGlencoraPalliser · 31/03/2009 21:05

Also Caroline Lawrence's Roman Mysteries and the Lionboy books by Zizou Corder.

Smithagain · 31/03/2009 21:08

Anything by Dick King Smith.

Or a bit older, but not old enough to be "classic": Jill Tomlinson's animal stories (The Owl that was afraid of the dark etc).

In terms of popularity (as opposed to literary merit) the Animal Ark books are guaranteed to keep DD1 quiet for an afternoon. And significantly preferable to fairies ...

Actually, I hadn't noticed what a strong animal theme we were developing in this house. Must try and get DD to branch out into human life LOL!

Califrau · 31/03/2009 21:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyG · 31/03/2009 22:45

Beverly Cleary? (Ramona etc) Rumer Godden?

troutpout · 31/03/2009 23:22

lion boy by zizou corder was another good one

VintageGardenia · 01/04/2009 17:48

What about the Animals of Farthing Wood series? It's good.

mrsruffallo · 01/04/2009 17:51

DD likes the Dracy Bussell ones but v similar to Rainbwe fairies in the series sense