What books next for mature 6.5yo?

[FlamingoBingo]

She's working her way very quickly through the two box sets of Rainbow Magic books she was given last year, and I'm wondering what to get her next.

She is a child who is reluctant to try new things and has to have them hanging around for ages before she gives in and tries them .

Any thoughts?

DH said 'Famous Five' but I think they're for when she's a little older?

I think my daughter went from the fairy books to Sheltie the Shetland Pony books. Still a little young for Famous Five, give it another year at least.

I had to laugh when I started reading F Five to my dear daughter. The sexism in it (boys chopping wood and girls doing household jobs like sewing), and things like putting salt on a jacket potato for tea. How things have changed!

My kids liked the Magic Kitten series - I'd imagine they'd be the right sort of level.

You might give Famous Five (or indeed Secret Seven - aimed at slightly younger I would say) a try - they definitely seduced dd away from Rainbow Magic at about that age. They are quite grim in terms of sexism, being nasty to siblings etc (latter esp. Secret 7) though.

Staying with EB, she might also like the books about a magic tree with different lands at the top (the name escapes me temporarily) which again are a slightly younger age group.

Walker Books have a good series at that 'in between' level (proper books but still plenty of pictures) called Racing Reads - I've recommended "Anna Hibiscus" on here before, about a little girl in Africa, but there are lots in the series by different authors.

Equally, if she likes the Rainbow Magic books, there are (probably literally) hundreds of them, I'm sure your library could oblige . Along the same lines as RM, dd liked the My Secret Unicorn books, which IMO are slightly less dire (I think they're actually written by a real person).

dd liked the Magic Treehouse series at that age

There's also the "Daisy and the trouble with. . ." series by Kes Gray which is rather sweet and funny

Pretty much anything by Dick King-Smith esp the Sophie books

another thumbs up for the Daisy chapter books

Jeremy Strong - he's written loads, dd thinks they're hilarious

Spy Dog series

Ottoline and the Yellow Cat and Ottoline goes to School - beautiful illustrations and very quirky, funny stories - dd loved them

If she's into animals there are loads and loads and loads of series aimed at girls with names like Pet Rescue, Animal Magic etc etc

Once they get going, they devour books at a tremendous rate so it's well worth cultivating your local library as it will save you a fortune

Depends on the reading ability.

My ds started reading The Magic Treehouse, Trouble With Daisy,Secret Seven at 5. He's just turned 6 and starting Famous 5.

The Trouble with reading a lot in the same series is you don't get a true feel of ability and they don't stretch them much as they're all very similar. I'd try a few pages from a variety from the library to get a feel. Having said that reading several from the same series can be good to build confidence. We mixed and matched eg A Magic Treehouse followed by a Daisy etc

Corgi Pups,Magic Treehouse,The Trouble With Daisy are all fab and relatively unchallenging. Famous 5, Jeremy Strong,My Naughty Little Sister are harder. The Amelia Jane books are also easier.

Another vote for My Secret Unicorn- infact anything by Linda Chapman (mainly writes about fairies),
The Faraway Tree/Enchanted wood series,
The spin off 'in the style of EB' Enchanted World books are rather good & very fairy friendly!
Usborne factual books are great for dipping into & the little encyclopedia'd have been very well used in our house

I was going to suggest Linda Chapman, she does loads of stuff for this age group

my dd is currently devouring this series

also Roald Dahl is good for confident readers

I think famous five is a bit too old, but Enid Blyton also wrote things like
Mr Twiddle stories which are quite amusing

Is the skating series in the shops then?

After a disappointed DD when the last series didn't enter the shops until a month after the pub. date, I wasn't saying anything until I had seen them somewhere! Where did you get them TheFoosa?

(Sorry for the thread Hijack!!!)

I saw a couple in Tesco and have bought another from Amazon.

Red House has two of the skating series on offer.
OP, I second Takver's recommendation of the Daisy books. My DD3, who is also reluctant to try new things, is enthralled by them. She also likes Mr Gum. Linda Chapman is always a good bet too - the Secret Unicorn series is a good starter although those skating books look promising.

Thanks guys! Just wanted to check as last series we ordered & were waiting ages... Off to tescos then!!!

Strange my DD never liked the Unicorn series, although she loves all the others!

• My Naughty Little Sister (series) by Dorothy Edwards
• Ramona Quimby series by Beverly Cleary
• The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy

Some of Roald Dahl's books - I loved Fantastic Mr Fox The earlier Little House on the Prairie books

If she doesn't like things now she might be ready to try again in a few months or so.

I also think the library's a good suggestion.