What next after Rainbow Fairies?

[dolphindotty]

My seven-year-old has been devouring the Rainbow Fairy books but now she wants to read longer books. She loves reading about magic and likes mermaids, fairies and animals. She's read the Faraway Tree and Wishing Chair books and although she likes listening to the early Harry Potter books, she is a bit put-off by the size. But that's fine by me, after all she can read them in a year or two. I want to find her something that is longer than Rainbow Fairies but that doesn't look too daunting.

Any thoughts would be great. Thanks!

Gwyneth Rees books are quite good.

And of course that old favourite - the twins at St. Clare's!

Suicide?

rofl at seeker

has she done horrid henry, flat stanley et al?

dd1 went straight onto hp tbh, but there are sooooooooo many 'pink' books out there that all you need to do is trot off to any waterstones and try not to hyperventialte whilst she fills baskets with more cod than you've ever seen. she will want to read every single blooming one on the many heaving shelves of glittery sparkliness.

but you are over the worst. take heart.

hyperventilate. and grab me a dictionaire whilst you're there....

My 6 year old lost interest in the Rainbow Fairies after the first half dozen. They're all the same.

She's reading the Faraway Tree right now, and read Clarice Bean recently, which she found quite funny.

I'll keep an eye on this thread as I promised to take her to Waterstones this weekend for a few new books, and am searching for some inspiration too.

Animal Ark?

Another vote for Gwyneth Rees - formed a good bridge for DD from the dreaded Fairies to "proper" books!

All of you who speak of the "dreaded fairies" etc have obviously never had an unwilling reader.

Lucky old you. If my DS1 would read them (unlikely I know) or anything (boyish) like them in the way that DD did then I would jump for joy! However.

DD is 8 and has stopped with these (yes they are all the same, that's the point!); she has read the first 2 Harry Potter but I felt they were quite hard.

Other books to try OP are Secret Seven and lots of other Enid Blyton; Milly Molly Mandy and My Naughty Little Sister; or if these are too easy how about Clarice Bean or those ones about the hamster (Humphrey? can't be fagged to go upstairs to check!)

the worst witch series

Ah yes Worst Witch, that's a brilliant thought. I'll second that.

Yes, agree with Gwyneth Rees. Also the Linda Chapman books (Secret Unicorn, mermaid ones, and Stardust ones). All a bit more substantial than RMF, but not too complicated either, and similar subject matter.

She's now moved on to Narnia. Not got on to HP yet, I think they're a bit scary. She also likes Dick King Smiths "Sophie" books, and anything by Roald Dahl or about Horrid Henry.

See I think Narnia is really really hard to read.

And harder for our kids than it was for us (well me - I'm very old) because they are even further removed than we are from the world it talks about (I don't mean Aslan et al, I mean a place where children go to boarding school and are sent away during the war).

Jacqueline Wilson?

My dd's love the Magic Ballerina Series by Darcy Bussell, I would say they are a little longer and more challenging than the Rainbow Magic Fairies. My 2 love the Rainbow Magic Fairies and hey, it's not intellectual but who cares? they are little girls and I just want them to love books and love reading.

if she doesn't want anything harder, and likes the repetition of the fairies, there are magic kitten & magic puppy books by sue bentley (part of daisy meadows)

i am NOT recommending them, but dd is 6 & loves them ...

(personally, i'd take seekers opinion, but suggest you commit suicide before, not after, the fairy invasion)

And for anyone reading this thinking "What about boys?" I can highly recommend the Beast Quest series. here/ To make up for my earlier flippancy!

Thanks everyone. There are some great ideas here! I'm definitely going to look out the Gwyneth Rees. My daughter's been reading the Magic Ballerina series which she has really enjoyed but they are quite short and she also been reading Enid Blyton and Worst Witch. I have to say that seeing as she isn't one of those children who have an insatiable desire to read to herself I am just glad for any books that she likes enough to voluntarily read on her own - she can read about fairies or magic animals as long as she wants if that's what makes her happy. She's only 7. I'm sure she'll be reading War and Peace soon!

DD adores Pippi Longstocking and is about to start Ballet Shoes.

I say it every time on these threads

Diary of a Wimpy Kid/ Mr gum

for boys & girls

She could try the My Secret Unicorn series by Linda Chapman, or her Stardust and Sky Horses Series. My daughter loved all of them and so did I.

If she likes fairies there's also the Glitterwings Academy series by Titania Woods. It's a boarding school for fairies!

J Wilson books too grownup for a 7 year old - not a big fan of her books.

I was reading JW at 7

Some Jacqueline Wilson OK for 7 year olds, I think. dd (nearly 8) enjoys them. I find most of them a bit meh but happy for her to read them. We've just read Hetty Feather which was unremittingly bleak, though she enjoyed it.

Second vote for the secret unicorn - also there is a unicorn school series that my DD loves (they make me want to poke my eyes out with a sharp stick, but as long as she enjoys them!). She's also getting into the Secret Seven.