I have 5 books in my Amazon basket, help me choose 1 (please!)

[jamaisjedors]

For my to-be eight-year old niece (French) for her birthday.

Very good reader.

Interested in animals, not v. "girly" or into princesses etc.

Her mum said ONE book so I'm trying to respect her wishes (we share a SIL who goes totally overboard on presents so am happy to oblige!).

I have: (translated into French):

• Charlotte's Web (E-B White)

• The little Princess (Frances H. Burnett)

• Dodos are forever (Dick King Smith)

• How to train your dragon (Cressida Cowell)

• Molly Moon's Incredible book of Hynotism (Georgia Byng)

What would you go for?

How to train your dragon

Oooh, Charlottes Web or the Little Princess, haven't read the others.

Can I throw in a spanner? 101 Dalmations? LURVE that book.

You can throw in spanners if you want, I traweled the old threads for suggestions and have narrowed it down to these but am open to more for Xmas, (and for my boys in a couple of years!)

How about another spanner - The Land of Green Ginger - my all-time favourite children's book.

Looks great sdtg - but I can't find it in French.

I will keep it in mind for my boys instead.

What about the secret garden?

Yes I think that will be translated.

looks at list getting longer not shorter!!!

another Dragon vote here

can I just say that if you get The Land of Green Ginger (which is the best children's book ever ) make sure it's the original edition, not the edited 70s version - for some bizarre reason they took out some of the best bits

I would go for How to train your dragon.

my 7yo dd is reading How to Train your Dragon, it's very good

Wow lots of votes for How to Train your dragon, yet on the reviews it's my least favourite!

According to a snooty French review I read, there is lots of snot etc. and it's a bit too much?

Don't want SIL to think I'm giving my niece unsuitable reading matter OR worse my niece to totally hate it!

The Dragon book, definitely, so long as she doesn't have it. It is a lovely book, funny & with a good moral to it to boot.

No-one votes for Molly moon?

It was highly recommended on another thread;

Charlotte's Web if she likes animals. A Little Princess is fab but you say she doesn't like girly stuff.

You're right, but I wasn't girly but LOVED A little Princess when I was little (but maybe a bit older?)