Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Original poster

reading for pleasure year 3/4

21 replies

squashpie · 16/02/2011 09:14

Hi, DS is an avid reader. He's worked his way through a lot of Enid Blyton and all the Mr Gum's; not so interested in Dinosaur Cove and adventurey things. Prefers comedy! Though he enjoyed Swallows and Amazons when I read it to him. I'm trying to think of books to stretch his reading, both that he could read and that I could read to him. Someone recommended Goodnight Mr Tom but I wasn't sure if the war/ relationship themes might be too upsetting (he's just 7)? Any opinions/ recommendations would be very welcome. TIA!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
BristolJim · 16/02/2011 09:47

DD loves Michael Morpurgo, or on the comedy front there's Astrosaurs....

CaptainNancy · 16/02/2011 09:58

Around that age I loved the Ramona books by Beverley Cleary, and the Arthur Ransomes of course Wink

Emil and the Detectives, Pippi Longstocking, Moomins (funny and adventury), also loads of Blyton like the 'Adventure' series, Five Find-outers and RM Ballantyne's Coral Island.
He may still be a tiny bit young for Alan Garner (weirdstone of Brisingamen) but may be up for having it read to him, also maybe Little Women, and Great Expectations- there are children's abridged versions.
I liked Heidi too.

redhappy · 16/02/2011 09:58

Might be worth asking on children's fiction on here.

What about something by Dick King-Smith?

Vintagepommery · 16/02/2011 10:08

dd likes Dick King-Smith and Roald Dahl

TRL · 16/02/2011 10:52

DS read all the Roald Dahls at 6-7 yrs, lots of Morpurgo - he's still reading those now -, and he loved the Worst Witch series (Jill Murphy). He hurtled through the Horrible Histories too.

I'm currently reading the Narnia books to my 4, 6 and 8year old (although 8 yr old has read them himself he's loving them again). We've also read 101 Dalmatians, Wind in the Willows (tricky language), Just William (FAB!!) and the Hobbit together.

Coincidentally, I was thinking of Goodnight Mr Tom as there's a production coming to our nearest theatre in April ....

meditrina · 16/02/2011 10:55

He might like to try Anthony Horowitz: the Diamond Detective Agency and Groosham Grange series.

Original poster
squashpie · 16/02/2011 11:04

Brilliant - the Narnia books of course and other Arthur Ransomes and Michael Morpurgo and all the others. Some great suggestions. Thank you! Smile

OP posts:
CaptainNancy · 16/02/2011 11:14

Ooh- I had forgotten about Narnia books!

Anice · 16/02/2011 12:28

my Ds is the same age and a Mr Gum fan too.

He also likes the How to Train your Dragon series, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and the Harry Potter books. Maybe they will have similar taste?

cubscout · 16/02/2011 13:01

Second vote for Anthony Horowitz and Michael Morpurgo. Roddy Doyle has written some very funny books. Ds has also just finished Frank Cotteral Boyce 'Millions' which he loved. Also Gillian Cross 'Demon Headmaster'.

munstersmum · 16/02/2011 13:08

As a read to him - the Jennings books.

foxinsocks · 16/02/2011 13:10

I know they are awful but ds loves those Captain Underpants books

there's also all those My Brother's Famous Bottom books (cannot remember the author now...) which are funny

rickymummy · 16/02/2011 13:57

foxinsocks - Jeremy Strong.

I've just posted a similar thread in the Books forum. My 7 year old will read Roald Dahl and Jeremy Strong, but is struggling to find anything other fiction he enjoys. He hares Enid Blyton, which has thrown me, as that's all I read at his age!

propatria · 16/02/2011 15:14

Jennings,now you are talking,gales of laughter last night as DH and youngest started Molesworth omnibus(but I realise this might not be a choice for all..)

supersewer · 17/02/2011 14:32

yet more votes for anthony horowitz!!!

Also My 8 year old has just read good night mr tom following a ww2 school project.
He couldn't put it down although one night he came out of his room crying when Zac died.
despite this he thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Kat1111 · 19/02/2011 15:33

What about Horrible Histories? Especially useful if he's doing a certain topic in school (probably Romans or Ancient Egypt).

bruffin · 19/02/2011 19:14

Surely good night Mr tom is not suitable for 7 or 8 year olds

There is the scene where he found locked in the cupboards with the dead baby

CaptainNancy · 19/02/2011 22:01

What about Box of Delights, or Tom's Midnight Garden?

swanriver · 19/02/2011 22:22

I think they are all a bit old...perhaps to read aloud, fine.

How to Train Your Dragon books by Cressida Cowell. Great to read aloud and read to yourself.
We've just read Never Ending Story by Michael Ende to ds2 8.
A Horowitz I think is too old for an 8 year old. My 10 year old has just got into it.
Inkheart by Funke is excellent to read aloud, and also Harry Potter.

swanriver · 19/02/2011 22:25

Diary of Wimpy Kid here too!
I'd be amazed at an 8 year old reading M Morpurgo to themselves, it's serious stuff! Ditto Demon Headmaster which I feel is more for 9/10 year olds.

swanriver · 19/02/2011 22:28

Ds2 also loved Muddle Earth, and Gulliver's Travels a slightly abridged illustrated version with v.zany illustrations (newish)
I expect he will like hearing the Hobbit too.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread