fun/strange/weird books that you enjoy reading to your DCs

[albachiara]

Hello,

can anybody give me suggestions for books for me to read to my DD(9) and DS(7) in the evening?

I need something funny, maybe a bit strange, something that makes us ask questions to each other...

For example, all three of us have recently really enjoyed:

1. all the Emil's books by Astrid Lindgren

2. The Wayside school books by Louis Sachar (we have finished one, and still have two to go - even DH laughs when he overhears some passages from these book. I love Louis Sachar!)

Any suggestions?

It doesn't have to be something deep. I'l looking for something a bit strange, that makes us see the world from a different perspective... but any suggestions are very wellcome.

Thank you.

Have they read the Mr Gum series, they are completely bizarre - e.g. one book takes loads of 'natural' language really literally, another has a girl having a repeated dream - cue about 10 chapters repeated word for word, each one being her restarting the dream.
My boys are 9 and 5 and absolutely love them.

DS1 enjoyed the Sir Gadabout worst knight in the world stories. Technically set in the past but odd references to modern day things e.g. IIRC one has chewing gum stuck under the king Arthur's throne.

My Ds2 was in the toilet one day, asked me to get a book for him!I asked which one, he said:Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor poopypants!

Thank you! Will try all of these! They sound good.

We have just introduced our DS who is 7, to the joys of The Phantom Tollbooth. He loved it so much I have managed to track down a copy of the CD and the DVD!

I second Mr Gum. They're really funny. Roald Dahl?

Measle and the Wrathmonk by Ian Ogilvy.

I read it to ds1 when he was 9 and dd is reading it now. Both have been gripped by it.

Ten Tall Tales by Dr Seuss was a favourite here for many years. Also agree with Measle books by Ian Ogilvy.

Have never read The Box Of Delights by John Masefield but so many people raved about it when it was on telly a few years back that I got a copy for ds when he's older. maybe try that?

Thanks for all the new additions. This is very useful. We are going to have so much fun!

Mine loved The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip by George Saunders.... totally weird name for sure

I'm reading The Demon Headmaster by gillian gross to dss at the moment

ds1 (7) is loving it and ds2 (5) tells me he hates chapter books and soesn't want to listen but is (unsubtbly) listening at the door

cross not gross!!

Uncle by JP Martin. It's not in print but you can get secondhand copies on Amazon.

It's about a fabulously rich elephant called Uncle, who lives in a castle called Homeward, which is made up of hundreds of skyscrapers, and is so large and mysterious nobody knows all about it. He has a retinue which includes an Old Monkey, two strongmen called Cloutman and Gubbins, the Respectable Horses and a One-Armed Badger who carries around piles of provisions everywhere they go.

Uncle is constantly at war with his enemies who live at Badfort, led by Beaver Hateman, and including Hitmouse, Jellytussle, and Hootman.

There is a physician called Gleamhound whose remedies always work backwards, and a shop called Cheapman's, where the prices of goods halve every day.

It's the strangest and funniest book I've ever read, and DS1 absolutely adored it.

Madame Pamplemousse series is brilliant for that age. Lovely to read and hold!