What chapter books did your little girl most love?

[alsoaperson]

My DD is just starting to read - level 6 Biff, Chip - and I'm pretty clueless about whether there are any books out there that she could tackle on her own. (She's 6-7). I'm looking for the lowest possible reading age then moving up in small stages from there.

I've done a blog on how to get boys started on chapter books, and books for 11 year olds (boys) so much to my shame, I'm clueless here.
Thanks in advance! The more books and ideas the merrier, please.

blog:
englishtutorhome2.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Reading

(I don't make any money out of this blog, btw - I just want to make it as lovely and as helpful as possible. I'm a secondary school English teacher)

It depends on their interests I suppose, my very girly dd1 absolutely loved the Princess Poppy books as well as the Rainbow fairies. She'll also devour any Roald Dahl book.

DD started reading on her own with the Rainbow Fairies. The original series has very well-controlled language (couldn't do better for a first chapter-book experience) - but after that they are not so well-levelled and jump around a bit. If that's the sort of thing she likes then The Secret Kingdom series (new second series just out) has been a big hit. I don't personally love these but things like Magic Kitten and Tiara Club were popular here . Darcie Bussel's Magic Ballerina series (do you see a theme here?).

You may have already picked out The Magic Treehouse for boys but that could work too - extremely well-controlled language.

Princess Poppy is a bit harder and only some of the Dahls will be suitable just yet. Don't want to put her off before she's really got started.

My not-so girly girl loved the Clarice Bean chapter books and Allan Ahlberg's Gaskitt family series. Also this book by Georgie Adams plus there is a pirate one too.

I can't remember what she read in that initial stage of independent reading. Probably rainbow fairies and suchlike. Maybe some Dick King Smith.

DD likes Frog and Toad which are lovely and simple and perfect for a child on ORT 6/7.

She also likes The Magic Finger (Roald Dahl) but that is tougher.

Another one to try are the basic chapter books about Morris the Cat.

For something a bit silly and quirky (dd loved these) Karen McCrombie's 'You me and thing' and some other author's 'Shrinking Violet'.

It is very hard to get the level just right. Sometimes I put a book away for a while and sometimes I finished reading it to her if it was a bit hard going. Sometimes I started a book with her so I could see if it was going to be OK for her to carry on.

The Worst Witch. She adored them.

felicity wishes were dd's faves

Worst witch! My dd loves them

There are loads of old threads on this,most in children's books,could be worth a MN search.

Worst Witch
Rumtum and Nutmeg
Little Animal Ark (a series about a little girls whose parents are vets - make sure you get the 'Little' Animal Ark - there is another series about the same characters just called Animal Ark which are harder, great to progress with though!)
Rainbow Fairies (only if you can stomach the repetitive format though!!)

Have you seen these books (Claude goes on holiday; to the city etc) .... for both sexes really, but they are really funny!
I think there are 3 or 4 of them in the series ..

www.goodreads.com/book/show/11929003-claude-on-holiday

DD loves The little Princesses-serie. She is on level 8 ORT and finds them a bit hard as it is a lot of text so it is a slow going process.

Totally reading on her own: the Usborne Yiung Reader series. Chapters but still lots of pictures. Some come with CDs, so you have the story to listen to as well.

I will be watching this thread with interest, as my DD is at the same age and stage. She's reached a stage where she can mostly read, buy she doesn't seem fluent enough yet to read silently on her own. She loves me to read chapter books to her, but it's hard still to envisage her making that leap to independent reading. By the way, Also, your blog is really interesting and I loved reading it.

DD has been reading:
Rainbow Fairies
Magic Treehouse
Horrid Henry
Felicity Wishes
Flat Stanley
Some Roald Dahl
Some Enid Blyton
Winnie the Witch

Horrid Henry (she's not hugely girly). She thinks Rainbow Fairies are boring.

Dirty berty
Battersea dog home series
Daisy books
Horrid Henry
Millie mollie Mandy
Naughty Amelia Jane
Winny witch
Asops verses
Mr gump

What my dd loved to do was to get all the story books I had read to her as a tot and read them herself in role play as either mum or teacher. Things like winny witch, Clarisa bean, Charlie and Lola, the gruffalo, how. Ugh I love you etc...

Sophie stories by Dick King Smith

Actually Shirley Youngs books are very good for expanding vocabulary and maintaining interest. Can usually be read over 2 nights and introduces a bit more thought and feeling. Rainbow fairies also have some 'Early readers' which have clearer print and colour pictures which may appeal as first chapter books.

I was about to say the Sophie books by Dick King Smith too, lovely for an animal loving tomboyish girl. Just perfect for my DD.

At your DD's age, my dd loved and gradually grew into around that time:

Rainbow Magic (start with colour and weather fairies)
Felicity Wishes
Horrid Henry
Kitty (by Bel Mooney)
Diary of a Killer Cat
Tiara Club
Holly Webb animal books
Animal Ark
Magic Kitten/Puppy/Hamster/etc.

You will grow to hate Rainbow Magic, but they do serve a purpose and I still have as soft spot for Ruby the Red Fairy.

She then grew into:
Fairy School (about a fairy called Lila - I secretly love these!)
Shorter Roald Dahl
Jill Tomlinson books

Then:
Secret Seven
Magic Faraway Tree
Jane Blonde
Longer Roald Dahl
Clarice Bean (I love these)
Early 'Little House' books

Then:
Pony Club Secrets
Ruby Redfort
Nancy Drew
Harry Potter
Emily Wind snap
Patricia StJohn books
The Silver Sword
Abridged classics
'Mid' Little House books
Jacqueline Wilson

I'm now leaning on her to try:
Famous Five
Carrie's War or The Peppermint Pig
Philip Pullman
'Proper' versions of classics, e.g.Secret Garden
Slightly later 'Little House' books.

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!! So much helpful stuff here!

All suggestions gratefully received x

My DD has just turned 6 and loves the unabridged versions of "The Secret Garden" and "The Wind in the Willows" and she enjoys "Mr Pinkwhistle Interferes" by Enid Blyton. She devours anything by Dick King-Smith and Roald Dahl too.

She's reading Secret Garden by herself? Goodness!

Not my dd (too young yet) but lots of children I've taught (boys and girls) have loved the Olga da Polga books.

the Claude the dog books are lovely & my DD really enjoys them. She also likes the Rainbow fairy books (which I LOATHE!)