Young free readers - what do they enjoy?

[PhoebeMcPeePee]

Actually I've no idea if 6 is young or not , but my post is about trying to find some decent books for a 6 year old boy who can read very fluently but struggling to find age-appropriate books. At school the 'library book' ie non-banded section is full of Michael morpurgo, Harry potter, Percy Jackson etc which I really think are too old for him & guessing they're more 8/9yrs+.

Any suggestions apart from famous five & Roald Dahl?

Just my opinion fated - I think that there's no harm in waiting till a bit older for complex books, there are lots of good books which can improve reading skills that don't have the complexity of the hp series. No judgement inferred.

DD1 not officially a free reader but is reading chapter books to herself. She's 6 and is reading a lot of the bloody Rainbow Fairies but also loved the first Paddington (good thing since MIL has bought a lovely set of them), The Gaskitt Family stories, The Worst Witch (we'd read the first couple to her then she decided to read the next one herself), My Naughty Little Sister, Amazing Esme (not girly, Esme having adventures with her 3 boy cousins), Ottoline. She still loves reading picture stories as well (who doesn't!) and loves her picture encyclopedia (probably DK) and other reference books. We're also collecting nice picture book biographies, we've got Nelson Mandela's after he died so she's very into Nelson (although it did lead to an interesting conversation about Diana Mosley's stay in prison during WW2).

ooh so many great suggestions on this thread.. have to endorse a couple of 'once-mentioned'series..

• yes yes to Roddy Doyle - Giggler Treatment / Rover ones fun for this age, and v surreal ('Wilderness' aimed a bit older with lots of swearing).

• yes yes to Tom Gates- British version of Wimpy Kid with little doodle-style ilustrations (also great for those struggling with chapter books)

-Lynne Reid banks Centipede was a hit with DS (then 6) and first Indian in the Cupboard.

not mentioned yet - Jeremy James series by David Henry Wilson. Short stories from perspective of a 5 year old boy that require a bit of reading between the lines. Wholesome, quirky, amusing and really well written.. been around for years but recently re-released with Axel Scheffler illustrations making them look less dated.

Fatedtopretend your nephew sounds pretty advanced - vocab is way too complex for an average 5 year old! We are really into Harry Potter as a family but I wouldn't say book 4 onwards suitable for DS when he was 6...the series gets much darker as the characters grow up - HP4 ends with horror-style graveyard scene with limbs being severed and death of a fairly important character.. would have given mine nightmares at that age.

ooh yes to Naughty Little Sister too.. off to look up Frog and Toad

What about Just William?

Total derail but even though I know LRB has written lots of children's books because I've only ever read 'The L shaped room' I always do a double take when people suggest her for young readers.

To be fair he is an advanced reader, my nearly 4 year old is only just starting to read and by her age he was finishing all of those Biff and Kipper ones. Got to love a g&t relative keeping the pride in check!!

Lynn Reid Banks is great for this group and relatively unknown as a children's writer. Loved the L Shaped Room but the children's books are quite different (obviously!). Not social realism - gentle adventure stories with some silliness!

This has been so useful, Book People order on its way!

If anyone can recommend any really long series for the summer holidays (she read a whole pony story book, albeit a fairly slim one, before getting up this morning) I'd be most grateful.

Did anyone mention Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree books? Those were a big hit too.

The Tom Gates series is very popular with my daughers 6 and 8.

They also lik Asterix and Tin Tin

Jack Stalwart is a good series of 'adventure' books that I'd forgotten to mention.

It's a few years back for me now, but DS1 loved Asterix (read all of them) and Tintin, also the Flat Stanley books, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, all the How to Train Your Dragon books, Dinosaur Cove, David Walliams books, some of the Roald Dahl books and the Jack Stalwart books.

He read the first three of the Harry Potter books, but baulked at the fourth, and has only just finished the series now he's nearly 10. I'm not at all unhappy about that (having read the series myself pre-kids), and I really think the later HP books have some very dark themes indeed that are just too much for a six year old, so I wouldn't recommend them.

Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf

Has anyone mentioned David Walliums books I've not read a boy in a dress but mr stink and gangsta gran would be good to start. Also I think my ds read Oliver moon books from usbourne. Tbh I would just take him to the library and let him choose what he fancies if it's too hard to get into ring it back and choose some others

A top vote from my book worm 6 year old boy is for Steve Cole
Astrosaurs, Astrosaurs Academy, Cows in action...
www.stevecolebooks.co.uk/index.php/books/astrosaurs/
Some are on the Book People - he LOVED them
www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?productId=304351&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&categoryId=85207&pageNumber=3

Now he's into:
www.alieninvaders.co.uk/
Sea Quest

I also second the Usborne series 2/3 readers, and the see inside reference series. You can get good deals on new books from sellers on Amazon.

• Terry Deary www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?productId=481250&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&searchTerm=terry+deary

An easier read but good for journeys:
www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?productId=476298&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&searchTerm=shark

www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?productId=304419&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&searchTerm=shark

Stig of the dump - Clive King
The Borrowers - Mary Norton
Atticus Claw - Jennifer Gray
The Legend of the Frog - Guy Bass

DD is 6 and a very fluent reader - there are no free readers at her school as they band books up to level 6.

So far she's loved:
Daisy and the Trouble with... series
Any Roald Dahl
I am not a Loser series
Horrid Henry series
Horrible Histories series

She hated:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series - she didn't like the US spellings.

I have just bought DD (6) some new books, I got Unfortunately the Milk, The Family From One End Street, Stick Dog, A Dog So Small, Stuart Little, Fluff The Farting Fish, The Giant Baby & Woof.

This might keep her entertained for a couple of weeks.

I must also recommend a fiction book based on The Great Fire Of London (of which DD is truly obsessed) called The Red Cross On The Door.

simpson Do you have a link to the Red Cross on the Door book? I'm putting together a unit of work for later in the year on historical fiction and looking for interesting children's books with historical topics. I've googled but can't seem to find the book. I'd love to order it.

Have PMed you.

Mr Gum
Roald Dahl
Bug Buddies series
Horrid Henry if you have no objections (I hate them)
Some easier Michael Morpurgo
Dick Kiing-Smith
Dinosaur Cove
Beast Quest
The Iron Giant by Ted Hughes

Speaking of historic books, does anyone have a recommendation for a 6 year old girl about the first world war?

Nanny Piggins big hit (series from US).
as is Wayside School series (ditto)
These with just turned seven year olds.
Tin Tin big hit at six and seven.
magic tree house ones were popular (but a very quick read for a lot of money).