Any recommendations for some language rich books to read to my 11 and 10 year olds at bedtime?

[LePetitMarseillais]

Still reading to my 3 but want some ideas on books that will enrich their writing iykwim.They're all very able readers.

Probably haven't put the above well.

Tia

The moomin books (the original paperbacks).

I loved the exploits of moominpapa at that age- incredibly imaginative.

Just read them lovely books. Don't have an ulterior motive!

I always suggest Arthur Ransome books, and also Watership Down.

Swallows and Amazons was the first Arthur Ransome, and although his stories are set in the 1930s, and in some ways could be considered 'dated', they are all good adventure stories, and convey childhood and life of that period.

Many of his books are set in the Lake District, but one of my favourites, Coot Club, is set on the Norfolk Broads, and describes real places in considerable detail. Using the Ordnance Survey 2-1/2inch to the mile map of the Broads, the route and places can be followed. Some of the railway lines have gone, and there are new major roads, but otherwise it is mostly as was eighty years ago. The social history of that time is captured as well: when the children want to contact friends in a nearby village, they say if they post a letter early, it will be delivered by the 'second post' that afternoon! And when they buy provisions from a riverside shop, the shop-boy takes the supplies down to their boat.

Watership Down is also set in real locations that can be followed on maps, and there are even guided walks of the area, following routes the rabbits took. Detailed routes can be seen on many web sites, too. The housing development that destroyed the rabbits' home is actually on the outskirts of Newbury.

Thanks all,some fab ideas.Appreciate your time.

Sorry ulterior motive will be very beneficial as it has been shown that what kids read can influence their writing.My dc read what they want,we have read plenty of lovely books but want a few books to enhance their writing even more.

Will post some books we've enjoyed.

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie -- worth reading just to know what a P2C2E is.

His Dark Materials (Philip Pullman) and my 9 and 11 year olds spellbound. And I loved it too.

Well written, good story, big themes and adventure (IMO goes much deeper than, say, a Harry Potter).

Not dumbed down.

I was quite impressed!

Narnia!
The Owl Service
Weirdstone of Brisingamen

The Strangeling's Tale
Redwall
The animals of Farthing Wood

Richmal Crompton's William books - elegantly written with a sophisticated vocabulary and use of irony, but also funny.

I'm with Hak really though. Read the books you love and it probably WILL include ones that are rich in words, but because your enjoyment will shine through it will communicate the power of language better.

But you are limited by what is written however well you read a book aloud and some writers are better than others at using imagery,some at building suspense etc.

Mr Gum books by Andy Stanton.

The books are really funny and he's a brilliant writer.

Michael Morpurgo is fantastic - many of his books are fictional accounts set during actual historical periods (War Horse, Toro Toro, Kaspar) and his use of language is wonderful. Highly recommend him.

Narnia books - am halfway through The Magician's Nephew with DS (9) and he loves it. Such wonderful stories, inventive, humorous, thoughtful.

Alan Garner - yy to The Weirdstone of Brisingamen - was read this myself in Y6 (30 years ago!) and still read it over and over.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (and the rest of the series) by Joan Aiken. Another one I read at school (Y7, iirc) and I enjoyed it so much that I finished reading the book even after we'd done all the required writing for it. Read it to DD and DS not long ago - they loved it and want to hear the others now.

YY to the amazing Redwall books by Brian Jacques - who wouldn't love a mouse-monk? And yy to Watership Down (but prepared for tears if your DC are animal lovers).

Box of Delights by John Masefield is great on the run-up to Christmas - then get the BBC adaptation on DVD - we watch it each year over two or three days.

And my God yes to Susan Cooper's Dark Is Rising Sequence - love those books to death, especially the title book (second in the series) but also the first book - atmospheric, dark in places and so well written.

Can you tell I love children's books?