Reading book for 6-7-8 yrs old

[Arkadia]

I know questions like this have been posted before, but here we are.
I am looking for advice on books to get for my DD2 (which could read my DD1 too). DD1 is 8,5 and DD2 is 6.
Reading ability not an issue, so no need for anything Biff-and-Chip-like. I would avoid Dhal as well because I don't enjoy it that much.

The "problem" we have at the moment is that DD2 is getting books that are too difficult to understand (we are finishing now Deathwood Letters, which I think is fantastic, but way too difficult to fully understand). Recently we have read "Lost and found" (very good indeed) which I found was more approachable. Also "The gift from Winklesea" (which seemed harder).
So, I am looking for some kind of chapter book which is a good read, but it is approachable for a younger audience, without looking too childish.
For example, the Princess in Black probably fits the bill. It is VERY easy to read and it is not complex to understand (alas, we have run out now. I particularly recommend the first one), but still has some kind of structure.

[sirfredfredgeorge]

Enchanted wood the amazon id B00PW5V8BS has one for me

(and I can't post a link, mumsnet just blocks?)

[Arkadia]

Silly me. I was looking at a box set and didn't think of checking if an individual title had a Kindle version with preview.

One more question: is it 3 or 4 books? There seem to be both versions. Also, I don't think I can get the original version, but only the one reacted for today's audiences, is that right?

[sirfredfredgeorge]

Ours are old ~60's editions, and some dubious concepts, like all of Enid Blyton and in general old fiction, but no idea how the modern version is changed.

[Arkadia]

According to the reviews, very much so... Seemingly whole chapters have been taken out, several names changed and parts rewritten (so, no more caning). Look for the negative reviews.

Said that, I find Malory Towers great as some kind of a social commentary on the upper middle classes in the late forties early fifties in England.

[LionsTigersBeers]

My 5 year old very able reader DD loves the Billy B Brown series (American I think) and the 13 storey treehouse series. Also Flat Stanley, My Naughty Little Sister, Amelia Bedelia, Hi-Lo comics series, Dogman, Captain Underpants....

[brilliotic]

I can recommend Astrid Lindgren. DS (7) adores 'Ronia the Robber's Daughter', but the Karlsson books or Emil books (or indeed Pippi Longstocking) may be easier entry points. His only disappointment with these books is that his friends don't know them - Lindgren is terribly under-appreciated in this country IMO.
Is it too soon for the Little House books (Little House in the Prairie, etc)?

Within Y2 (so age 6) DS very much moved from formulaic series (he enjoyed Beast Quest, Flying Fergus, Time Hunters, Astrosaurs, The Secret Rescuers, Secret Agent Jack Stalwart, Frankie's Magic Football, more recently Bear Grylls Adventures... and would read about one per day in 30-60 minutes) to 'proper' books.

For the latter, he adored the Enchanted Wood series* and much prefers Famous Five over Secret Seven. He's enjoyed books such as Gobbolino the Witches' Cat, Olga da Polga, Fortunately the Milk... (currently probably the most re-read book in our house), and several Roald Dahl, esp Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox, Danny the Champion of the World, and The BFG. He loved the first Harry Potter, found the second one scary, loved the third (grown-ups tend to find the third (dementors) scarier than kids do) and read the fourth before I realised - I wouldn't have let him yet! Post HP (or mid-HP rather) it's been hard to find books that engage him, he did a lot of HP re-reading, and reverted back to his favourite formulaic series. Swallows and Amazons (after reading about half TO him first) and Ronia the Robber's Daughter got him going again. Recently though he's got hooked on Percy Jackson, which should keep him reading until Christmas or so ;)

*There's a character in these books that provides an excellent World Book Day easy-to-make-yourself costume: The Saucepan man. I simply pinned all toy pots, pans, kettles, ladles, lids etc that we own to DS' everyday clothing, gave him a colander for a hat, and he won a prize for best costume ;)

[LionsTigersBeers]

Oh yes the How to train your dragon series is brilliant!! Am happily reading them with my 7 year old for the second time.Also the Nicholas books (French series) are so funny.

[brilliotic]

Oh and btw I'm not getting notifications of new messages on 'watched' threads anymore either. Too lazy to go check my settings...

[landofgiants]

Dick King Smith books and The Worst Witch series? My DS will only read Horrid Henry, despite being an able reader.

[Arkadia]

Brill, we have Ronja, but it is way too difficult for now (on the other hand we watched the animated version on Amazon and cannot praise it enough). In a little while they will be able to enjoy it.

Pippi is a good idea... On Amazon they have it for 6-11 years, so it could be OK. Emil too.

How to train your dragon is listed as 9-11, although from the excerpt it doesn't look that hard.

Land, our horrid henry phase seems to be petering out... after reading all the books in the library (and there was a seemingly endless supply of them) and watching the animated version AND listening to some CDs they seem to be more on the back burner at the moment. it didn't help that the book gave them a 4-in-1 to read too :D

[Swirlingasong]

Agree with a lot of the suggestions here. My dd has also loved the Ottoline books, Maisie Hitchens and the Violet books Harriet Whitehorn.

[brilliotic]

I know you said no to Dahl, but have you looked into the easier/shorter books?
The Enormous Crocodile, Esio Trot (

[user789653241]

I think " How to.." is classed as 9-11 maybe because of fighting element of the book? It is easy to read and understand for 6 year old able reader, imo. Also children's all time favorite like Mr. Gum, Big Nate, Wimpy kid, Tom Gates maybe of interest if she liked Horrid Henry a lot.Those are easy to read and understand, though I don't like it except Mr. Gum.

[brilliotic]

DS also thoroughly enjoyed 'Back to front Benjy' (Dick King-Smith); in fact it sounds as if DKS may be perfect for your DDs right now, and there's lots of books out there.

[user789653241]

Yeah, I do second shorter Dahl, def. They are really good. And Twits, Fantastic Mr Fox.

[wowsaidtheowl]

Might be a bit too simple but my daughter (6) loved Mr Penguin and the Lost Treasure (and so did I!). It's by Alex T Smith. It was really fun - can't wait for the next book!

[Grumpbum]

My 6 yr old has read and enjoyed
The Creakers - Tom Fletcher
The Christmasaurus - Tom Fletcher
The Parent Agency and Animalcolm by David Baddiel
Tom Gates
Dirty Bertie
Mr Gum
Beast Quest
Swallows and Amazon

To be honest I just take him to the library and let him choose he’s pretty good if he’s not understanding it he just stops

[user789653241]

"To be honest I just take him to the library and let him choose"

I really second that opinion. It really doesn't matter what she reads at age of 6, as long as she keeps love of reading.
Sometimes I will take a note of recommended books on MN and let ds get it from library, but he normally choose whatever he fancies on the shelf.

[Arkadia]

My library is great and has a never ending selection (and its FREE!!!), but the books, IMHO, are not well organized. There is a HUGE selection for preschoolers with illustrated books you are expected to read aloud. There is a shelf for very young readers (ranging from early Biff and Chip to Horrid Henry). Then the rest is pretty much organized alphabetically with no distinction between "book for 15+" or "book for 5-7".
So when we go there, they gravitate around the usual "comfort zone" shelves and the rest is pretty much ignored.

[user789653241]

What do you do at library? I normally wait for him to pick books, but while I am waiting, I will also pick/find few books might be of his interest. Sometimes he borrows it, sometimes he says it doesn't interest him. But you can give some kind of small influence/direction/input this way.

[Arkadia]

I usually peruse the graphic novel and DVD sections :D

After that I too pick something that could be of interest to them, but I just as bad at judging difficulty.

[Grumpbum]

The only thing I say to him is only 1 beast quest at a time. He picks a random selection but I think that’s half the fun he starts it if he likes it he’ll finish if he doesn’t he stops! He’s read some lovely things and some ‘comfort zone’ books such as HH