Should I be concerned about this comment from dd's teacher

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My dd is half way through her reception year and I have been mithering over a comment that her teacher made at last Parent's evening regarding the school's ability to meet her needs.

She is extremely bright in both maths and English and has a very inquisitive nature. She seems to absorb facts like a sponge. Her reading age is that of a 7 year old (according to her teacher). She's bringing home the Oxford Press books level 4b and finding them far too easy. I've not said anything to the school as she actually enjoys the stories but she is currently reading the Rainbow Fairies series at home at the weekends.
The comment her teacher made was that she is concerned that "when she gets to year 1/2" the school may struggle to supply her with reading material that will stimulate her whilst being age appropriate".

The school don't run a G+T program but do have above average SATS results so I'm not concerned about that. However, I am concerned that she may become bored as time goes on.

We're not pushy parents although very proud of her of course but should I be concerned or just wait and see what happens as she progresses?

We're already at the same point with ds who is half way through reception and on ORT level 9.

He is otherwise quite a young 5 y.o. iykwim, just advanced for his reading. He wants colouful pictures to accompany each page of narrative and shuns chapter books with their alternate page black and white illustrations even though the narrative is well within his grasp and he would enjoy the story if he would stick with it.

Any suggestions ?

Colour Young Puffin
Blue Bananas (the colour changes depending on difficulty, not sure which you would need)Colour Young Hippo
I am Reading
Leapfrog
Usbourne Young Reading
Usbourne Young Puzzle Adventures

Then, has pictures but black and white:
Sprinters
Corgi Pups

I am shocked at schools that can't mamage to find reading material for children of this age/reading aterials TBH though. It really is not on and at all. It can't be the first time schools have come across a good reader?

For non-fiction:

Kingfisher I wonder why
Usborner Beginners
Bubblefacts
Dorling Kindersley Readers

OMG I did the reader's digest thing too! I will never forget the vivid pictures of leprosy!

Thanks hulababy, will look into those.

He is O.K. at school because the ORT have lots of colour pictures even in the level 9. Its the extra reading that we do that I needed suggestions for as ORT is homework, other books are for pleasure and soporiphic (SP) effect bedtime stories that he likes to read out loud each night.

We should set up an 'I survived Reader's Digest' support group!

sitdownpleasegeorge... the 'Bananas' books are good. Also the Sherlock Hound books (that's just one example; there are others), which went down very well with my dd2. Likewise, the Samantha Cardigan series.

I'd second all the ones Hulababy recommended. DS2(now 6.5) was exactly the same in Reception - reading chapter books for his 'school book' but wanting colour pictures for his leisure reading. We found lots of good Colour Young Puffins and the Usborne ones are good too - the non-fiction are particularly good as they can introduce lots of new ideas. Poetry is good too; we have some excellent children's anthologies. DS2 is reading Spike Milligan right now.

Someone on here (Marina?) once recommended Atticus the Storyteller, a fantastic compilation of bite-size Greek myths, and DS2 has really enjoyed that this year.

I find these comments by teachers odd too. Surely they must have come across good readers before in the school, even if that teacher isn't very experienced? There are millions of books out there, so why should it be so hard to find books for a fluent 6 or 7 year old? Anything written before 1970 is probably 'safe' in terms of Ishoos.

Mmm, I seem to have written 'good' a lot in that post.

I've had two very advanced readers (not massively clever - just keen and advanced readers) In my experience, it's much easier to find things suitable for girls - my dd tore through the animal Ark books, Glitter Girls, lots of fairy stories, folk tales, then on to Noel Streatfield, the Enid Blyton school stories and tons of magic/witch books that kept her interested until she was ready for more grown up themes.

With ds it's much more difficult. He is quite easily freaked out, so although at 7 he is quite capable of reading Anthony Horovitz and stuff like that, he just isn't ready emotionally for it. And there just doesn't seem to be a St Clares or Malory Towers equivalent. What we need is a series of Roy of the Rovers type books to fill the gap. He ADORES Cressida Cowell - but there are only 7 of them and he's read them all!

wow, loads of great ideas - thanks every one.

Animal Ark's author's son is in dd's class.

Seeker has DS tried Just William and Jennings books? I know both are dated but they are definitely boy friendly and there are lots and lots of both. Also Professor Branestawm is silly but good and there are quite a lot of them.

Seeker... has he exhausted the range of Dick King-Smiths? Some Michael Morpurgo might also be suitable (dd loved 'The Seeing Sword', for example). Sorry if you've already gone through those. Will have a look on dd's bookshelf for inspiration (she also loves Cressida Cowell - she once laughed herself out of bed!).

Kate - we've done all the William, Jennings AND professor branestawm as read alouds - I thought we were the only family still reading them!

Hadn't thought of Michael Morpurgo for this age - will investigate - thanks!

She's talking hogwash. I've got 2 advanced readers. Both on chapter books in reception and neither had trouble finding things to read. Ds1 read Harry Potter which I think is utter tripe, but hey, he was 6 and some adults even read them, Tolkien,Famous Five. Dd read Noel Streatfield, Cs Lewis, Dick King Smith. The Anne of Green Gables series is perfect for a 6/7 yr old girl. It's just a question of them reading to themselves what a parent of a child with a normal reading age would be reading to their child at bedtime.
I was reading the Brontes and Austen by 11 and they're actually very good for children as the themes are politely adult (and thus often over their heads!) and not obscene or graphic. Ds1 loves Shakespeare and now he's 13 there's pretty much nothing I won't allow him to read.

Ellbell is SO right about the lack of interest in literature in teaching, esp KS1. Ds1 was lucky to get one, and dd now has a great junior teacher who appreciates real literature, but generally they do all seem hung up on ruddy Biff and Kipper and those blessed 'levels'

I did the Reader's Digest thing too, although for me it was atrocities in Cambodia.

Readers Digest - check. Some atrocious condensed Tori Hayden thing. I can still remember bits

What about the Lionboy trilogy, seeker?

Or there's this 'alien classmate' series, which dd read a few of.

DD is currently enjoying this series too.

She is also a huge fan of this series. (Book 4 out soon, if there are any Ingo fans out there!)

And she loves anything by Cornelia Funke, but started with this one, which might be a good place to pick up from the Cressida Cowell books.

Has he read [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spiderwick-Box-Set-Chronicles/dp/0689875215/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid= 1209415856&sr=1-1 Spiderwick Chronicles]]?

Harrumph! What happened to my link?