Books for 6-7 year olds - can anyone recommend??

[susanmt]

I have 2 friends with boys - one is about to turn 6, the other 7. I would like to get them books for their birthdays, but have no idea what to buy. Does anyopne have a recommendation?
Thanks a lot!!

Do you mean books for them to read, or to have read to them, susanmt?

Dd love the Horrid Henry books to be read to, and she is just beginning to read them herself, and she is 6. They are fun to read, and most children seem to enjoy them.

Caroline Lawrence: The thieves of Ostia

This is the first in a series called The Roman Mysteries. We've just finished reading it to our 5.5 yr old boy - he loved it. All the excitement and mystery of Enid Blyton - but not sexist of racist. (Written in 2001, but set in 79 AD). I think an average 7 or 8 yr old could probably tackle it by themselves. (c. 200 pages).

Roald Dahl books would be another possibility., or Dick King-Smith. When you've answered JanH's question, I may have more ideas.

Either, really. Just thought books would be a nice birthday pressie but as my kids are 3 and 1 I was struggling for ideas.

OK - like KMG I was going to suggest Dick King-Smith, there is a HUGE list by him, some for reading alone and others for reading out loud. The Sophie books are lovely but may be better for girls. Roald Dahl would be good too, though some of his are better for younger children than others.

You could get something like the Narnia set, for them to have read to them to begin with, and to read for themselves later.

Have you looked at The Book People at all? (www.thebookpeople.co.uk) They have some terrific offers, on classics like Narnia and newer things that you might not come across otherwise. (Just had a look though, seems a bit thin at the moment.)

The Guinness Book of Records is a good one for all ages. You could also look for collections of jokes, or questions and answers, or those Dorling Kindersley books about things like the Egyptians, or the Horrible Histories (Terrible Tudors, Vicious Vikings etc.)

I will have a rummage through our shelves and get back to you!

We got one of them 'Charlie and the Cocolate Factory' and @Great Glass Elevator' and the other one (closer friend) a box set of the Narnia Books - both have gone down a storm. Thanks everyone! I knew I could rely on mumsnet for advice!

That's great, susan - hope they enjoy them!!