Book recommendations for my almost 6-year-old Roald Dahl fan

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Dd is working her way through Roald Dahl's books, and is thoroughly enjoying them. But she now says that by comparison, her other books are boring because the writing isn't as good - she likes the descriptive narrative and exciting storylines, and suddenly Milly Molly Mandy and Enid Blyton just don't cut the mustard!

Any recommendations for children's writers who write exciting, imaginative books with similarly good use of language and narrative?

It is very very sad.

I think it's the way her death (Charlottes) is so beautifully written, it's really moving.

DS didn't believe she'd really died though. He kept saying she'll come back to life in the next chapter though won't she? She can't really be dead?

A bit of a shock as noy many kids books are that honest.

A sad but good lesson, and beuatifully told.

Yes, I'm not sure what dd would make of Charlotte's death. May leave it for a while, I think.

Thank you all for your suggestions

That's interesting, muminfife. DS1 read the first Lemony Snicket book last summer when he was nearly seven and I think he found it quite shocking! He'd read all the Harry Potter books before that, so we didn't think it would bother him, but it did...

Hmm, not sure about Lemony Snicket; from what I've seen they're aimed at a slightly older audience. I see what you're saying about being similar to stuff like James and the Giant Peach with regard to losing parents and being harshly treated by other adults, but James and the Giant Peach is told in a very fairy-tale way - parents eaten by a rhinocerous, travelling with giant insects, the aunts are like pantomime dames ... isn't Lemony Snicket rather more realistic? I think I'll leave the more shocking books until she's a bit older than 5!

I'll certainly have a look at Jeremy Strong though.

Have you tried MIly Molly Mandy, I loved these books when I was younger (I'm only 18 now), Dick King Smiths Sophie series was also quite good.

ooooh WWB my 6 yr old dd likes similar books to your dd.

She LOVED the Dimanche Diller series - you start with Dimanche Diller, the others follow on. You can probably find it in the library.

Oh, I haven't come across those at all, fox. I can't believe the huge gaps in my knowledge of children's literature!

She's read some Milly Molly Mandy, PM, and although she liked them at first, she has now declared them Too Boring. She has really loved the excitement and the fun that the Road Dahl ones have (plus I think she likes the slightly subversive side to them!) and wants more books like them. She's really been captivated by them in a way she never really was with MMM or Enid Blyton.

Is this for reading by herself, or for you to read to her?

Not a book but watch out for the complete set of Roald Dahl DVDs from the Book People. I got these for DS2 for Christmas for under £20 (Should be over £120) and they are great. Come in a neat zip around case.

Bit of both, Aloha - but mainly for us to read to her at bedtime though because it's faster that way!

DS (nearly 7) loves the Dahl books, (and he always has women mistreating the children, doesn't he - Sponge, Spiker, Grandma); reading our way through the Narnia stories as well, and we have some about a Viking (could be Jeremy Strong?)

I second Sherbert's recommendation. It is the world's greatest bargain!
I'd do Lion witch and wardrobe and work from there. Some of it is darker and scarier, but I think Lion, witch is good, and the youngest girl is the heroine, which is nice.
Worst Witch is fun. Arabian Nights also good (if v gruesome!)

we got those too Aloha. Kids have been lying in bed (they are knackered from swimming) listening to the Twits for ages!

think they were £18. Amazing bargain (also got the Finn Family Moomintrools set!).

I had wondered about The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe - wasn't sure whether it would be a bit dark, but my memory of the books is a bit dim. I was probably about 7 when I first read that and was OK with it. Dd would really identify with Lucy, I think.

Jodee - yes, you're right, it is always the women who mistreat the children ... I guess that's a tradition that goes right back to fairy tales - wicked stepmothers and all that.

Finn Family Moomintroll ... another one I'd forgotten about. Tove Janssen, aren't they?

But also lots of lovely women, like Miss Honey, and awful men too, Like Mr Twit.

Jodee, are those the Cressida Crowell ones (How to Train Your Viking, How to Speak Dragonese, How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse)?

those are popular here too (worth looking at WWB, to see what you think).

The other ones that dd likes are the Rescue Rider series but they come out of the school library so I'm not sure whether they are still in print.

Other good ones (bit shorter than any of the above) are the Ahlberg's Gasskit family series (The Man Who Wore All His Clothes, The Woman Who Won Things, The Cat Who Got Carried Away). Both mine think these books are hysterical!

yes, those are the moomintrolls . I got them from the book people (on offer) but I think the books might be too old for them at the moment.

We haven't got as far as The Twits yet - that's the next one

A lot of his characters are caricatures, aren't they - almost cartoon characters. But they all exist alongside ordinary, well-rounded characters too.

Foxinsocks, just done a search and it is Jeremy Strong (There's a Viking in my Bed, Viking at School) - not heard of the CC books you mentioned, will look them up - thanks.

aah thanks for that jodee. Will look out for those.