Book to read aloud to a 6 and 9 year old?

[Mishmashs]

I read separately to both children (girl nearly seven and boy nearly ten) but would like to find something to read to them together, perhaps on dark autumn nights when we’re at home more!

I was thinking about the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe but the younger one can be bit sensitive (refused Gobollino the witch’s cat because he was rejected by his family and won’t let me read my childhood fave the Patchwork Cat because the cat gets lost and has to deal with scary rats and a bin lorry). Won’t watch the Lion King because the father dies etc.

Any suggestions?

I'm reading my 9 and 6 year old Haroon and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie and both are enjoying it very much. I am too!

Maybe ‘The Boy Who Grew Dragons’ or something like ‘The Borrowers’ or ‘Tom’s Midnight Garden’ if you want a classic?

I tried the borrowers but with older books the slower start and slightly archaic languages seem to make it harder for them to get into it.

I tried Tom’s Midnight Garden a few months back with the older one but he couldn’t get into it. Will look up the Rushdie book, thanjs

Have you tried something funny? - *How to train your dragon' series or "Mr Gum" maybe

Thanks @CutFlowers yes we have read both of those. I was thinking of something more classic but can’t think of what! That would suit both. I have all my classic books from a 70s/80s childhood but some are too scary for the younger one.

I read A Darkness of Dragons by S A Patrick to my then 7 seven year old, we both loved it, and we went on to read the trilogy. Well worth a look, and short chapters which is good for reading aloud. My five year old dipped in and out.
The Iron Man is also good for that age and suits being read aloud.

Also: The Boy who lost his spark by Maggie O'Farrell

Also, two books of short stories by Joan Aiken: a necklace of raindrops and the kingdom under the sea. Beautiful illustrations. Not sure if still in print.

The Hobbit

Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf

Kiki's Delivery Service

Had a look at the bookshelves and both kids liked these.

we have so far enjoyed all the famous fives, the 1000year old boy, Harry potter

Swallows and Amazon's
Paddington

Flat Stanley

Gobblino the Witches Cat

Teddy Robinson

Stig of the Dump

Seconding Flat Stanley! those are great books
Mrs Frisby and the Rats Of NIMH
Charlottes Web, but there is a sad bit
Little House In The Big Woods - both boys and girl loved hearing the way Laura lived.

The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls wilder. Absolutely fantastic. My young kids love them, and I also read them on my own pretty often :)

Start with the first (little house in the big woods) and follow the series in order - it's fascinating.

Although it's about a family with young girls, it's not just a series for young girls in the stereotypical way. It's almost all about life traveling across America in a wagon, hunting, building houses from logs etc - it's an excellent yet easy to understand history of that time period.

100% recommend for your kids' ages. (And you! And everyone!)

Ah I might try little house in the big woods next!

@Turophilic You got there before me, whilst I typed out my rave review of the series..!

@Oceangreyscale you won't regret it.

I was discussing books with my DC yesterday and Emile and the Detectives was my DC’s favourite that I read to them.

What age do people start reading proper chapter stories to children, generally? My 5.5 year old has no interest at all, he likes to look at the pictures and won't even let me read longer story books to him in bed when he's tired.

Another year or so?

Danny the champion of the world
fantastic Mr Fox

both by Roald Dahl. I remember these being read to me at primary school and it developed my love of books .

@SnapdragonToadflax you could try something like the My Naughty Little Sister stories. They are shorter stories, not chapters, and have one or 2 pictures, but they're a good transition from picture books to more wordy books. And quite entertaining :) My 5 year old can sit through 2 or 3 at a time (though he shares a room with his older sister, so he is more used to listening to longer stories while I read to her, so I don't know how much that has influenced his ability to sit and listen).

The Tum-Tum and Nutmeg series is really good for adventure and mild peril.