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?

Charlotte’s Web

The Iggy and Me books are lovely, a lovely family of 4 doing the things families do.

Proving good stories have no gender, Leopard!

@Mishmashs - Pippi Longstocking books are fantastic fun too

The wee free men by Terry Pratchett. Definitely mild peril, but funny too. If you continue in the series don't go past book 3, as book 4 gets dark.

Patchwork cat was my favourite book too! Good morning, good yawning. I ebayed it for my kids and then found my copy. Of course kids have no interest, so now I have 2 copies that they won't read.

Carbonel,King of Cats was a favourite when we were young
Was going to suggest the very funny Mr Gum books but see you have done these.
The Moomins by Tove Janssen
The Little Prince

Pippi Longstocking
clever polly and the stupid wolf
Secret seven
Charlie books by Hilary McKay
Stig of the Dump
Worst Witch
Flat Stanley

Don’t read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe before you’ve read The Magicians Nephew.

Such a captivating book and it really sets the scene for the subsequent books. We read it together when my DS was about 10 years old and he absolutely loved it. We still talk about it now, 10 years later!

So funny to see all these book names again. We have many of them, the Aitkin ones, Mrs Pepperpot, My naughty little sister. Ramona we have several of them, loved them as a child myself.

I really have to find the right book. My older one is autistic and very particular and I think he would point blank refuse to be read the worst witch etc. I’d like to read him Marianne Dreams but far too frightening for the 6 yr old (the rocks with eyes).

Hope you find the right book OP!

My kids rather surprisingly liked :

E.Nesbit - Five Children and It, The Phoenix & the Carpet

The Brothers Lionheart by Astrid Lindgren or Ronja the Robbers Daughter.
I read both to my DC and they loved them!

Oh I LOVED Marianne Dreams! I need to find a copy. Thank you for reminding me.

My 9yr old enjoyed 5 children and It, and sequel.

Ronja the robbers daughter is great but possibly a bit scary - harpies and grey dwarves and such. Netflix have made a version but I think it's a 12.

There is some pretty overt racism in a couple of the Little House books. I wouldn't avoid them this (and didn't with my own children) but just be prepared for it. I just chatted to the DCs a bit about how these stories were from a different time with different attitudes, and the characters were scared of what was unknown to them. It's mainly Ma, and Pa is quite forward-looking for his time!
Farmers Boy (the childhood of Laura's husband Almanzo) is also good - though the food descriptions make me hungry!

The Paddington stories by Michael Bond - there are loads of them and very funny.

Also Just William though tbh the Martin Jarvis audiobook versions are such absolute genius it might be worth just getting them those.

Agree re Narnia - I read the first 3 to my 6yo earlier this year. I think it’s worth persevering with the classics like E.Nesbitt stories, Swallows & Amazons etc as they may not read them themselves but they are wonderful stories.

You could work your way through Beatrix Potter. My (almost) 8 & 5 grandchildren love them. The older one occasionally reads a page as we go, which helps his vocab etc.

Yes, I read The Chronicles of Narnia to mine many years ago when they were young. I think it is really important to read each book in the correct order to get the maximum benefit.

Roald Dahl

The train to impossible places - PG Bell.
Lissa Evans has written several books my kids really enjoyed at bedtime - e.g. Wed Wabbit, Small Change for Stuart - nothing terrible happens in them but might need a quick check over for whether your youngest would find them ok.
We all really enjoyed the Little Badman books, they are very funny, but probably more in the age range for your 11 year old than your youngest.
I tried some of my childhood favourite books with my children but a lot of the stories were slow to get going and sadly my kids lost interest, found them boring. They liked Charlotte's Web but the ending was too sad for my very sensitive older child. Likewise with Carbonel: The king of cats, they loved the story but the ending had my eldest in tears. The Wishing Chair and The Faraway Tree series were both very popular here which is why I then went for books like the PG Bell one - similar fantasy make-believe adventure style.

I was really surprised at how much mine same ages loved Swallows and Amazons, going for The Railway Children next. They liked the secret seven but got bored after a while.

Magic Faraway Tree

Dick King Smith? I think he's a bit out of fashion, but there are lots of good ones — Harry's Mad, Tumbleweed, Dragon Boy.

Also Chrestomanci might be good, but more peril in those.

Ross Welford books would work for those ages. Time Travelling with a Hamster was a big hit with mine at similar ages.

(We also read many of the ones already mentioned....!)

Clever Polly and the stupid wolf by Catherine storr I think

Fudge series by Judy blume

Mine are just seven and nearly nine, we loved the Mr Gum series, Muncle Trogg, Malory Towers, the Fudge books by Judy Blume and all the Roald Dahl but especially Boy which had them really engaged and gave them a good laugh.

Another vote for Paddington. DS also adored the ENesbit books at that age.
Professor Branestawm (although I recall I didn't enjoy these quite as much on re reading as an adult 🥱. I do think Helen Cresswell has stood the test of time though. The Signposters was a favourite.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster