Best books for a 6 year old

[SR]

Would appreciate recommendations for books for a 6 year old. She is doing well reading at school and I want to encourage a love of reading for they story (not just the learning - which she likes). Would love to hear your tips for well loved stories for this age.

thanks!

[Monkey]

Ottoline by Chris Riddell and The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy come to mind. Also the short version of Famous Five and The diary of Tom Gates.

And for you to read to her, Little House on the Prairie.

[cupatea]

My six year old daughter is really enjoying the Betsey Biggalow and Girl Wonder series of books by Malorie Blackman.

[nunheadmum]

I'd suggest taking her to the library and trying some there to see which she likes. We spent loads on books that my daughter never touched. And read them to her if she doesn't seem too keen to read herself. My daughter was great at the school reading but just didn't take to reading books herself. It's only now aged 9 that she's starting to develop a true love of reading even though she whizzed through the school reading schemes.

Do look at the age group the books are aimed at e.g Wimpy Kid talks in a particular style that to me sounds older than a 6 year old. (They're in the 9-12 age group in the bookshop.) And consider what kind of story your daughter likes. A lot of the younger books are all about really imaginative ideas like fairies and animals acting like humans etc which didn't tick the box for my daughter - it's the more real life stories that come with older books that have really got her going.

All that said, I'm sure you'll get lots of good suggestions for books to try. I've seen a couple already for my younger one.

[SR]

Thanks All for your suggestions!

I will just start with one from the series before commiting, if she gets into the books, good to know there are more. Much appreciated, I'm sure some of the above will be enjoyed and if not I wont be too gutted, as nunheadmum says there is always time.

[edanna]

The Claude books are fun - Claude in the city is the first one.

[Lizzylonglegs]

I think at this age it's all about keeping their love of books & reading alive. Personally, I think the school reading books cover the learning objectives in terms of phonics, tricky words etc etc but are not very gripping in terms of plot or even very enjoyable. We have found that "stepping up" the books we read together at bedtime has kept us all interested & my daughter has gone back to re-read a lot of these books independently now she has gained more confidence in reading.

I heartily recommend:

Madame Pamplemousse series of books - absorbing for both adults &a small children!

Oliver & the Seawigs

Claude series of books

Non scary Roald Dahl stories

Worst witch series

The Bolds & the new book

The Magnficient Moon Hare (&sequel)

Also , the Ella Bella Ballerina series

We read these as my daughter was growing more confident in reading. She also loved the Ant & Bee books to practice on her own & dare I say politically unPC Wishing chair collection by Enid Blyton.

Hope this helps, as has been mentioned, choosing at a library or bookshop may help. Probably most important is a love of books, which by definition is why you originally posted.