My children read before and after school, over breakfast, on the bus, in the car, and all the times in between. I’m sure they’d read during other mealtimes if I didn’t insist on good manners.
We’ve been asked for their book recommendations lately, so they helped me put together this list.
I’ve put the books into rough age groups, to reflect the age they were when they enjoyed them, but of course you might have different ideas about what’s appropriate. I’ve also divided them into Arlo’s picks (he is 11) and Keira’s (9) rather than ‘gender’ groups. Most of the books below have been read by both of them.
Not included in the list are non-fiction, picture books, cartoons/graphic novels/comics (all of these make up a huge part of their daily reading adventures) or the names of the many fantasy/sci fi books Arlo reads and the other ‘big’ book series such as Harry Potter, etc.
Neither have I added books that I loved as a child and wanted them to love too (Enid Blyton anyone?) This list has been approved by them, and only features books they think are special.
Feel free to add your best children’s books in the comments section, if you like! I hope you find some new favourites.
Age 5-6ish
Arlo
Winnie the Pooh books (these have been heart-favourites since the kids learned to read and I often still find a copy under Arlo’s pillow)
The Wind in the Willows
Anything by Andy Griffiths (‘fun to read and so silly’ – Arlo)
'Bow Down Shadrach', Joy Cowley ('a bit sad, but about horses.')
Keira
Violet Mackerel series by Anna Bradford
Clarice Bean series, by Lauren Child (‘bit more grown up version of Charlie and Lola’ – Keira)
Pippi Longstockings, by Astrid Lindgren
Moomin series by Tove Jansson
‘The Practical Princess and other Liberating Fairy Tales’ (Jay Williams) and ‘The Wrestling Princess’ (Judy Corballis) – these were great for reading aloud before Keira read them herself.
Age 7-8ish
Arlo
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and all the other Narnia books by CS Lewis (magical, beautiful)
Anything by Raymond Briggs. So touching and funny with graphic novel-style (‘The Man’ is our special favourite)
Roald Dahl – everything and anything.
'How to train your dragon' series (Funny and addictive, says Arlo)
‘Just so stories’ Rudyard Kipling (‘This book used to be my Dad’s, but I really like it too’- Arlo)
‘A coyote in the house’ by Elmore Leonard (‘from the point of view of an animal which is cool!’)
‘The Phantom Tollbooth’ by Norman Juster (‘My grandad read this to me, and I liked it so much I read it again myself’- Arlo)
Morris Gleitzman books (‘Boy Overboard’ is amazing and had the whole family in tears on a recent car journey)
Horrible Histories and Horrible Science books (‘silly and funny and good for in the car’- Arlo)
Keira
'Charlotte’s Web' by EB White (this has been a favourite of both kids, but Keira has been especially moved by it)
‘Under the Mountain’- Maurice Gee (‘set in our old hometown and a spooky second hand shop’- Keira)
Little House on the Prairie series (I like the descriptions of the olden days- Keira)
Heidi + Heidi Grows Up (the books were a bit boring for me to read but I listened to them on audiobook which was great!- Keira)
Nanny Piggins series by R.A. Spratt ('so very funny and lots of mentions of cake'- Keira)
The Daring Book for Girls
‘The dark blue, 100-ride bus ticket’ by Margaret Mahy (you can even hear it read for radio NZ here)
The Ramona series by Beverly Cleary
Age 9-11ish
Arlo
Wildwood trilogy by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis (Arlo saved up his pocket money for these and says ‘Slightly spooky but very cool world to go into’)
Louis Sachar – 'Holes', ‘There’s a boy in the girl’s bathroom’ and ‘Small steps’
Phillip Pullman, His Dark Materials (Fantasy, with philosophical ideas. Arlo loved them, but good for grownups too)
Des Hunt books (NZ books with a science/nature theme)
J.R.R Tolkein books: The Hobbit, Silmarillion, etc – (Arlo reads these over and over)
Laurie Hulse Anderson's Seeds of America (‘Chains’) series (both Arlo and Keira love these books)
Maurice Gee’s Halfmen of O trilogy.
‘A boy called Mouse’ by Penny Dolan
John Boyne: ‘Noah Barleywater runs away’ and ‘The boy in the striped pajamas’ – ‘really special books’ – Arlo)
Keira
Ruby Redfort series, Lauren Child (Keira says ‘These are my most favourite books ever. About a really smart and cool detective.’)
'Wonder' by R.J Palacio
'The Invention of Hugo Cabret' by Brian Selznick ('I really really loved reading this in the winter'- Keira)
‘Red Rocks’ Rachael King (‘set in Wellington and a beach we love’)
Michael Morpurgo (Great nature and history stories)
Anne of Green Gables books by LM Montgomery
Lemony Snicket series ('Creepy and cool,' says Keira)
Truly Tan series, by Jen Storer
Friday Barnes: Girl detective by R.A. Spratt.
Joy Cowley “Dunger” – ('So funny and set near our old home town! Brother and sister viewpoints'- Keira.)
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