Books for your grandchildren

What ages are we talking?

Too many to count!

Age is important 🙂

For age up to 8 you can't go wrong with Julia Donaldson books. Over 8's, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, Tom Fletcher, The Wimpy Kid series, David Walliams and Roald Dahl.

Depends upon the age and interests of the child.

They have all had The Tiger who Came to Tea and Anton the French mouse who worked in a cheese factory. I tried to find my children’s favourite series about Arabelle and her pet raven but they are unavailable. Just found a second hand copy for sale in the library of ‘The Ghost of Thomas Kemp’. I am reading it before I give it to my grandson! They have all the modern ones their friends read but like Nana’s ‘old fashioned ones’.

I’d add all the Shirley Hughes Alfie books for the younger children, plus anything about dinosaurs or trains (Thomas included), then the Dave Pilkey Dogman books and all the many Tom Gates and Percy Jackson books for the older ones. I do only have grandsons though, and these are what have appealed to them.

My grandson, just 15 months loves the That's not my........., series, especially the Monkey one. They all are very tactile. We look after him 2 mornings, and he brings them on numerous occasions to read, but not always finished, or pages not always turned in order, as yet!!.

My absolute favourites are the Hairy Maclary series. I read them to my children, and now read them to my grandchildren. They have an easy rhythm, lots of alliteration and fun words, and I enjoy them too. Lots of scope for loud miaows (Scarface Claw) and different dog barks (Hairy's friends).

My 11 year old grand daughter reads Percy Jackson

Another vote here. for Roald Dahl and David Walliams - DGD chose these herself when spending a book token that we gave her.

I second Hairy McClary GS loved them. And Alfie; Percy the Park Keeper: Katie Morag. He loved Aesop’s Fables and Greek Myths. Simon Bartram’s “Man on the Moon - a Day in the life of Bob” books were very popular. There are lots that I can’t remember. Then later, Percy Jackson, Alex Rider and of course Harry Potter.

My experience is that children are interested in anything nand everything and no book is unsuitable, just, occasionally bought too soon or too late

We are a family of genetic bookaholics. Every family member's home is full of them.

DS used to get fascinated with subjects and, aged about 4, I can remember him saying to me accusingly 'I have been interested in the Romans for three weeks and you haven't bought me a book about them yet.'

Use age of your grandchildren as a guide and any book shop can advise you. By the time they reach three or four they will have clearly defined interests - and then read with them.

What children need more than anything is to be in homes where there is plenty of reading materiala lying around and where they see adults engrossed by books.

You cannot expect children to embrace reading when their homes are devoid of adults owning, reading and enjoying books.

A staggering number of children do not meet the required standard in reading. There is no longer a culture of reading at home, and as has been said, too any homes where there are and never have been any books. Schools are under tremendous teaching pressures and can’t give pupils who are lagging behind the one to one reading practice they need. I became a reading volunteer last year and would encourage anyone who has time to spare to do the same. It’s incredibly rewarding and schools will bite your hand off.

My grandson loved the Dog Man books by Dav Pilkey. There are quite a few others in this style. He liked them from just before 7yrs.

Hmm, they’re not biting mine off, Greyduster. I trained for the Coram Beanstalk scheme over a year ago. I was very impressed with the training and raring to go. Unfortunately they haven’t been able to find me a local placement and when they agreed that I could contact schools directly the three I emailed haven’t even replied.

I used to work in a school office and we’d always have managed a quick reply.

What would you recommend for a clever South Asian girl of 11 who has been in this country for just a year? Her spoken English is fairly good but reading level is, I would estimate roughly, year 8. She would love to read Harry Potter but it's a bit much for her.

That’s disappointing, Maggie. At least you tried. The school’s loss.

You’ve just prompted me to try school number 4, Greyduster. Fingers crossed.

🤞🏻🤞🏻

Romola Dare I say it, 'Enid Blyton'? The Famous Five and Secret Seven books.
Jacqueline Wilson might at the right level to hold her interest and also be at her reading level

Oh, and Agatha Christie.

Mine used take the same picture books out of those boxes in the library time after time. They're lovely years aren't they? A particular home favourite at 3-4 was The Giant Jam Sandwich (Thump it, bump it, bang it about). We got through three copies and they all bought it again for the grandchildren. Hairy McClary too for the grandchildren.
I only have daughters and they all started Enid Blyton with the Faraway Tree and then the Famous Five.

Maggie do keep trying

Julia Donaldson books are wonderful for youngsters. Mine loved the Dick King Smith books too and then they just chose their own.