Need read aloud book recs for 6 and 7 year olds!

[Anonymous]

We are finishing Harry Potter II and don't think we are going to read Harry Potter III at this time. Even though both DCs can read, the whole family enjoys reading aloud. Would be grateful to know what others are reading aloud to children of this age.

Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

Here are some hits with my 5 & 7 yr olds

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing/ SuperFudge / Fudgeamania -- by Judy Blume
Ramona The Pest (and other Beverly Cleary)
My Father's Dragon series
Roald Dahl's short books -- The Enormous Crocodile, The Magic Finger, Esio Trot (these are all wacky and captivating)
The Tale of Despereaux

Others highly recommned the 39 Clues series (I haven't read them yet)

[Anonymous]

Mysterious Benedict Society
Percy Jackson series
Theodosia series

[Anonymous]

Phantom Tollbooth
Stuart Little
Trumpet of the Swan
Cricket in Times Square
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory

[Anonymous]

My DD and I are reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder Books (well, she is reading them to me for the most part). We are really enjoying them.

[Anonymous]

Oh - and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.

[Anonymous]

I am reading Mary Poppins to my 7 yr old.

[Anonymous]

Get the Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. It has tons of good suggestions broken down by age and type of book, with helpful descriptions. I relied on that for years, and I still sometimes read aloud to my 14 year old.

[Anonymous]

I have found it to be a real challenge to find books that are interesting for me and my 6 year old but not too weighty in terms of themes. Here are some favorites:

Laura Ingalls Wilder series
Pippi Longstocking
Charlotte's Web
Dr. Dolittle
Beverly Cleary Series (Ramona et al)
Magic Treehouse (she mostly listens to these as books on tape)
Junie B Jones series (I find them annoying, but my kid likes them)
Capital Mysteries Series (cool since it is about kids living in DC)
The Wizard of Oz
Toys Go Out

Personally, I think that some of the ones that were suggested by others (like Benedict Society or Desperaux) might be a little too heavy or dark for my kid at this stage. I hope to see others' contributions to this thread!

[Anonymous]

Time Warp Trio- funny and throws in some history.

Sisters Grimm- the first on of the series is aga appropriate but gets darker as the series goes on.

Wayside School Series- really funny

The Boxcar Children Series

Bunnicula Series- the family dog narrates his encounters with a vampire bunny.

[Anonymous]

For what it's worth, I have a very sensitive 6 year who didn't have any problems with Benedict Society or Percy Jackson.

(Also, fyi Imagination Stage will be doing Bunnicula as a play this fall.)

[Anonymous]

What do posters think about Harry Potter?

[Anonymous]

I think the general sense is that the early books might be okay, but then you have to take a break as the OP did.