When I was a child, I LOVED these "classic" books that were written and adapted for children. They were chapter books, smaller in size than a typical novel. I had a collection of them, which I carried around. I read these over and over again. I was 6 years old when I started 2nd grade, so I'm certain that's how old I was when I started reading these. That was in the 1970s, and no one read along with me or discussed the stories with me. Just me, the books, and my imagination.

My favorites:

Heidi by Swiss author Johanna Spyri
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Others:

The Call of the Wild
The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
A Tale of Two Cities
Frankenstein
David Copperfield
Great Expectations
Kidnapped
The Prince and the Pauper
Black Beauty
Anne of Green Gables
The Count of Monte Cristo
Aesop's Fables
Three Musketeers
Jekyll and Hyde

I looked online, and you could purchase them for $5 each.

Anonymous wrote:Jenny and the Cat Club
My Father's Dragon

Many of the books listed here are too advanced for a 6 year old in terms of plot, subject matter, or character motivations. Don't rush childhood by giving her Anne of Green Gables before she's old enough to really enjoy it.

I came here to mention the Jenny and the Cat Club series. Classic, timeless, and sometimes very silly

Phantom tollbooth

Anonymous wrote:Just a heads up that there is some racist stuff in the Little House on the Prairie books.

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/what-should-be-done-about-racist-depictions-in-the-little-house-books/16587/

In one passage in “Little House on the Prairie,” Wilder wrote, “There were no people; only Indians lived there,” while in another, one of the characters, Pa, says, “the only good Indian is a dead Indian.” In “Little Town on the Prairie,” Pa appears in a minstrel show and sings a racist song — an anecdote accompanied by an illustration of the characters in blackface.

Helpful to know there are teachable moments. Books are still good, however.

Cheaper by the Dozen
Catherine Called Birdy
Midwife's Apprentice
All of a Kind Family
Five Little Peppers
Misty of Chincoteague/Sea Star/Stormy
Wayside School
Encyclopedia Brown
Great Brain

Anonymous wrote:Many of these books are reflections of events and opinions that existed at the time they were written. By being aware of and knowledgeable about the past, we can better appreciate changes that happen over time and have a basis for hope of more changes in the future. It is good for our kids to be aware of history and it’s effects on the present and future.

This, so much this.

Jenny and the Cat Club
My Father's Dragon

Many of the books listed here are too advanced for a 6 year old in terms of plot, subject matter, or character motivations. Don't rush childhood by giving her Anne of Green Gables before she's old enough to really enjoy it.

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson

Ameilia Bedelia.

FICTION Series:
Ramona and Henry Huggins
Ivy & Bean - because that age loves this series
Sideways Stories from Wayside School
Upside Down Magic
Baby Sitters Little Sister
Hilo
The Mysterious Benedict Society
A Series of Unfortunate Events - for a kid with the right personality for it

NONFICTION Series:
Ordinary People Change the World/I Am...
National Geographic Kids First Big Book of...
DK Eyewitness

Anonymous wrote:Many of these books are reflections of events and opinions that existed at the time they were written. By being aware of and knowledgeable about the past, we can better appreciate changes that happen over time and have a basis for hope of more changes in the future. It is good for our kids to be aware of history and it’s effects on the present and future.

I don’t disagree but I suggest read aloud to discuss.

Maybe talk to the children's librarian to get ideas about more contemporary books.

Anonymous wrote:I'd love to hear about why you'd like to explore the classics with your child. Is it because you'd like to revisit books you loved as a child? Is it because you think they have higher literary value than books produced today? and ... I guess I'd also ask, how often do you reach for a classic when you're having your own (adult) reading time?

I do think there's a time and a place for classics. I also think that there is an absolute goldmine of modern, beautifully written books that can suit almost any taste, minus the insidious racism and misogyny of books from the past. If you'd like more modern recommendations, it would help to know what your motivation/interests are.

I review books and get a good amount of middle grade to read. I’m so impressed with a lot of what I read.

Folks, remember that this his is a 6 year old. An advanced one, but that’s kindergarten. This is when most kids are just reading to read. They aren’t reading the stuff you’re recommending. Just having chapters is going to be an ambitious read.

OP, there are blogs and reading lists put out by libraries, publishers, and bookshops for you. Also, let the kid lead. Kids are pretty good at determining what kind of books they’re ready for or feel motivated to tackle. Go to the library with them as see what they gravitate towards first and foremost.

The neverending story?

Anonymous wrote:I read the Hobbit and Treasure Island recently and I would not personally recommend to a 6 year old.

To be clear - I liked both but I think 6 is too young to read on their own. You need more life experience than a 6 year old has to fully appreciate some of this stuff.