Zoe and Izzy would happily spend these cold winter weekends curled up somewhere warm with a book.
They are at that stage where they can read well enough to totally get lost in the magic of a story. They get drawn in and disappear into the fantasy world for hours on end, late into the night if I let them. And while I pay for it when getting up on school mornings, I love that they love to read so much that I usually let them read for as long and as late as they like.
They have a voracious appetite for books, but at the same time they are quite picky. They will bring home several books each from the school library, but unless it really grabs them in the first few pages they’ll happily ditch that book and move on to the next one.
Here are a few books the girls have been enjoying lately –
The Secret Garden -Frances Hodgson Burnet
This book was full of difficult language and even I had trouble making sense of some of the conversations where a Yorkshire accent was written in text, but the magic of this story had Zoe hook line and sinker and she battled through the hard bits and was to proud to have read this long book. In celebration we borrowed the DVD, though of course, the book was better!
Geronimo Stilton
Many wise friends have recommended this series before, but each time I suggested it to the girls they turned up their noses. Of course when Izzy’s teacher suggested she give them a try she eagerly did and discovered that she loves them. Really fun and exciting stories with lots of cool pictures scattered through the text. Given the chance Izzy reads these books from cover to cover in around a day.
The Red Wind – Isobelle Carmody
This is the first book in the new junior reader series by Isobelle Carmody. We are big fans of her Little Fur books and I enjoy lots of her teenage fiction (and I know, I’m not a teenager) and this book was just as fabulous. We read this one together, because none of us wanted to miss anything! We are eagerly awaiting the release of the next book in the series. We NEED to know what happens to Billy and Zluty next!
Arkie Sparkle – Petra James
My girls were sent copies of the first book in this new series, Arkie Sparkle, Treasure Hunter – Code Crimson and they really enjoyed it. The story is about all the things my girls are into… a bit of girl secret agent action combined (in this book) with Egyptian themes (my girls are quite taken by the idea of Cleopatra). The only criticism both girls raised about this book was that there were no boys in it at all, even the dog was a girl! But they are still super keen to read the next book in the series.
Arkie Sparkle: Code Crimson is available at the end of June and is $6.99($AU RRP) (ebook version $5.99). The next book in this seven part series, Time Trap, is due for release in August.
Win a Copy of Arkie Sparkle Code Crimson.
This competition is now closed – the lucky winners are Jane, Maria, Debbie, Margaret and Brenda.
Thanks to Pan MacMillian I have five copies of Arkie Sparkle: Code Crimson to give away.
To enter, leave a comment on this post and tell me about your favourite childhood memory of reading. The five sweetest, funniest or most interesting comments will win a copy of the book.
To enter you must be an Australian resident and provide a valid email address. Entries are limited to one per household.
Entries close midday AEST Saturday June 16th 2012, the winners will be contacted by email and announced on this post. The winners must contact me within 5 days or the prize will be re-drawn. The winners agree to have their postal address and details passed on to Pan Macmillan Publishers who will send out the prizes.
{disclosure : We were given two copies of Arkie Sparkle:Code Crimson to read and review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. The opinions and ideas expressed in this post are purely my own, or more correctly, those of my girls.}
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{ 31 comments }
I remember being excited by the suppposedly “secret” activity of reading with my torch under the covers of my bed when I was supposed to be going to sleep! In retrospect I suspect my mother knew all along and (like you) was happy to allow reading but I still felt very daring!
I loved reading Little House on the Prairie. My mother made me borrow it from the library and of course I didn’t want to read it on principle. Once I started though, I was hooked. My 7 year old is now enjoying it too. I love talking with her about what is happening in the book!
I was simply addicted to Enid Blyton books, especially the investigative series like Secret Seven and Famous Five. I would spend all my free time reading…… in the car, under the covers and even in the loo! Thinking about these memories always puts a smile on my face!
I was simply addicted to Enid Blyton during my younger days, especially the investigative series like Secret Seven and Famous Five. I would spend all my free time reading…. in the car, under the covers and even in the loo! Thinking of these memories always puts a smile on my face.
I read anywhere and everywhere, it got to the point where my parents didn’t bother banning me from TV as a punishment, once they attempted to ban me from reading!
I only have a reading regret – I read on holidays too, and chose to read rather than going for a walk with my family up to Red Bluff in Kalbarri. Now I know that the book would still have been there afterwards, but I’ve never had the chance to go back and see that area.
I didn’t have many books growing up and I vividly remember my older sister giving me the book “The Tasha Tudor Book of Fairytales” and reading it over and over again. That was 42 years ago and the same book (although now a little shabby) holds pride of place in my bookcase.
i loved reading the trixie beldon books would be so excited when a new one came out i would try and solve the crime before the gang
My Mum used to have to take one of my sisters to Perth for Drs appointments and every time she would bring me back a new Enid Blyton Book. I never wanted them to go, but I was always so excited to see which one she would bring back with her.
In grade prep, being presented with a certificate in front of the whole school for my reading skills, having surpassed what the grade sixes were reading!
Weekends when Dad was away with the army, Mum would let me sleep with her in their ‘big bed’ where we’d snuggle up late and she’d read me my treasured Enid Blyton books. The magic and whimsy of the characters of the Faraway tree, thrilling my mind and fueling my imagination.
One of my favourite books was called something like ‘Dumbo the Flying Elephant’. Dumbo was a baby with extraordinarily big ears, which made him the butt of jokes amongst the other elephants. He got his ‘come-upance’ when he used his big ears to learn to fly, becoming the star of the circus. I remember this book more for the feelings it invoked than anything else – all my life I have hated to see anyone humiliated. It’s a classic tale of triumph over adversity, child-style.
I spent several weeks in hospital when I was 9yrs old. I was really bored and ended up playing a lot with a younger boy in the bed next to me – as a thank you for spending time with him his mother bought me a Nancy Drew book. It was my first “big” book and I haven’t stopped reading since ( avg. 4-6 books a week!)
I’m not eligible for the giveaway but wanted to thank you for the book recommendations – I have a 7 year old girl who is an enthusiastic reader looking for new books!
Loving the new book suggestions too. Will have to investigate for my 8yr old. She loves all the Billie B Brown books but can finish one in a car trip into town (we live about 20kms out). I just re-read ‘The Enchanted Wood’ with my 6yr old – a favourite from my childhood.
Annie and I read “Red Wind” together and are hanging out for the next installment.
Reading under the covers by torch light because I just had to finish my book before I went to sleep to find out what happened!! Mum would get so cranky when I couldnt get up in the morning!
I loved the Faraway Tree (and sequels) by Enid Blyton…and any other Enid Blyton stories as they were always ‘magical’! :)
i was born into a family of non-readers and I loved books with a passion. Any opportunity I would hide away in my bedroom with my book. It was a source of frustration for my mother, who for a time banned reading during daylight hours so that I could do my chores. However, whenever someone came to visit, I would surreptitiously creep into my room and read a chapter or two. At the time my favourites were Trixie Belden Mysteries.
Sleep overs at Grandma’s house in the *massive* double bed. She would read me some poems from a large, hardcover omnibus of rhymes.
This is totally revolting. And true. When I was about 7yrs old, I was living with my dad. Each Sunday we would drive to the local markets to buy fruit and vegetables (this was in the 70s, so ahead of the time as far as buying local goes!). There was also a secondhand bookseller there, who ran a book exchange. I would buy/exchange two Trixie Belden books every Sunday, then excitedly go home, curl up on the lounge and read both of them in a row whilst eating a WHOLE JAR OF PICKLED ONIONS. I told you it was revolting.
My dad’s commitment to my reading is evidence by his ability to sit anywhere in a house with me and my pickled onion butt. Oh lordy.
But in other news, my 7yr old history buff daughter would LOVE those books. If you look on my blog you’ll see how she just begged me to take her to the local museum that has mummies and a whole Egyptian section for our special ‘mama/daughter’ time.
Fingers crossed!
I remember reading the twits, hilarious. it’s like a kids version of reading a drama to make your own life seem normal!
We never had a tv when I was growing up. I absolutely hated it and thought I was missing out. But in hindsight, I can see that my parents made a very wise decision which fuelled my love of reading. I used to love anything mystery – Nancy Drew was my favourite and I used to make up my own mystery stories with me as the detective. Now as a parent, I understand the value of scree-free time and am pleased to see my kids are developing a love of reading as well. My eldest two love the Geronimo/Thea Stilton series as well.
I just thought I would tell you about our book reading family, (I think it’s hereditary, My mother always read alot including in the loo, I have inherited her love of reading as have my sister and brother who also read in the loo.. I now have a 14 year old daughter who read constantly and takes her books to the loo too, Now my youngest who is almost 3 goes to the toilet and yells out to me (“Mum, I need my moon book”) I have never heard anything so hilarious as he wont sit there without his book…just had to share this
I always remember the Enid Blyton Faraway Tree and Wishing Chair books as being my favourites. I even went and bought the box set which were re-released for my 6 yo. I loved being taken away to the top of the Faraway Tree and into different lands. It really gave me my love of reading and I am happy to say that we have instilled my love for books in my daughter who loves reading and has surpassed everyone in her class in her reading levels….Miss Level 15 while everyone else is on Level 5-6!
Thanks for this list! I just can’t wait for my almost 7 year old daughter to be into Anne of Green Gables. My nanna gave me the whole set and I have been saving them! I used to make a nest with pillows and doonas and then curl up and read for hours. I wish I could still!
My childhood memory to do with reading is when my eldest sister, who is eleven years older than me, started buying me and my other sister the Mr Men series just after our brother passed away. He was only 12. She used to have a job at a bakery and would buy us one each week with her pay to cheer us up. She would read them to us, and we got quite a collection over time. I now am a mother of three and I read the very same books to them (though the books have aged a bit they’re still in great reading condition).
Thanks for the ideas on different books my daughter would love those I remember reading babysitter club books and all my friends loved them aswell and I remember that I would visualise myself in the story by having a little club like the girls in the book.
I remember how naughty I thought I was reading Forever by Judy Blume. I was about 11 at the time and would take it to school to giggle about with friends…. I loved all her books even the non naughty ones :)
I even have her two books for grown ups!!
My 10 year old daughter is just about finished the secret garden- she took a while to get into it but is now hooked!! She is another avid reader- she got 14 books for Christmas!! I’m trying to steer her towards some classics and things she maybe wouldn’t normally read. Plus some stories I loved as a child. :)
Going in a read-a-thon for cancer was my fave time my fave hobby mixed with charity work….great!
Reading books in school 1 hour and being able to finish the entire short novel so quick noone ever believed I was reading them
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