Best Books For Confident Readers

04/06/2009 12:13 | Updated 22 May 2015

Recently we looked at the best ways to encourage your reluctant reader to become enthusiastic about books.

But what do you do if you have the opposite situation: a child who can't get enough of books? How do you feed their appetite for reading and keep challenging them whilst still making sure that what they're reading is age appropriate?

With the aid of my reading-mad nine year old, I've compiled a list of books that will keep them coming back for more.

  • Rediscover the classics

    There are updated versions around of classic books, but sometimes going back to the original, with its unfamiliar language, can be an alternative way to engage your child's interest.

    The British Library have recently produced some beautiful facsimile editions of works by Edward Lear, and an original version of Alice's Adventures Under Ground (aka Alice in Wonderland). If you are a godparent to a confident reader, these would make a great heirloom gift.

  • Do a book swap with friends

    You don't have to be an adult to be in a book group. Encourage your children to swap books with friends and make recommendations to each other. Remember to write their name on the book to make sure it gets back to the right person.

  • Good stories will always be popular

    There's a reason why Harry Potter or Roald Dahl stories sell in their millions. What did you enjoy when you were young? Maybe you could introduce it to your child?

  • GSOH required

    Children love funny books, and if it's got plenty of toilet humour, so much the better. I know many adults won't approve, but Captain Underpants and Mr Gum books

  • Get spooky

    Older children will enjoy books that are slightly scary, or gruesome like the later Harry Potter books. Check out Vampirates or the latest from the Yuck authors, An Awfully Beastly Business.

Use your library, charity shops and car boot sales, but don't feel that you need endless supplies of new books. Even a confident reader will enjoy revisiting the same stories repeatedly. And if they do, our 9 year old correspondent recommends Doctor Who Decide Your Destiny books, where the story changes each time you read it.

What are your recommendations for confident readers?

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