Some Great Books for 6 - 8 Year Olds

Continuing with the series of the best books for children according to a list complied by booktrust, the UK`s largest reading charity, here are a selection of the best books for 6 to 8 year olds.

Mister Magnolia

Written in 1980 by Quentin Blake, who most people will know as Roald Dahl`s longtime illustrator, this rhyming book features the exuberant Mister Magnolia, a joyful and eccentric character, whose activities are hampered by him only possessing one boot. He owns a variety of objects, from a rusty old trumpet that goes `rooty toot` to a big purple dinosaur who`s `a magnificent brute.` Despite this vast collection, what he really needs is another boot, and just when it seems his footwear deficiency will never be resolved he receives a mysterious parcel
This is a delightful book that has won a number of awards, including the Kate Greenway medal, which is presented to books that provide `distinguished illustration in a book for children.` Every child will delight in this easy to read rhyming story, which is of course superbly illustrated.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

This fairytale is part of the fabric of western culture, and known to almost everyone, but there will be few who have read the `sequel,` in which the villainous wolf tells his version of events from prison. After being incarcerated for the crimes of property destruction, having demolished the properties of two piglets, who naively constructed their homes out of sticks and straw, the wolf has ample time to dwell upon his wrongdoings. Readers hoping for a contrite and apologetic prisoner will be disappointed however, as the wolf makes various excuses for his vandalism, claiming he accidentally blew the first pig`s home down during a sneezing fit, and only ate the occupants because wasting food would be an unforgivable crime!
This is a wonderful alternate reading on the fairytale, and may well teach children that they even the most villainous characters have the right to tell their side of the story, no matter how unbelievable it may be!

The BFG

No list of children`s books would be complete without at least one Rolad Dahl book. The eponymous character is the Big Friendly Giant, a benevolent behemoth, who befriends the orphan girl Sophie, transporting the small child to his cave, situated far away in a land populated by fearsome giants, whose diets are more carnivorous than the BFG`s. The friendly giant occupies himself by catching dreams in an alternative realm called `Dream Country.` By catching dreams in a net, and loading them into a long trumpet-like device, the BFG is able to blow the dreams into the minds of sleeping people. Sophie soon comes up with the idea that his skill can be used to banish the bad giants forever, as she instructs the BFG to construct a dream that describes how these vile creatures are kidnapping children, and then tells him to plant the dream into the mind of the Queen of England. The monarch heeds the message in her dream, and with her support Sophie and the BFG are able to banish the evil giants to a distant island.

The Sheep Pig

Written by Dick King-Smith, and first published in American in 1983, the story concerns a livestock pig, who is won at a local fair, and goes to live on Mr Hoggart`s sheep farm. Given that the farm has no use for him, the farmer`s wife plans to fatten up the little pig, and serve him as the succulent main course at Christmas dinner. Unaware of his impending doom, the pig struggles to fit into his new environment, until he is befriended by the sheepdog Fly. The kind canine and its brood of puppies teach the pig how to get along in the farm, while also teaching him the rudiments of sheepherding. The little pig soon becomes so proficient that farmer notices his skills, and decides to enter him into a sheepdog trial - a yearly competition whose trophy Mr Hoggard has coveted for many years.
Most people will know the book through the popular film version, called `Babe,` which was released in 1995.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid

This is a multi volume story, with each book following the innovate idea of being presented in a child`s diary format. Each page has the appearance of a notebook, featuring writing lines and even an image of a metal ring binder along the spine. In accordance with a teenager`s diary the text is presented in a handwritten font, and most of the entries are illustrated with events of the day, The diarist is one Gregg Heffley, and the entries describe his travails with his two annoying brothers roderick and Manny, his parents, and a host of other characters.
An instant bestseller, the initial book has been followed by more than ten sequels, and has even spawned four movies, the first being Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010), followed by Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011), Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012), and the latest film Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017).