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10 must-read classics for 6 to 8-year-olds
From the beloved Moomins to Mildred Hubble, these treasured tales full of well-loved characters have been captivating readers for years. They’re exciting, enchanting, and downright classics.
The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy (1974)
Long before Harry Potter went to Hogwarts, Mildred Hubble was a student at Miss Cackle’s Academy. Unlucky, clumsy, and kind, Mildred is always at the bottom of any heap of trouble, and things get worse when she makes an enemy of spiteful swot Ethel. Following a disastrous incident at the Halloween festival, Mildred is sure her time at the academy is up. But then she stumbles upon an evil plot to turn everyone at the school into a frog! Will the worst witch be able to save them all?
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White & Garth Williams (1952)
No one should be without a copy of this timeless tale that follows the friendship between a young pig and a spider. Wilbur the pig is the runt of his litter but is saved in the nick of time by a little girl called Fern who treats him like a pet. Once Wilbur grows too big, he is sent to live on Fern’s uncle’s farm. However, he is snubbed by the other animals; the only creature willing to talk to Wilbur and be his friend is barn spider Charlotte. And when Charlotte realises Wilbur is being raised to be slaughtered, she begins to hatch a plan...
Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono & Joe Todd-Stanton (1985)
It’s time to make some space on your bookshelf for this classic that inspired the Studio Ghibli film of the same name. Kiki is a trainee witch and tradition dictates that on a witch’s 13th birthday, she must leave home and make a living using her powers. The problem is, Kiki isn’t good with potions or spells and she doesn’t have any psychic abilities either. But she does have a broomstick, her cynical cat sidekick Jiji and oodles of optimism!
Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat by Ursula Williams (1942)
Despite being born a witch’s cat, Gobbolino has dreams of being a simple kitchen cat with a family to love and care for him. Meanwhile, his sister Sootica revels in learning how to ride a broom and turn mice into toads. Will Gobbolino ever find the same kind of happiness? Ursula Williams’ classic tale follows the black kitten with one white paw and bright blue eyes as he sets out to find the family of his dreams.
Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson (1948)
What better way to meet the residents of Moominvalley than with the first Moomin book to be translated into English from Swedish? This charming tale follows the Moomin family after they discover the Hobgoblin's hat on a mountaintop. Turns out, this hat has magical powers and temporarily alters Moomintroll’s appearance after he tries it on! Accompanied by Tove Jansson’s iconic illustrations, this is a great intro into the world of the Moomins.
Arabel and Mortimer Stories by Joan Aiken & Quentin Blake
This short story collection by Joan Aiken will introduce you to Arabel and her raven Mortimer. Her father stumbles across the disaster-prone bird one night while driving his taxi, and after bringing him home the lives of the Jones family have never been the same since. There are six stories in this compendium including Arabel's Raven; The Escaped Black Mamba; The Bread Bin; Mortimer's Tie; Mortimer And The Sword Excalibur And The Spiral Stair.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943)
The narrator of this enchanting story – an aircraft pilot – crash lands in the desert one day. Here is where he meets a young boy, a little prince, who is from a tiny planet. Whilst the pilot attempts to fix his plane, the little prince tells him many wonderful stories; what his home planet is like; his love for a vain and silly rose; and the narrow-minded adults he met on six other planets. This is a tale of friendship, loneliness, love, and loss, and is one both adults and children can enjoy time and time again.
Mrs Pepperpot Stories by Alf Proysen (1956)
Fans of Dick King-Smith will love this collection of 20 stories about Mrs Pepperpot, an old woman who, on occasion, shrinks down to the size of a pepper pot! It often happens are the most inconvenient times, but Mrs Pepperpot always manages to make the best of it. It also helps that when she shrinks, she gains the ability to be able to talk to animals.
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (1922)
Before Pixar’s Toy Story, there was the story of The Velveteen Rabbit. Just like Woody and Buzz, the velveteen rabbit loves his little boy. The rabbit becomes the boy’s favourite toy and hopes one day that the love his little boy feels for him will turn him real. Sadly, his little boy comes down with scarlet fever and so the doctor orders for all of his toys to be destroyed to prevent reinfection – including the velveteen rabbit. After being taken from the little boy he loves the most, the velveteen rabbit can’t help but wonder, will he ever get his wish?
What do you think of these recommendations? Is there anything you’d like to see more of on the website? Send any suggestions to: childrenseditor@penguin.co.uk