Hairy McClary books

[curiosity]

My 5 year old learner, but very good reader, has just asked for this book, I understand there's a good few of them. When I've read reviews, people refer to their 2 year olds loving them, but also some 7 year olds. I understand that the repeated rhyme is good for learner readers, and she loves humour. My sister is going to spend �15 on Hairy McClary books for Christmas, are there any titles that are better for the beginner/advanced reader, as opposed to toddler/read to books?

[jno]

yes, they've got good rhyme and rhythm and a varied, clearly differentiated cast of 'characters'. They're for older kids than the ones who read Spot, but you can't put an exact age on these things - it's more of a developmental thing. I can see 7s still enjoying them, but some might well have outgrown them. I would have thought they'd be ideal for most 5s, though.

I can't advise on other books, there are too many - I like Lauren Child's books about Charlie and Lola (I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato), which are a bit more sophisticated, but there must be thousands of others.

[cscragg]

I teach in a primary school (children aged 3 to 11). Surely if your child can read and is asking for books by title or author this is something to be cherished and encouraged not fretted over. I always tell parents to think of when they read. They know how to read so they choose to read books they enjoy they do not always choose books which stretch them or need to be read with a dictionary to hand. If your child can read then let her read books for enjoyment. There is no value in constantly stretching readers to read beyond their years that route leads to children who stop reading at about 8 years old and start to actively dislike books.

There are many Hairy McClary books and they are all of a similar style and similar level of difficulty.

[curiosity]

Thanks for your answers, cscragg, I think you have misunderstood me. I agree with you about not putting too much pressure on a childs learning. I simply wanted to give my sister an idea of which Hairy McClary titles are favoured over others for a 5 year old, as I have never seen this particular series. Thanks again

[Hmmmmmmm]

You can get hardback books with about six stories in - just called Hairy McClary One etc. I think that's the most economical way to buy the stories. My granddaughter (5) loved reading them with me.

Not really relevant, but I can't resist telling you that a friend of mine used to own Hairy McClary, the real life dog that the books are based on. They ran a shop in N.W.London (on which Donaldson's Dairy is modelled). The dog is long gone, but I always regret not getting its paw print on one of the books - that would be a special 'signed' edition!

[jno]

maybe; see here. A dairy, in New Zealand, is a corner shop/milk bar.

Sorry, I also misread your Q curiosity - I think all the Hairy Maclary books are pitched at about the same level, as are most of Lynley Dodd's stories; but you might like to start with Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy, just because it's the first.

[mimififi]

Hariy Maclary from Donaldson's dairy, Hariy Maclary and Zachary Quack...etc etc...they are all fab, they are all hilarious, I never tire of them, I think they are fantastic: BUY THEM ALL AND READ THEM MANY MANY MANY TIMES until you know them by heart.....

Fantastic! Glad to see someone else likes this seriers. Also, another set of collectors we like, (though they are read alouds really as they are quite challenging for ayoung reader) are My Naughty Little Sister stories. fantastico! So alive with detail, each story about 5 minutes long, fab for before bed and so rich with character and events, just a tapestry of narrative. Get them all, in fact, buy all the books in the world if you can, (except for the original Paddingtons: frankly, a little dull! IMHO)

Enjohoy!

[curiosity]

Thanks all, maybe I didn't word it as best I could, nevermind. My older daughter loved the my naughty little sister books, and I now read them to the younger one, lovely illustrations too. Thanks again

[Hmmmmmmm]

No, thank you curiosity. Because of this thread I made contact with my friends who used to know the HM author and had the dog I mentioned, and I went out and got my granddaughter a My Naughty Little Sister book - can't wait for the next bedtime story session! :-)