I have a rather reading-obsessed eight-year-old daughter. She reads so much, with such intensity, that Min keeps suggesting we limit her books. I have to reassure him that it is, in fact, possible to read that much and still grow up to be a socially appropriate member of society. (Oh, shush. It happens.)

At the Surrey International Writers Conference last month, I got talking to Christine Dalzell, reading buddy to a nine-year-old bookworm. Christine suggested the girls might enjoy trading recommendations. We just sent off our list this week. Then it occurred to me that others with young readers in their lives might be interested, too. Here it is, in all it’s glory…

Favourite Series
The Familiars, Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobsen
The Borrowers, Mary Norton
The Kane Chronicles, Rick Riorden
Beacon Street Girls
Guests of War, Kit Pearson
Dork Diaries, Rachel Renee Russell
Dear Dumb Diary
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney
Dolphin Diaries, Ben M. Baglio
Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls, Meg Cabot
The Roman Mysteries, Caroline Lawrence
The Penderwicks, Jeanne Birdsall
A Series of Unfortunate Events, Lemony Snicket
Warriors, Eric Hunter

Other Favourite Books
The Trouble with Dilly, Rachna Gilmore
A Mango Shaped Space, and every other Wendy Mass book
Millicent Min, Girl Genius, Lisa Yee
Smile and Drama, Raina Telgemeier
Ruby Holler, and all other Sharon Creech books
I am Taxi, among other Deborah Ellis books

This list wasn’t written in an actual line; it was more of a brainstorming arrangement. (What can I say? I didn’t have many linear-thinking genes to pass along.) So, books aren’t necessarily in order of preference.

Now we await our return recommendations!