Recently Jean headed along to Te Awamutu public library to meet with Melissa (Mel) Sullivan and find out what books are ideal for 5 to 7 year olds.

Before diving into her book recommendations, here's what Jean learnt about Mel...

Where did you get your love of reading from?

I started reading from a young age and spent lots of time with my dad at the library each weekend.

What is your role at the library?

I'm a librarian with a real interest in working with children and young adults.

How did you become a librarian?

I've always loved reading and books, so did a Library and Information Studies Diploma that helped me get my 'dream job' here.

What do you enjoy reading?

I love reading everything but particularly suspense and thriller books, and young adult fiction.

Next time you're in the Te Awamutu library, be sure to say hi to Me - she loves talking with people about reading and books.

And... here are Mel's recommendations for 5 to 7 year olds. Thanks Mel for providing this list for our Impact community!

Recommendations for 5-7 year olds

Funny / rhyming picture books

Giles Andreae – Giraffes can’t dance

Aaron Blabey – Pig the Pug (series)

Matt Cosgrove – Macca the Alpaca (series)

Lynley Dodd – Hairy Maclary (series) 

Suzanne Lang – Grumpy Monkey (series)

Craig Smith – The Wonky Donkey (series) 

David Walliams – Little monsters

Early readers

Tedd Arnold – Fly guy (series)

Michael Bond – Paddington (series)

Joy Cowley – Wishy Washy (series) 

James Dean – Pete the Cat (series)

Erica Farber – Richard Scarry’s great big schoolhouse readers (series)

Herman Parish – Amelia Bedelia (series)

Chapter books for girls

Emily Bliss – Unicorn princesses (series)

Daisy Meadows – Rainbow magic (series)

Daisy Meadows – Magic animal friends (series)

Sue Mongredien – The secret mermaid (series)

Yvette Poshoglian – Ella and Olivia (series)

Chapter books for boys

John Himmelman – Bunjitsu Bunny (series)

H.I. Larry – Zac Power (series)

Kyle Mewburn – Dinosaur trouble (series) 

Tim Miller – Fart monster and me (series)

Mac Park – D-Bot Squad (series)

Other chapter books

Felice Arena – Sporty kids (series)

Helen Paiba – Funny stories for… (series)

Dav Pilkey – Dragon (series)

Francesca Simon – Horrid Henry (series)

Assorted authors – Pokemon (series)

Classics

Enid Blyton – The enchanted wood (series)

Joy Cowley – The Gobbledegook book  

Roald Dahl – The enormous crocodile

Julia Donaldson – The gruffalo

Margaret Mahy – Down the back of the chair  

A.A. Milne – Favourite Winnie the Pooh stories

Watty Piper – The little engine that could

Beatrix Potter – Peter Rabbit (series)

Maurice Sendak – Where the wild things are

Dr Seuss – The cat in the hat

Educational early readers (assorted authors / topics)

DK Readers

National Geographic Kids

Ladybird “Read it Yourself”

Kingfisher Readers

Katie Kool – Te Reo Maori – English “Bilingual books” (series)