Books: seven to ten years Clare Walters Your child is likely to become an independent reader from seven to ten years of age.

Little bookworms

Picture books - younger ones will still enjoy picture books and will probably be able to read many to themselves. This isn't 'babyish', it's a deeply satisfying pleasure that fosters reading confidence. Look out for more demanding picture books for older children.

Reading aloud keeps you close and allows experimentation with a more challenging story, a complex plot or longer words

Reading aloud - even though your child may now be reading on her own, she'll still enjoy having a story read to her. Reading aloud keeps you close and allows experimentation with a more challenging story, a complex plot or longer words.

The National Literacy Trust has advice and ideas about reading with your children, and so does Reading Together.

Storybooks - new readers are often proud when they start reading their first 'chapter' books. Choose ones that aren't too long, have short chapters with not too many words on the page, and lots of supporting pictures. Remember to praise your child as she reads.

Myths and legends - fairytales will still be popular and you can introduce other traditional stories such as simple re-tellings of Greek or Roman myths, Norse legends or folktales from other countries.

School reading books - your child's school reading scheme will probably have come to an end by now, but she may still bring home books that the teacher would like her to read with you.

Reference books - at school, your child will gradually learn to obtain information from reference books. To encourage this, you may want to invest in a few basic reference books for your home.

Keep your child interested in reading by visiting bookshops and libraries. Look for books you know will be of interest (football annuals, film tie-ins, joke collections, craft books, poems etc) and buy books and book tokens as presents.

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