Dirty little secrets and startling confessions

It's that time of year again where we're about to finish one class reader and we need to choose another. This should be fantastic and great and easy, but I just don't know what to pick. Yesterday I pulled down the dusty box labelled 'Book Club' and almost collapsed in shock when I saw the contents. Now I'm not saying that kids shouldn't read Geronimo Stilton, but is that what we want to read as a whole class. Puppy Place? Junie B. Jones? I don't think so.

I believe, that what we read to a whole class should be special. Sometimes the book we read as a class is the only chapter book some of these kids tackle all year. Because of that I think that we teachers have a responsibility to provide kids with examples of a high quality of literature.

The problem is it takes me so blooming long to choose.

My criteria is that the book should be:

• timeless;
• universal;
• the words should sing off the page;
• and...
• I need to love it.

That's not much to ask is it?

So what would you recommend for 8-9 year olds? Oh! Hang on, you know that study that's just out saying that there aren't enough girl MC's and therefore gender inequalities are being reinforced, well can we add that to the criteria?

Cheers guys, looking forward to hearing your recommendations.