Reddit reviews The Chronicles of Prydain

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper felt that way me. And my spouse feels that way about The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander.

I see by the suggestions on Amazon that we're not the only ones who liked both of those! Hah. Well, I second Amazon's third suggestion of A Wrinkle in Time.

Could it be The Chronicles of Prydain?

The series follows Taran, the assistant pig-keeper

The Chronicles of Prydain are pretty sweet.

not D&D based, but it is on Gary's recommended reading list, and I read it as a kid.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Chronicles-Prydain-Boxed-Set/dp/1250000939

Here is that Appendix N list sorted by author.

edit 2...a number of these are not appropriate for 6 year olds e.g. M. Moorcock...research.

This edition seems a little less of an eyesore, but isn't hardcover.

I just spotted the 50th anniversary editions, and they're kind of foxy. May need to grab those. Darnit.

This series is for young people, but it is really well done. And, since it's for young people it's pretty simple and straightforward:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Chronicles-Prydain-Boxed-Set/dp/1250000939

The others mentioned some good ones, but I'll add:

I loved the Chronicles of Prydain as a kid
http://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Prydain-Boxed-Set/dp/1250000939/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380775925&sr=1-1&keywords=chronicles+of+prydain+box+set

Sword of Shanarra is pretty classic. The series does get long if that is what you are looking for
http://www.amazon.com/Sword-Shannara-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B000FBFMZM/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380775981&sr=1-2&keywords=shannara+series

The Unremembered is a good new series:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Unremembered-Book-Vault-Heaven/dp/0765325713

I think you'll like this. All the characters in Prydain seem so real and life-like and they all undergo believable character growth, even the minor ones. Fuck, now I want to reread it again. I plan on reading it to my kids when they are growing up.

Sounds like The Chronicles of Prydain.

https://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Prydain-5-Volumes/dp/1250000939/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486930057&sr=8-1&keywords=Prydain

I second all of these, and would add J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books and J.D. Hallowell's Dragon Fate. If you haven't read them, The Chronicles of Prydain should be on your list, as well.

The Eragon series irritates most adults and is beloved by most kids that age (I figure because they haven't read the original series the author ripped off yet).

The Dragonlance Chronicles is an older trilogy I loved at that age.

Lloyd Alexander's Book of Three & subsequent series is great.