I think it is pretty normal for children to find big blocks of text with no pictures daunting/boring. My DS has only just, at 6, found the motivation to read his first novel without pictures (Harry Potter), but that is because he has been playing the LEGO video game and is already enthusiastic about Harry Potter in general.
The books which tipped him over from wanting to read picture books to graphic novels were the Tashi books by Anna Fienberg. He's also just been loaned some Geronimo Stilton books which he's been devouring.
I wonder if there is really anything wrong with a seven year old wanting a visual reference to what she is reading? Books with pictures are fun :), and I'm sure she'll come to reading books without them in time.
