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sketchqueen
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« on: May 25, 2006, 03:11:22 AM » |
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Since I know there is a diverse group of people on this board, some of whom are parents, I'm hoping to get some good ideas from you all  So the school year is almost out and I'm diligently planning things to entertain my children during the summer break and I need to know - what are the kids (say 8-12) reading these days? I'm fairly certain Alexander has read EVERYTHING in his room - probably several times and am looking for new stories that will challenge him (ie, not baby books) and maybe get him interested to read more. He likes comic books, which are cool - I have to pre-approve them *lol*, but I'm looking for book books, so come on - tell me what's in your library |
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Nienna
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« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2006, 03:45:57 AM » |
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Harry Potter (of course), Eoin Colffer, the Alex Rider series of books by Anthony Horowitz (Stormbringer is the first one) for starters.
My young jedi is currently reading the Asterix and Obelix books ...
There's also a series of 10 books by two ladies called Jan Burchett and Sarah Vogler entitled 'The Little Terrors' - all about some ghost children who haunt Little Frightley Manor and the adventures and mischief they get into when the Manor's new owners come to live there with their son. Even now, Adam likes me to read these out loud to him as I put on different accents when I'm reading them and he finds it all highly amusing - Alexander might like them as they aren't too difficult a read and they're funny too - in fact they might be too easy for him, I dunno.
I suppose it depends on what interests him ....
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sketchqueen
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« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2006, 03:53:35 AM » |
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He's pretty much able to read anything - he ranges from historical (just finished Before Columbus: The Leif Ericsson Expedition) to the ridiculous (Captain Underpants, anyone?) He's read stuff as obscure as Tintin (based on the 30's Belgian? comics) to relatively common Magic Treehouse series - stuff you'd find in an elementary school library I'm definately off to check those out though -ANYTHING new is well, new |
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Roz
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« Reply #3 on: May 25, 2006, 03:57:58 AM » |
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He's read stuff as obscure as Tintin (based on the 30's Belgian? comics)
You call that obscure?? That's massively big business populist stuff here. Admittedly my copies are all in French (as Herge is a French not Flemmish Belgian) which obscurifies them a little, but there are some brilliantly animated cartoons that used to be shown on Channel 4 in the summer holidays, my brother recently bought the set on DVD. Genius. They must be american made because I think Tintin had an American accent (although I don't think any of the rest of the characters did). Definitely worth digging out as they actually ADD to the original books. |
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sketchqueen
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« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2006, 04:02:00 AM » |
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It's obscure when the librarian has to call me and ask if it's ok. I said - if it's in the school library it must be okay *lol* I'm guessing no other second grader (7 year old) ever wanted to check them all out
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tialessa
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« Reply #5 on: May 25, 2006, 04:06:06 AM » |
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See Joanna made the mistake of posting where a book geek could read it... Here are my suggestions from Card Talk... So he's about up for anything then? Let's go with magic/fantasy to start with  All of these are kid friendly as I recall. Try Edward Eager (several including Half Magic) & E. Nesbit (Five Children & It) books - they're a little older than what he's currently reading, but the writing is still good. Several by both authors have been reprinted recently & the reading level is Ages 9-12. Can't go wrong with L. Frank Baum Wizard of Oz series (continued by Ruth Plumley Thompson). Not only can you still find his books in the stores still, BUT I've found them on the net - think it was the Gutenberg Project. Ruth Chew's books are pretty much out of print, but if you have a good library try one. All of them involve magic. Oh, and obviously the Chronicles of Narnia MUST be read at some point in time I've got others I could recommend off the top of my head, but they're probably for 12 & up (reading level wise).... |
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Roz
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« Reply #6 on: May 25, 2006, 04:10:05 AM » |
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OOoooooooh there's nothing to worry about in there, just intrigue, espionage, and a lot of fun, I suppose it could be regarded as faintly imperialist in places (for instance "Tintin in America" should really be "Tintin in Latin America", and the ones set in Egypt and India deal only with Pharaohs tombs and Maharajahs, but only in the gentlest way, much as you'd expect from a Belgian. One of my tutors at University (a TV celeb in the world of history and hilariously and delightfully eccentric) was a huge fan... but of the French ones of course.
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sketchqueen
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« Reply #8 on: May 25, 2006, 04:12:57 AM » |
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He's a seven (going on eight) year old BOY - Low brow is just fine *lol* Did I mention a series he read called Captain Underpants?
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Morningangel-Iola
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« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2006, 04:16:22 AM » |
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Lol thats good a Viking would be quite good then, not sure if you get those books over there though. They are rather good just don't ask me how I know  |
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sketchqueen
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« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2006, 04:45:35 AM » |
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I can get anything *lol* Actually - I found all the Viking books on amazon.com so got lucky there. One stop shopping and all |
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Morningangel-Iola
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« Reply #11 on: May 25, 2006, 04:51:47 AM » |
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Yay amazon can usally get most things  |
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HPfamily
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« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2006, 04:59:52 AM » |
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My boys like "The Magic Tree House" series by Mary Pope Osborne! They are fiction, but have stories revolving around true history. Jack and Annie (the two main characters) have a magic treehouse that travels!! They go everywhere! |
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tialessa
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« Reply #13 on: May 25, 2006, 08:41:14 AM » |
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My boys like "The Magic Tree House" series by Mary Pope Osborne! They are fiction, but have stories revolving around true history. Jack and Annie (the two main characters) have a magic treehouse that travels!! They go everywhere! AND they have special-type books where they talk about the research for the books |
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sketchqueen
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« Reply #14 on: May 25, 2006, 07:54:10 PM » |
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We started Magic Tree House - maybe it's time to revisit them (there are like 40 or so? - I think we got to #9) *lol*
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Sharon
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« Reply #15 on: May 26, 2006, 12:31:36 AM » |
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I am not sure if they would be the right age group but the Lemony Snicket series is lots of fun and there are loads of them |
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sketchqueen
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« Reply #16 on: May 26, 2006, 02:43:44 AM » |
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Added that one too! Thanks for all the great suggestions  I made a Wish List on Amazon for him last night (and today) and showed him all the different books - there wasn't one he turned away! I think this will be a great summer! |
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Morningangel-Iola
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« Reply #17 on: May 26, 2006, 02:49:05 AM » |
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Thats great, and that'll keep him quiet |
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sketchqueen
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« Reply #18 on: May 26, 2006, 06:22:12 AM » |
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Keep my little angel quiet? Now whoever would want that *lol* And, for the record, while I'm making the list on amazon I do not intend to purchase all the books *lol* We have a Mobile Library (we have no free public library local so the Mobile Unit comes to us) and you can request any book from any library in the entire system - so it's really better than a building *lol* and I plan to use them for as many of the books as I can - buying the ones they can't get for me |
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Morningangel-Iola
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« Reply #19 on: May 27, 2006, 02:46:12 AM » |
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Very good plan We have a public library but can get books from throughout the county So I'm lucky |
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