Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Stunted literary existence

As was evidenced by my abysmal tally on the list of 100 greatest books, I am no literary genius. Even worse...I'm a girl and I like to read "girl books." Now, some books are classic and timeless and will be read in this house whether the children would choose them for themselves or not. But I have already been informed that the Little House on the Prairie books are "for girls" (with a couple of exceptions).

So...all this is a long-winded way to say that once I finish those books that I can easily think of, I'm going to need some help. It is with great hope, then, that I turn to you, dear internets, for assistance in finding quality chapter books for my soon-to-be six-year-old son. Here's what I've got so far...

The Magic School Bus chapter books
Mouse and the Motorcycle trilogy
Harry Potter (who knows...this may encourage ME to finish them for myself)
The Magic Tree House series
The Chronicles of Narnia
Encyclopedia Brown series
Horrible Harry series

We need help because the kids can recite words from his DVRed cartoons. It's time to turn off the TV and get reading.

11 comments:

ms. G said...

I'm work in a library, and these are also popular-

Captain Underpants (a series)
Geronimo Stilton (a series)

Good luck!

Stephanie said...

We've done:
Junie B. Jones Chapter books
Magic Tree House (as you mentioned)
Spiderwick Chronicles

right now we're reading The Pee Wee Scouts Chapter Books.

Happy Reading Sam!!! :)

Holley said...

Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander--it's loosely based on Wales in the same way Lord of the Rings is loosely based on England. I loved it more than the Chronicles of Narnia.

I think they still make "Choose your Own Adventure " books. Those were always fun as a kid.

Maybe the Artemis Fowl books.

I'll need to think some more on this.

Holley said...

Oh.

There's also the Barefoot books (pirates and what not).

really, I'm going now.

Holley said...

The City of Ember is supposed to be pretty good.

Also the Eragon stuff, but that would be further down the line a bit.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

I'll stop now.

At least you already knew that I'm a big nerd.

Aurelia said...

Captain Underpants hands down, no question. It made both my boys, who really didn't like reading, love books.

Next take them into a big bookstore or a library and just hang out, they will pick out some stuff on their own.

Also---they have shorter, sanitized versions of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn out there as well as classic boy books. Easier for them to read, and when My oldest hit 11, i could introduce him to the unsanitized longer version and it was okay.

Holley said...

Ooooh. Big slap to the forehead.

Mossflower series by Brian Jacques.

And Watership Down. But I only enjoyed it after I became an adult.

Also the Little Grey Men is a good story--it does has a very violent scene though.

Gretchen said...

My boys like the Spiderwick Chronicles.

One of my boys really likes the Bunnicula books. I don't get the premise at all, but it encourages him to read. Bunnicula is a vampire rabbit. Apparently.

My Father's Dragon is a good book, along with the two sequels. My daughter really liked those books, but they aren't girly at all. You can get all three in one volume here: http://www.amazon.com/Three-Tales-My-Fathers-Dragon/dp/0679889116/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204216534&sr=8-2

Hope this helps.

Jen said...

Everything by Eleanor Estes and also everything by Edward Eager. Oh, and all the books by E. Nesbit. Those are all fabulous books that I still read.

kate said...

Alexander learned to read, and to love reading with uh, comic books. Tintin & Asterix, mostly. That was the only way i could get him to read a book. Those and Captain Underpants. Then when he was a little older he got into the Mossflower books/Harry Potter/etc.

Maria said...

The Dimwood Forest Series by Avi

My son has been liking the Tom Swift -Young Inventor series too.

Magic School Bus has a series of chapter books

Along with Captain Underpants goes Ricky Ricotta.

Late readers formatted in chapters - the Henry and Mudge series- love it!

I also 2nd the My Father's Dragon trilogy. DS loved those in 1st & 2nd grade

The Fudge books by Judy Blume.

Not a series, but Mr. Popper's Penguins is a classic IMO, along with Pinky Pye.
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