I have a son that is technically in 2nd, does 3rd and can read up to mid-4th grade level. He loves funny books, action/war stories, typical boy subjects. Any suggestions for books I should get him? So far I have the Ralph the Motorcycle Mouse books,and am planning to check out The Indian in the Cupboard. Thanks in advance!
We just read a book not too long ago called Kenny and the Dragon. Very cute book. Then there is Stuart Little For funny there is the Horrible Harry books. My oldest son loved those. We also like anything by Kate DiCamillo, the lady who wrote The Tale of Despereaux.
I echo the Horrible Harry Books. My son (4th Grade) STILL eats these up! He gets really attached to the charachters, too. I remember there was one where Harry and his best friend were in a fight through the whole book (clean way, nothing horrible)...but he couldn't sleep until he knew it was resolved and they were friends again! Dav Pilkey (the guy who writes Captain Underpants) also has books called Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot. They are written very CU style - comic bookish type pictures BUT meaty text. The bonus? They teach them (sneakily) all about the planets! And of course, Captain Underpants. I really hated letting this into our house. BUT...my son devoured them. Yes, they are potty humor. But, most boys get a good giggle out of that! We had a rule that the potty humor was not allowed to leave the house, and as soon as it did, the books were taken away. I only had to take them away once...and he never did it again. OH...and A to Z Mysteries. My son loves them too. And Flat Stanley books - of course, I'm not sure their reading level? We just started reading the Expedition series from them. Anyway....
Geronimo Stilton Series Humphrey the Hamster Series (I REALLY like this on) Carole Marsh mysteries series My Father's Dragon Series My Weird School Series I read one Junie B. Jones with my daughter once, after that I didn't even try Captain Underpants or Horrible Harry!
Horrible Harry is NOTHING like Captain Underpants AT ALL!!!! (just for the record). The title throws you, but it's really NOT horrible, not potty humor, etc. And unlike CU and Junie B. Jones, no intentional misspellings and grammar issues or really sassy talking back and stuff like that.
We will have to give poor ole' Harry a try then! I guess that's why you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover huh???
Has he read Diary of a Wimpy Kid yet? My kids, nieces/nephews and their friends just love these books. Then there is the Encyclopedia Brown books, Boxcar Children, Nate the Great . I will keep thinking of more.
The Beverly Cleary series are great, as are Magic Tree House. Here is a link to our book lists that we read at different grades - you might find something here: http://familyd.50megs.com/custom4.html
Hank the Cowdog books, though these might be a bit easy for him. See if your library has an old book called "The Mad Scientist's Club". It is GREAT!!! Originally written for Boys Life magazine back in the late 50's, early 60's. I read it (both book and magazine!) as a kid. If necessary, get it interlibrary loan. Another good boy book is "By the Great Hornspoon", and there's one about turkeys.... "The Great Turkey Walk"!!!
My son also loves the Boxcar Children books. I also second the Magic Treehouse series. Captain Underpants (whom I also didn't want to let in but frankly thought the author has a hilarious style after reading them) has been a hit as well. When I was that age I loved anything Beverly Cleary. I particularly remember "Ribsy" which was about a dog that got lost, and of course the Ramona Quimby books which might appeal more to girls. I wasn't much older than that when I started reading Jack London-type books about dog adventures, and still have a few here from that time. E.B. White also has a number of great books, including "The Trumpet of the Swan" and the better known "Charlotte's Web". Another of my favorites was "Island of the Blue Dolphins", but that depends on the child because the main character is a girl. I also loved the House at Pooh Corner books (the novel-length books). And.. the Shel Silverstein books rock. "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and "A light in the Attic". Nice intro for kids to poetry (funny and clever). My fav of his is actually "The Giving Tree" which I think has sort of a ... tug the heartstrings moral.
