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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: March 27 2010 at 8:10am | IP Logged
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What are good "beginning" chapter books for boys? I'd like "living" books for my 7yo to encourage him to read books with "rich" language. (He reads plenty of twaddle on his own -- comics and easy chapter books.) He was complaining that he didn't understand books like Homer Price and an abridged Swiss Family Robinson, but then picked up something much more difficult and much more twaddly and has been struggling through it. So I think it's a matter of interest, not ability. Anyone have suggestions for engaging books?
He read Charlotte's Web, Trumpet of the Swan and Stuart Little. He didn't enjoy any of them. Any "adventurous" suggestions?
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: March 27 2010 at 8:58am | IP Logged
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My Father's Dragon series?
I'll think about it and come back.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 27 2010 at 9:17am | IP Logged
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Good for 7 yo reading level
You could try the Thornton Burgess Animal Stories - this is a small set, there are several others. If he didn't care for Trumpet of the Swan though, he probably wouldn't like this series.
The Billy and Blaze series might be just right for his reading level right now - boys and adventure with horses characterize this series.
There are a lot of picture books that are good for this age, and that's mostly what my 7yo read. He also read a lot from the Lets-Read-And-Find-Out Science series. I'd choose a book for him to read and would build a little theme of science study around it.
Perhaps if you're having trouble finding something reading level appropriate, but still engaging, you could offer a book that is slightly beyond his reading ability (I mention a few below that would work well) and have him just read a page or paragraph...or whatever isn't exhausting and dull for him and then you trade off reading some of the book aloud. I'm not sure if this is a really good idea, but I had to do it to some extent with my son when he was this age because I had a hard time finding books that were appealing to his interests, a living book, and still within his reading level. So, I thought I'd throw it out there.
Non-fiction - inspires adventure
And, my 7 yo could not put down the Daniel Carter Beard books, like American Boys' Handy Book and others. It's non-fiction, but lovely writing, and will certainly inspire the adventurous young man.
Probably a little beyond 7yo reading...but mentioning...
I wondered if the Holling C. Holling books taken a little at a time might be ok for him? They might be too much though. Great for adventure loving boys! You probably already thought of this though.
These are probably a little beyond him yet (my 9 yo is consuming these right now) but the Jim Kjeelgard books are great for young boys - books like Big Red - young boy, adventures, faithful dog.
I'll keep thinking! I'd love to get some more ideas from this thread too.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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Willa
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| Posted: March 27 2010 at 10:32am | IP Logged
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I find that reading aloud to my 7 year old gives him an entry to good books. He's been reading the Narnia books, but I doubt if he could get past the first few pages if I hadn't read the series to him first.
My kids loved Thornton Burgess even though they didn't much love EB White stories. I think it's because TB is more humorous and has more of a moral tone, which they usually are fond of.
I'll have to think some more -- it's certainly a hard age and after all, there's no reason why you can't stay with some of the beautiful picture books that have rich language -- maybe some of the retellings of old tales, like Geraldine MacCaughrean's or Margaret Hodge's St George and the Dragon.
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AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
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SuzanneG
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Dophin Adventure & Dolphin Treasure
Tales of Robinhood - Allen
Clyde Robert Bulla Books
Stone Fox!!!!!
Mouse and the Motorcycle (and others)
The Corn Grows Ripe
Owls in the Family
Tippy Lemmey
Sword in the Tree!!!!!!
Minstrel in the Tower
Riding the Pony Express
Bravest Dog Ever
The Titanic: Lost and Found
Henry Huggins
-Twelve Labors of Hercules
-A Horse Named Seabiscuit
-Stepping Stone "Adventure" Books--there are lots of them.
American Tall Tales
The Apple and the Arrow
Light at Tern Rock
Dr. Doolittle
Follow My Leader
Night at the Museum - kids version
Mountain Born
Amazing Rescues
The Littles - not sure if boys like these???
Pompeii: Buried Alive and all these Step 4 books are really engaging.
The Secret Soldier
Lost Island
Door in the Wall
Whinny of the Wild Horses
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Suzanne in ID
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Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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Erin
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| Posted: March 27 2010 at 7:22pm | IP Logged
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Janette
We have just discovered a wonderful series written for the emerging boy reader  The Battle Boys Series by Charlie Carter. 11yr old Napoleon Symthe goes back in history, each book takes him to a different battle and he has to solve the mystery by collecting DNA. In the first book he has to discover "Who killed the Red Barron?" My ds10 (late reader) is loving them.
I admit the language isn't hugely rich but I'm pleased about the history aspect.
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: Simple "living" chapter books?
