Teresa’s recent post on books got me thinking about what WE read around here on a regular basis. I am homeschooling my oldest son (who just turned 8 and is in second grade), and doing a lot of informal preschool activities with my almost 5 and almost 3 year old kids as well. This means we do lots and lots of reading!
One of the things I looked forward to most when becoming a parent was the idea of reading to and with my kids… and sharing with them the books *I* loved as a kid. It took us awhile to get there (for some reason, they were not all that interested in Laura Ingalls Wilder when they were babies), but we’re finally starting to read books I read as a child.
Today’s links post will include a few of some of the books I read (and recommend) for boys! (I’ll tackle the girls next week)
Encyclopedia Brown
is definitely geared more towards boys, but I still LOVED reading these. Probably because I loved a good mystery and had aspirations to being a super sleuth detective. Samuel and I sat down to read the first in this series last night, and I think he is going to love it as much, or more, than I did (do).
The Great Brain
– we tried to read this last year, but I ended up taking it back to the library about half-read. It had a lot of obscure references to things that Samuel just didn’t understand yet. (As I read it, I realized how much *I* had missed when reading it as a kid). I’d recommend this book (and the following books) for kids around 10 and up, with parents who don’t mind explaining a lot of details.
The Hardy Boys
– Yes, I’m a girl, and yes, I read these as a kid… but only after I’d read every Nancy Drew book in the library. I didn’t like them as MUCH as I liked Nancy Drew, but they were mysteries, so they worked for me. I’m sure Samuel and Allan will appreciate them in a much deeper “boy” kind of way than I did.
The Boxcar Children
– I didn’t actually read these books as a kid, but I’ve heard such good things about them, so this series is next on our list after we finish Encyclopedia Brown.
The Chronicles of Narnia Set
– love, love, love these books, and most especially the first one, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”. I started reading this one to Samuel when he was around five, and I thought it would be over his head (some of it was), but he still LOVED it.
And I could go on and on, but I’ll hush for today! Next week, I’ll do my best to keep the list of GIRLS books to only three pages. 🙂
Happy Friday, everyone!
My boys loved “The Digging-est Dog” by Al Parker. Have you ever read that one?
PS… we also LOVE the Boxcar Children books, but just the old ones actually written by Gertrude Chandler. I think it’s the first 16 or so. After that, the writing just isn’t as wonderful. So, start with number 1 and read just until you finish Ms. Chandler’s books.
Jennifer, I plan to link to everything you mentioned next week for the girls, but you are so right – I shouldn’t limit them to boys versus girls. I’m sure Samuel will love Farmer Boy (such a great idea to start with that one). And I’ll have to pull out my Anne books and see if I can interest him in Green Gables – I’m thinking it may be too “wordy” for him, but I could be wrong! Thanks for the comment!
Don’t forget classics like Little House on the Prairie (the series), Anne of Green Gables, and the Elizabeth Enright books on the Melendy Kids. Although on first thought these may seem like “girls’ books,” there is plenty in them to keep the boys interested as well. My 6 & 8 year old boys couldn’t get enough of the three series! My 8yo so enjoyed the 9 Little House books that we are now on our second reading through the series. Start with Farmer Boy to draw them in… I was so excited that my boys loved these books as much as I did as a kid! I was afraid with two boys I wouldn’t be able to share my favorite books, but now they are among their favorite books, too – it’s wonderful!
I have 4 granddaughters and 1 grandson. For years I have been collecting Nancy Drew books, the older the better, from garage sales and thrift stores. I want a complete set for each girl. I am well on my way to getting there and I have been collecting Hardy Boys for my grandson. I too want them to love reading those like I did.
It’s so important to draw attention to reading, and attract reluctant readers to it,especially boys. In fact, I’ve recently completed a feature magazine article on this subject that came out in October, “Help for Struggling, Reluctant Readers.”
I grew up as a reluctant reader, in spite of the fact that my father published over 70 books. Now I write action-adventures & mysteries, especially for tween boys, that avid boy readers and girls enjoy just as much.
My blog, Books for Boys http://booksandboys.blogspot.com is dedicated to drawing attention to the importance of reading. And my new book, Lost Island Smugglers – first in the Sam Cooper Adventure Series – is coming out in June. Contracts are also signed for Captain Jack’s Treasure and River Rampage.
Keep up your good work.
Max Elliot Anderson
PS. My first 7 books are going to be republished by Comfort Publishing later in 2010