What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I am looking for books read my kids ages 5-7. We are just finishing the Kendra Kandlestar series, and they LOVED that. Ivy and Bean held their attention for 1.5 books, but not like Kendra. They love adventure.

Any other suggestions?

Roald Dahl is still very popular.

And Enid Blyton! The Magic Faraway Tree maybe?

I second Enid Blyton--and she'll keep you in reading materials for YEARS. (It sometimes feels like the woman wrote 10k books.)

Another suggestion is the juvenile works of Andre Norton. She has sci-fi, historicals, adventures, fantasies. And, much like Blyton she wrote a LOT of books. Not all of which are children's, so you will want to make sure that you're getting one of those juveniles. Star Ka'at and the Magic books were 2 series that my daughter--and now my grandkids enjoyed. Steel Magic The Star Ka'at books are a series that should be read in order. The Magic books are grouped because of their theme, not because there is any over-lap in the characters. (Except for the 2 Dragon Magic books, that is.)

An old mystery series that they might like is The Happy Hollisters. The Happy Hollisters These show up a lot where I live in yard sales, book sales at the libraries, thrift stores, etc.

The Magic Treehouse series! The first one is Dinosaurs Before Dark.

Thank you! I will check those out.

I have a bunch of Roald Dahl but I thought it was for a bit older audience. Is it good for the under 8 crowd?

My nephew loved "The Spiderwick Chronicles" by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi. They start with The Field Guide. All five books were made into a movie as well. Mr. DiTerlizzi also has a wonderful book Kenny and the Dragon that he liked. It's his version of The Reluctant Dragon.

Thanks Merrilee, will add those to my list.

I thought of another, but it's a "girly book" (my nephew's exact quote). Igraine the Brave is a cute book about a girl who wants to be a knight. The majority of Cornelia Funke's book are found in the children's section at the bookstore, though I've only read this one and the Inkheart series (Inkheart is the first book).

Some good "educational" books that don't feel like it are The Guardians of Ga'Hoole series (The Capture is the first book). I've read the majority of Kathryn Lasky's books.

Dream Thief and other books in the Secrets of Droon series might work. There's also Danger! Wizard at Work! in the Dragon Slayer's Academy series. 2095 in the Time Warp Trio series too. Just linking books to show the series though; I don't think those are the first ones.

They might be too simple if they have an advanced reading level though.

I didn't know the Gaurdian's of Ga'Hoole was based on books! I need to check that out.
I watched the Inkheart movie, and it was very scary. I did not show it to my kids. I assumes the books would be less scary due to no graphics, but it still seemed pretty mature. I was thinking when they get around 10 to read that one.

Igraine the Brave looks perfect!!! I love strong female characters!

Secrets of Droon series looks super fun. I have added it to the list. I am reading the books for now so reading level is not an issue.

My 7 year old is just learning to read, but she goes to French school, so reads in French. She is at that awkward stage where all the books she can read are too boring, but the novels are just a tad to challenging for her. We are struggling. I really want to raise kids who love reading as much as I do.

These are some great suggestions. Thanks everybody!

Alfreda wrote: "I didn't know the Gaurdian's of Ga'Hoole was based on books! I need to check that out.
I watched the Inkheart movie, and it was very scary.



The books are soooooooo much better than the movie!! You'll see right away that they changed quite a bit.
I agree that Inkheart is probably a bit too much for them now, but you might enjoy it!
Igraine is really cute and there are nice drawings too!

I totally just bought Inheart for me ;) I love to read kids books too. I will look for the Gaurdian's of Ga'Hoole. This will keep us in reading for a while I hope. I want to keep giving them the reading bug. My eldest was really reluctant to listen to chapter books, but I was so sick of the picture books. I love Dr. Suess, and Robert Munsch, but there are only so many books and I do not really relish reading them over a million times. With Kendra Kandlestar I had to read the first half of the book with just my 5 year old. The 7 year old said, "BORING!" Then half way through I was reading to my little one and she was doing something with her father near by. This was just when we are getting to action part. After that she started joining in to listen, and then begging for more. Then she was saying, "It is too interesting to stop!"

The Swallows and Amazons books are really great. I think I first read them around that age.

You were an advanced reader then. Swallows and Amazons is a great book, but it's way too advanced now for a 5-7 year old. Just the nautical terms alone would puzzle non-boating adult readers.

I don't know if it's just in the UK but my kids loved the Horrid Henry book by Francesca Simon. They're especially good for boys because there seems to be less aimed towards them (lots of fairy books etc. around).

Maybe some from this list: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/20...

Also, perhaps books like Harriet the Spy and Just William?

That's a great list!!! Thanks Liralen.

I LOVED Harriet the Spy as a kid. I haven't tried it with her yet. She is so much pickier than me.

I see on that list A wrinkle in time. I loved that as a kid too but I read it in grade 9 so I assumed it would be too old for her. I might try it though because she seems to really like fantasy.

Anything by William Pène du Bois. One of the best adventure stories ever is The Twenty-One Balloons. He is one of the best illustrators ever.

Thanks Lobstergirl, I will check that out.

Oh gosh, so many good ones already mentioned! Here are a few more possibilities:

Charlotte's Web
The Wind in the Willows
Mary Poppins
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and the several sequels
Finn Family Moomintroll and all the other Moomintroll books
The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet and others by Eleanor Cameron
The Book of Three
Little House on the Prairie
The Hobbit
The Brothers Lionheart
Pippi Longstocking and sequels
James and the Giant Peach
Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings
The Taste of Spruce Gum and The Paleface Redskins
The Borrowers
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Princess and the Goblin
The Black Stallion
The Little Broomstick
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Bambi
The Whispering Mountain and Nightbirds on Nantucket
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

My Teacher is an Alien plus the rest of that series.
The Ogre Downstairs (actually anything by Diana Wynne Jones)

The Light Princess

One of my favorite childhood books. If you can find the one illustrated by William Pene du Bois (that's the one I linked to), it's awesome. Such a great story.

Alfreda wrote: "I have a bunch of Roald Dahl but I thought it was for a bit older audience. Is it good for the under 8 crowd?"

I would think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory would be fine for a 7 year old. Maybe not a 5 year old.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Admittedly since I read it as an adult rather than as a child it felt a bit derivative, but that wouldn't be a problem for kiddies.

Michele that is an awesome list!! Thank you! I will add them all to my shelf.

Lobstergirl and Ann I love those suggestions and I am adding them as well.

I was thinking about kids' series this morning and remembered the Magic Attic Club, which starts with The Secret of the Attic. I can't remember if they're good, but I'm still jealous of their adventures.

Unrelatedly, there's The Peterkin Papers and The Serial Garden: The Complete Armitage Family Stories...

^
Joan Aiken is a fantastic children's author - tons of adventure, plot, great storylines, a lot of mystery and intrigue. I probably started reading her at age 8-9. She might be a little too mature for a 7 year old, but maybe not. Some of her stories are rather dark (which is what makes them so great).

I second Dahl. Few of his books for younger readers are The Twits, The Magic Finger, The Enormous Crocodile, Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts

I loved those books and now my nephew likes them too
Ronia, the Robber's Daughter
Vuk
Emil and the Sneaky Rat
The Moomins and the Great Flood
The Little Witch
The Snow Queen

Thanks Lobsergirl. I will definitely mark those as too read in the next couple of years or so. They sounds exciting.

Anna that is a great list. I was wondering what the best Dahl would be for kids this age. I will check those out.

Also check out The Neverending Story

The Neverending Story is definitely on my list. I LOVED that movie when I was kid. For some reason I didn't realize it was a book. Also the Princess Bride, for some reason I was shocked when I saw the book. My kids found the movie the Princess Bride boring though :( I guess they are still to young.

The Cricket in Times Square.

Alfreda wrote: "The Neverending Story is definitely on my list. I LOVED that movie when I was kid."

I loved The Neverending Story movie too, on another hand I didn't like The Princess Bride. Maybe I would like the book more.

If your children like Dahl, they also might like Quentin Blake


Two Crafty Criminals!: and how they were Captured by the Daring Detectives of the New Cut Gang
The Hundred and One Dalmatians
Winnie-the-Pooh

I just had this come up in my pinterest feed http://www.whatdowedoallday.com/2014/...

May be a little young but lots of ideas

That link is perfect thanks Nairabell! I love your name by the way.

When I was younger, I loved the Sideways Stories from Wayside School series. There are several. They're just a nice light silly read.

I read way ahead of my grade level, but these were some I enjoyed, but they may be horribly dated now - I haven't re-read any of them, but 30 years later, I still remember them.

Secrets of the Shopping Mall
Lizard Music
How To Eat Fried Worms
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Maudie And Me And The Dirty Book
Socks (named my first cat after this book - a must read for anyone who loves cats)

Hope you find something there the kids like.

Oh, another series for you: Betsy-Tacy. Absolutely adored these when I was little.

I recommend Lawn Mower Magic, by Lynne Jonell. Lawn Mower Magic

Alfreda wrote: "That link is perfect thanks Nairabell! I love your name by the way."

Thanks :)

All books in The Chronicles of Narnia

what aboutHalf Magic and the rest of the books by Edward Eager?

Beatrix Potter.

The Story of Doctor Dolittle, by Hugh Lofting. Several in series.

The Boys Start the War, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. If you like it, there are I think twelve in the series.

The Bobbsey Twins.

The Boxcar Children.

Freddy the Pig series, by Walter R. Brooks. https://www.goodreads.com/series/4973...

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy, by Jeanne Birdsall. Three in series, so far.

All-of-a-Kind Family, by Sydney Taylor. Series.

Caddie Woodlawn, by Carol Ryrie Brink. Has a sequel.

Understood Betsy, by Dorothy Canfield Fisher.

"B" Is for Betsy, by Carolyn Haywood. Series.

Rabbit Hill, by Robert Lawson.

Amelia Bedelia, by Peggy Parish. Picture books, very young, but also very funny.

Clues in the Woods, also by Peggy Parish. First in a young chapter book mystery series.

Babe: The Gallant Pig, by Dick King-Smith. He has written a number of other animal stories.

The Happy Hollisters (somewhat dated, but still a good series.)

Classic Starts: Five Little Peppers and How They Grew This is an historical series, but again, good.

Oh, also

Heidi, by Johanna Spyri

The Moffats, by Eleanor Estes. Series. Also, other books by her.

Beezus and Ramona, by Beverly Cleary. And others by her.