What is your gifted child reading? - Page 2

[LynnS6]

Dd is 7, and she read the Harry Potter series the summer after 1st grade.

Dd is very much into are historical fiction. There's a series called "Dear America" which are fictional diaries of young women at various points in US history. There's a spin off series called "My Name is America" that features young men. If your son likes war books, he might like these as significant periods in history tend to talk about war.

There's a series called "My America" that has a mix of male and female characters. There's on on the Oregon Trail (3 books) that's got a male character. There are some about the Civil War and several other major periods too.

Dd is also reading the Warrior Cat books. They're a little more violent that I like (the cats have battles), but dd is OK with them.

Have you read Beverly Cleary? I love her books. My kids are re-reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle series. The Beezus and Ramona books and the Henry Huggins books are good too.

[FandEsmomma]

Ds just turned 6 and is in kindergarten. He is currently reading "Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane". His next book will be a "Young Can Jansen" book. We picked out 3 of them at the library so not sure which will be next. DD8 (second grade) just finished "Harriet's Hare" and will be starting "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" tomorrow.

[Tigerle]

I think no-one's mentioned Diana Wynne Jones yet - no war, but great fantasy. If he liked Harry Potter he'll love her books too - they are not as tightly plotted as HP in fact her plots are a bit all over the place and her big show downs never make much sense but they are great fun! The Chrestomanci books are sort of a series,  and I think she has a few other novels which sort of loosely belong together (Howl's moving castle and Castle in the air, for instance). Her best stand alone book IMO is The Power of Three, which is actually about gifted kids, only the fantasy gift kind...

[loraxc]

DD8 is really enjoying Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke. Should be fine for a kid who has read HP.

She also likes the Warriors books.

[Tigerle]

Rosemary Sutcliffe, if he wants to reach a bit further back in historical times (Roman Britain) and An Rutgers come to mind, too.

[Rainbow2911]

My son loves the horrible history, science and maths books. His school library seems to have an unending supply! We've also been reading the Debi Gliori 'pure dead' series.

[FarmerBeth]

The Guardians of Ga-hoole series (hope I spelled that right) by Kathryn Lasky.  Both my older kids (11 and 10) have been reading it.  They're doing it together because there's not enough copies in the library to both get the book, so they made a deal!

[chenchen]

Some other fantasy series that haven't been mentioned:

Alexander Lloyd's Chronicles of Prydain

Tolkein's Hobbit (quick read, but so good.  Not sure if he'd be ready for LOTR yet.  The story is much more meandering than HP.)

Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz series

Dave Barry's Peter and the Starcatcher series

Brian Selznik's Hugo

[FarmerBeth]

Wanted to add (especially for OP's son's age) anything by Roald Dahl (mine were crazy over the BFG that age).  Depending on the reader, the Seekers series (by Erin Hunter, who also writes the Warriors series) is good for fantasy and animal lovers, any of the Narnia books are age appropriate both in reading level for a confident 8 yo and in subject.  My daughter read "His Dark Materials" series by Philip Pullman (the Golden Compass series) last year in grade three, my son at age 10.  There is some violence and other content issues for some parents, but I had already read the series myself.  It is an amazing, thoughtful and non-condescending fantasy series (and a spin-off on Milton's Paradise Lost) that is a nice change in fantasy writing for kids and young adults, but definitely best to have an adult around in case of questions.

[zebra15]

DS loved the 'Benedict Society' Series.  Right now he/we are reading the original version of 'Alice in Wonderland'.  

[KCMichigan]

DDs (6) are reading "Moongobble and Me" series and really really enjoying it! It is silly, fun, and has great language.

Back of books say ages 7-10, grades 2-3-4--- dont know the exact reading level. The first one is shorter than a few of the later ones (I think there are 6?7?)

They are reading it alone and we have read some together- great Fantasy starter series! A lot more palatable (for me at least!)  than the endless Rainbow Magic books.....

They also both are devouring Ranger Rick and Zoobook magazines. Good Stuff!

Edited by KCMichigan - 2/6/12 at 11:31am

[Mom31]

GREAT BOOK IDEAS_ THANK YOU LADIES SO MUCH!

[jmpierce2005]

THe Mysterious Benedict Society is also a fun series!

[nuttymom]

These are all great ideas, I don't know if I can think of any new. My 9 year old DD is obsessed with HP and likes: The Warriors series, The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Percy Jackson series, Dear America and My America, all of the Ramona books. She's also really into Calvin and Hobbes right now, which cracks me up.

[chenchen]

A different idea from those listed is BONE, which is a graphic novel with an interesting fantasy plotline. My DD is not generally a fan of the format, but she and her Dad devoured this one together, having fun doing voices and such.

[FarmerBeth]

In the graphic novel genre, we all really enjoyed the Amulet series (great for fantasy lovers and, like Bone mentioned by the PP, available through scholastic) and Buddha, by Osamu Tezuka.  Buddha is kind of cheeky and a little sexy, but I think fine for that age group with a little adult involvement.  Also an interesting take on understanding one of the world's major religions.  I'm leaving a link to a review site.

http://graphicnovelreporter.com/content/buddha-review

[melissa17s]

My dc love the Amulet series and liked Bone, too.  Also for graphic novels, they enjoyed reading some of the Studio Ghibli movies that were in a graphic novel format, like Howl's Moving Castle and Kiki's delivery service.  Because they enjoyed those graphic novels, we have also searched out the original books they were based off.  They were also interested in Fruits Basket, but they have only got about 5 or so books in before kind of loosing interest. We also liked Hugo Cabret, which the Hugo movie is based off of... someday we will see the movie, but have not yet.

We just finished reading together the second book in the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan as bedtime story.  Kids are now interested in Egypt.   We are not sure what to read next, but I will search out some of the books on this thread.  They each got box sets of Narnia for Christmas, and neither is willing to read it with me.  I also wanted to read the book, The Name of this Book is Secret, but ds refuses because already read part of it.  Thanks for the ideas.

[Bekka]

I should look for some of these graphic novels you all are talking about.  My older two are reading almost everything (I told our 11 year old she needed to wait a little bit more before Hunger Games for her sensitive little self) but my son, 8 is so visual his favorite kind of book is a non-fiction How TO build or History of everything type Encyclopedia on:  Science, Weather, History, Castles, Robotics, Whatever, Lego Star Wars, etc.  His understanding is much higher but seems to need pics.  He is just starting to read Magic Tree house and enjoying them in 2nd grade, although he'd have understood them pre-KG.  Loves comic books and graphic novels.  I find it hard to find graphic novels that feel appropriate for kids under 10.

[FarmerBeth]

Those visual how-to types would also like the Dangerous Book for Boys, the Daring book for girls, the American Boys Handibook, etc.  My oldest is right into building tree houses, bridges, dams, go carts, etc.

[RiverTam]

The Magic Treehouse series and the Horrible Science series.