Need book recommendations for almost 7yo DS

[girlfromthenc]

My almost 7yo DS and I have a routine of reading before bed each night. We are out of books now, and need some suggestions from all you wise mamas! I think our main trouble is that he is not the typical boy that it seems these books are written for, having been AP'd from the beginning. I can't seem to find anything age appropriate; it's very babyish books, or very scary/inappropriate books. He loves Magic School Bus, but I think we've read them all now. He's ok with Magic Treehouse, but I think they are terribly written. I'm not interested in introducing him to ninjas, monsters, zombies, war, weapons, etc. He's not into that stuff anyway, as he has an active imagination and we read before bed. He's really into fishing, firefighting, gardening, hiking/camping, space exploration, and animals. And he's ok with books with some danger involved, just not nightmare scary. Surely there are good books/series out there for him. What are some of your favorites? Thanks so much!!!

[LuckyMommaToo]

It's hard to know what would be too scary for your DS, but what about:

--Mr Popper's Penguins

-- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (and other Dahl)

-- DragonRider (Cornelia Funke)

If you think non-fiction might appeal, check out the Childhood of Famous Americans series. DS has really enjoyed a lot of them.

I totally agree, reading MT out loud is PAINFUL.
 

I think our main trouble is that he is not the typical boy that it seems these books are written for, having been AP'd from the beginning.

Please be gentle with your generalizations -- I have an 8 y.o. who was also AP'd "from the beginning" and somehow is still very much into ninjas, superheros, Star Wars, wizards, and things you would probably characterize as "typical boy."

-e

[fruitfulmomma]

We like Freddy the Pig by Walter R. Brooks, which is about a group of talking farm animals who take trips and solve mysteries and such. It is an older series, some written during WW2(?) so there is mention of war themes like collecting metal and such, but no battlefield type stuff. 

[Daffodil]

The previous suggestions are all good.

I recommend anything by Astrid Lindgren.  The Pippi Longstocking and Noisy Village books are very mild and should be appropriate for any kid.  The Emil books are funny and nothing scary happens, but Emil's parents aren't into gentle discipline.  Ronia the Robber's Daughter, Mio My Son, and The Brothers Lionheart have some scary/possibly disturbing parts and might not be okay for every 7 year old (but they would be just fine for many 7 year olds.)

The Little House books might be a good choice, especially Farmer Boy, since it's about a boy.

We love Tove Jansson's Moomin books.

Some other possibilities:

No Flying in the House - Betty Brock

Betsy-Tacy (and sequels) - Maud Hart Lovelace

Happy Little Family - Rebecca Caudill

All-Of-A-Kind Family (and sequels) - Sydney Taylor

Toys Go Out - Emily Jenkins

anything by Beverly Cleary

Alice in Wonderland

The Secret Garden

A Little Princess

Understood Betsy - Dorothy Canfield

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH - Robert C. O'Brien

Half Magic (and other books by Edward Eager)

The Animal Family - Randall Jarrell

The Green Book - Jill Paton Walsh

Ginger Pye (and other books by Eleanor Estes)

The Borrowers (and sequels) - Mary Norton

Nim's Island - Wendy Orr

George's Secret Key to the Universe - Stephen and Lucy Hawking

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Grace Lin

Many of those are about girls, but hopefully he doesn't mind books with girls as the main characters.

[Red Pajama]

Have you considered Stuart Little , Charlotte's Web, Trumpet of the Swan?

We also recently read the  Fantastic Mr. Fox, which was a hit.

[Cassidy68]

I'd forgotten about that one, Daffodil!  George's Secret Key to the Universe - Stephen and Lucy Hawking- was one of the first novels my son liked! The perfect novel for a kid who loves space and science.

Also, what about James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory etc.

My son enjoyed the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary when he was about that age,

Look at Farley Mowat, maybe, if he is outdoorsy.

We also liked Lynne Reid Banks-- all her books, but especially Harry the Poisonous Centipede. 

I would go peek at my son's bookshelves for more ideas, but he's just going to sleep ;)

[girlfromthenc]

Thanks so much for all your suggestions! Can't wait to pick up some of these :).