Comments on: Xmas Help

By: Betsy

Betsy — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:39:21 +0000

By the same author as Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler E. Frankweiler is one of my fav children’s books of all time, The View From Saturday. It’s so awesome, smart, and good-hearted. It’s also a chapter book and might be age-appropriate. Also, what everyone else said about Madeleine L’Engle, Roald Dahl, and Pippi Longstocking. And, I don’t know - some of these might be too girly for him, but I loved all the Laura Engels Wilder books when I was young. Very outdated views about race and sex, but as I child I read right past that. I knew it was wrong, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the other parts.

By: JD

JD — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 02:42:41 +0000

Okay, you’ve got great book suggestions already — Bellairs, Dahl, John D. Fitzgerald, the Alvin Fernald series, etc. I would say, however, that Beverly Cleary is way overrated — Ramona is funny, but her Henry Huggins character felt erzatz to me, even at eight.

If he likes science fiction, you can’t go wrong with William Sleator. The Green Futures Of Tycho and Interstellar Pig come to mind. The protagonists are a few years older than your boy, but if he’s a smart kid he’ll probably dig that.

By: evil_fizz

evil_fizz — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 14:31:15 +0000

Oh, and back to chapter books again: From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankwiler.

By: final repose

final repose — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 04:16:37 +0000

I don’t have a clue whatsoever on what kids love to read these days.

But I can help for XMas:

Socks and pirate tattoos are on the way.

By: darrell

darrell — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 00:30:58 +0000

Oh how I love the Nintendo DS…let me count the ways:

1. Tetris DS - Hours and hours of fun. I liked the original Tetris as a kid, but I knew people who thought it was a “grownup game.” However this version has more than just the block-stacking, there are several other game modes (puzzle, mission, etc) sure to delight kids.

2. Mario Kart DS - Every version of this classic has been progressively better than the last. However, this one’s only supreme improvement is the wireless gameplay, allowing you to play against anyone in the world anywhere there’s a WiFi connection. Not helpful to people without wireless internet.

3. Animal Crossing DS - Mentioned above, this is an extremely cute, fun, non-violent game. It’s like the Sims or something of that nature. You get to live the life of your little big-headed avatar as he frollicks in a land of anthropomorphic animals who make silly noises. Fun for all ages.

4. Nintendogs - Your own pet who can’t really die. A sound investment.

5. Super Princess Peach - Princess Peach takes over the world saving duties from Mario. A great game with a female protagonist kicking cartoon-style ass. Lots of fun.

Plus many more…(a hint, any Nintendo-produced title is going to be a winner here)

By: ScottM

ScottM — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 22:57:00 +0000

It might be a little early, but LeGuin’s Earthsea Trilogy is excellent fantasy, and gets him interested in an author who doesn’t disappoint. (A Wizard of Earthsea is the first book.) Her Catwings series might be pitched closer to his age.

By: Grace

Grace — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 21:21:38 +0000

I love any and everything by Kate DiCamillo. She has a couple of new-ish books out, “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” about a child’s toy rabbit and “The Tale of Despereaux” about a mouse who lives in a castle and loves the princess. They both read like fairy tales/fantasy and are beautifully written. Her realistic fiction is also wonderful, but might be a little heavy for a younger audience (death, abandonment, etc.).

By: foresmac

foresmac — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 19:08:22 +0000

I’m a big fan of Francs Hodgson Burnett, myself. I prolly have an extra copy of “A Little Princess,” if you’re interested. Also, I have a copy of “Dear Mr Henshaw” that somehow never made it’s way back to the Bookmobile back in ‘85.

By: heather

heather — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 17:02:23 +0000

I would second the Roald Dahl suggestion - i really like those books as a kid.

However, my all time favorite books were Madeleine L’Engle’s books “A Wrinkle in Time,” “A Wind in the Door,” “A Swiftly Tilting Planet,” and “Many Waters.” I remember really “bonding” with the little boy, Charles Wallace, in the books.

By: Celeste

Celeste — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 15:45:47 +0000

The Encyclopedia Brown mystery series would be great for a boy. But don’t rule out the Little House on the Prairie series. I liked the Boxcar Kids and Bobbsey Twins, too. A book I loved at his age was The Good Master.

I just got DD a book for Christmas called Zen Shorts, which is probably grammatically below what he “can” do, but it invites deep thinking.

I loved the E. Nesbitt books for kids. I read a few years ago that several books that were favorites and went out of print, have been reprinted. There is one by another author that I highly recommend for E. called Half Magic, about this summer adventure with a magic lake whose waters give you special powers. I totally loved it.

At some point he will be ready for two classic boys’ books–Hatchet, and Brian’s Winter. They’re about a boy who has to survive in the wilderness (but maybe too scary of a concept at age 7).