Thanks for these suggestions, some oldies but goodies here! Wanted to add, if your son likes origami, the Origami Yoda series is great if he doesn’t already have them. My boys loved them when they were that age!
I loved Twenty One Balloons! My teacher read it out loud to our 4th grade class and I remember it being very gripping.
Has he read The Wednesday Wars? I just started it to see if it’s a good fit for my godson (who is around the same age.) Sarah McKenzie often recommends it.
Oh, good! I had been on the fence about Twenty One Balloons and I'm really glad to hear you remember it so fondly. I think he's going to enjoy it but I'm worried that he won't get past the somewhat bland cover. I'm probably underestimating him, though, and he'll dive in!
I don't think he has read the Wednesday Wars, but I've heard it recommended recently, too. Sounds like it would be worth getting! I'll ask my daughter if she has read it, as I seem to remember that she did.
That cover isn’t the one I remember- I think they might have done it for an anniversary edition or something. But the designer clearly forgot how kids work!
Yes, it looks like Puffin reprinted some children's classics that otherwise would have gone out of print. Thank goodness! There are nice illustrations inside this edition, despite the cover.
These are so whimsical and fun! I discovered Asterix when I was in my early twenties, and Socks was a favorite from when I was roughly around ten, also. Origami, mad libs, paper planes -- so perfect! I remember laughing myself silly over mad libs with friends (and learning some grammar, too, so, triple win). I also loved Calvin and Hobbes at this age.
Not that I'm advocating that everything has to be Catholic, but I think it's great that these exist. A friend's MIL gives a new Loupio book to her sons every year.
My son loves Loupio! And Calvin and Hobbes has been a huge hit. I've thought about TinTin, but I never really got into it, myself. I wonder whether my kids would like it -- we'll have to get one from the library some time to try it out.
The Zita the Spacegirl trilogy also seems to please all sorts of boys and girls. Do you know that one?
My boys loved The Ranger’s Apprentice series. They also loved the Redwall series. Christopher Paul Curtis is one of my favorite authors. He wrote the Watsons go to Birmingham. Christopher Paul Curtis and Gary Schmidt both write with humor. My boys also liked The Great Brain series, The Chronicles of Pyrdain series,
The Great Brain was one of my childhood favorites. Such fun. Did you ever read "Papa Married a Mormon" by the same author? A bit more accurate in terms of autobiography. The Great Brain series is more fun, though!
My eight year old boy is listening to the Wayside school Audiobook collection for the third time in the past calendar year, and he’s been reading the hard copies on his own too. I did not know about Asterix. I am going to look those up.
All of my kids and my nephews have been on a big Calvin and Hobbes kick. Pat has the complete collection (4 volumes) and just today Josh informed me he has read them all.
Another series we like is the Way of the Warrior kid series by Jocko Wilink. The theme is a little … unvarying. Navy Seal uncle Jake coaches wimpy nephew to turn his young life around physically, academically, and economically. But my kids still really like the books. Pat read them out loud with a hilarious Uncle Jake voice (think Rex Kwon Do from Napoleon Dynamite). So that helps.
And yes to Beverly Cleary!
I’ve noticed, Josh reads very well but is reluctant to pick up a book that is completely new to him. But if he’s heard it read aloud, he’s more likely to pick it up
Later and read it himself. And I’m seeing more value in that than I used to. Reputation and re-reading are valuable especially for children.
I've heard some moms say they'll read a chapter of a new book aloud and then say, "Well, I have to go do the dishes now," and leave the book on the couch. And then the kid picks it up and keeps reading! A version of "strewing," I guess.
Calvin and Hobbes is priceless. Although I will say that I know at least one mom whose kids have picked up some of Calvin's bad dinnertime habits from the books...HA! And my own kids after reading Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle -- don't get me started!
Still...I'm not giving up either Calvin and Hobbes or Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle!
I'm glad Josh is enjoying Wayside School so much. It's hilarious!
Thanks for these suggestions, some oldies but goodies here! Wanted to add, if your son likes origami, the Origami Yoda series is great if he doesn’t already have them. My boys loved them when they were that age!
Thanks, Meredith! Yes, he loves Origami Yoda -- fortunately, we were able to get those ones from the library. Great recommendation!
I loved Twenty One Balloons! My teacher read it out loud to our 4th grade class and I remember it being very gripping.
Has he read The Wednesday Wars? I just started it to see if it’s a good fit for my godson (who is around the same age.) Sarah McKenzie often recommends it.
Oh, good! I had been on the fence about Twenty One Balloons and I'm really glad to hear you remember it so fondly. I think he's going to enjoy it but I'm worried that he won't get past the somewhat bland cover. I'm probably underestimating him, though, and he'll dive in!
I don't think he has read the Wednesday Wars, but I've heard it recommended recently, too. Sounds like it would be worth getting! I'll ask my daughter if she has read it, as I seem to remember that she did.
That cover isn’t the one I remember- I think they might have done it for an anniversary edition or something. But the designer clearly forgot how kids work!
Yes, it looks like Puffin reprinted some children's classics that otherwise would have gone out of print. Thank goodness! There are nice illustrations inside this edition, despite the cover.
That’s good to hear!
These are so whimsical and fun! I discovered Asterix when I was in my early twenties, and Socks was a favorite from when I was roughly around ten, also. Origami, mad libs, paper planes -- so perfect! I remember laughing myself silly over mad libs with friends (and learning some grammar, too, so, triple win). I also loved Calvin and Hobbes at this age.
Have you seen these ones? https://ignatius.com/the-adventures-of-loupio-volume-6-6al6p/
Not that I'm advocating that everything has to be Catholic, but I think it's great that these exist. A friend's MIL gives a new Loupio book to her sons every year.
My son loves Loupio! And Calvin and Hobbes has been a huge hit. I've thought about TinTin, but I never really got into it, myself. I wonder whether my kids would like it -- we'll have to get one from the library some time to try it out.
The Zita the Spacegirl trilogy also seems to please all sorts of boys and girls. Do you know that one?
My boys loved The Ranger’s Apprentice series. They also loved the Redwall series. Christopher Paul Curtis is one of my favorite authors. He wrote the Watsons go to Birmingham. Christopher Paul Curtis and Gary Schmidt both write with humor. My boys also liked The Great Brain series, The Chronicles of Pyrdain series,
The Great Brain was one of my childhood favorites. Such fun. Did you ever read "Papa Married a Mormon" by the same author? A bit more accurate in terms of autobiography. The Great Brain series is more fun, though!
I have Papa Married a Mormon on my shelf, but haven’t read it yet. However, now that you mentioned it, I did take it off the shelf :)
Ha! Glad to be an enabler in this.
My eight year old boy is listening to the Wayside school Audiobook collection for the third time in the past calendar year, and he’s been reading the hard copies on his own too. I did not know about Asterix. I am going to look those up.
All of my kids and my nephews have been on a big Calvin and Hobbes kick. Pat has the complete collection (4 volumes) and just today Josh informed me he has read them all.
Another series we like is the Way of the Warrior kid series by Jocko Wilink. The theme is a little … unvarying. Navy Seal uncle Jake coaches wimpy nephew to turn his young life around physically, academically, and economically. But my kids still really like the books. Pat read them out loud with a hilarious Uncle Jake voice (think Rex Kwon Do from Napoleon Dynamite). So that helps.
And yes to Beverly Cleary!
I’ve noticed, Josh reads very well but is reluctant to pick up a book that is completely new to him. But if he’s heard it read aloud, he’s more likely to pick it up
Later and read it himself. And I’m seeing more value in that than I used to. Reputation and re-reading are valuable especially for children.
Happy birthday to your 10
Year old!
Thanks, Laura!
I've heard some moms say they'll read a chapter of a new book aloud and then say, "Well, I have to go do the dishes now," and leave the book on the couch. And then the kid picks it up and keeps reading! A version of "strewing," I guess.
Calvin and Hobbes is priceless. Although I will say that I know at least one mom whose kids have picked up some of Calvin's bad dinnertime habits from the books...HA! And my own kids after reading Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle -- don't get me started!
Still...I'm not giving up either Calvin and Hobbes or Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle!
I'm glad Josh is enjoying Wayside School so much. It's hilarious!
Oh, and I've never heard of Way of the Warrior. I'll have to check them out! Sounds fun.