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Too many good things to read Dixie! Will save this and take a close look - always on the lookout for great boy's books for my youngest:)

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I hope he (and/or you!) will enjoy them! Maybe one of them would be a good addition to an Easter basket :)

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Great suggestions here! I forgot about By the Great Horn Spoon! I bet my nine year old would love it, especially since we covered the Gold Rush in history. We read Carry On, Mr Bowditch this year and it is one of my all time favorite books. I know this isn't an exhaustive list, but I'd add the Little Britches series as a must read for any boy (and girl, but particularly boys). It's a character lesson and an amazing story all in one. And Farmer Boy :) My boys laugh and laugh when he hauls the sheep up to the attic. I think there's something so profoundly relatable about being the little brother trying to keep up.

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I love Farmer Boy and almost put Almanzo in! It's definitely our favorite Little House book, but lots of families skip it because it isn't about Laura! Big mistake. The sheep joke is hilarious...he sure outsmarts the men!

And I've heard so many people recommend Little Britches. I couldn't get into it for some reason but it may have just been the wrong time in my life to enjoy it. Maybe I should try it again!

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I can’t believe I’ve only read 2 of these! I’m looking forward to reading and recommending for godchildren. I try to keep lists of good books to make gift-giving easy, and boys can be tough to find really engaging stories for.

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Oh, I'm glad to have come up with some you haven't read! Children's literature is so fun, and I love how these books capture the spirit of a boys on the brink of adolescence. I hope you find some good matches between these books and potential recipients!

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Also, I'm curious -- which ones have you read?

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I’ve read Sign of the Beaver and My Side of the Mountain- which to be honest I myself did not love as a young person. But I’m not outdoorsy so I think it was harder for me to get into the world. I’m looking forward to the historical ones!

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That makes sense. My Side of the Mountain is one that grew on me with re-reading. I did not enjoy the sequels to it as much!

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Mar 1·edited Mar 1Author

By the Great Horn Spoon is probably the most just plain fun of any of these books! Some parts of it are practically rollicking.

The Great Turkey Walk, which I mention briefly, is also a really funny, engaging book!

And Adam of the Road is just so enjoyable to read. I think you would love that one, with its setting.

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I love having these books to look forward to- it’s a fun Sunday rest activity for me because reading a children’s book doesn’t usually take too long- so I can have some tea (or wine;)) and enjoy it in an afternoon.

I’m going to ask my godson if he has read these- he’s pretty voracious as a reader.

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Mar 1Liked by Dixie Dillon Lane

What a brilliant list! I would add an abridged Treasure Island (for the younger set) or the full Treasure Island (for the older set). Ditto 50,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Really anything with sea adventure is fantastic.

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Oh, gosh, this is such a fantastic genre! I haven't read Captain's Courageous or Kidnapped but I bet they would also be good choices!

I can't remember if Horatio Hornblower was still a boy or not when he bacame a midshipman, but that's a great seafaring series for boys, too. A bit easier to follow for young people than the Aubrey/Maturin books.

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Mar 3Liked by Dixie Dillon Lane

These are gold! My first grader adores history and his class spent a lot of time on Egypt this year--I'll have to find the Golden Goblet and take advantage of his rampant interest. The rest of these will go on the Birthday and Christmas lists.

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Oh, the Golden Goblet is really intriguing! I hope you'll enjoy it.

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