If you have an 8-yr-old boy who is "young for age"

[lljkk]

What does he like to read?

DS likes reading but doesn't have stamina for big books. He prefers to read books in series and he will read and re-read the books in that series. Just blitzed thru Beast Quest. Definitely too young for Artemis Fowl or Alex Rider, I am trying to nudge him towards Horrid Histories.

Any other ideas? TIA.

[wibbleweed]

How about: Spy Dog/Spy Pups or Astrosaurs - both pretty straightforward and in a series so plenty to be going on with. My DS worked his way through these at a similar time to the BQ phase.

You could also try the Diary of a wimpy kid books or those written by Jeremy Strong (e.g. my brothers famous bottom, 100 mile an hour dog) - funny stuff

WW xxx

[booksteensandmagazines]

Have you tried some of the graphic novels of the longer books (Alex Rider)? Jack Stalwart good for being a quick read and plenty in the series

[lljkk]

Ta, he's read all Astrosaurs, DOAWK & All the comic-style diaries you can think of, like Asterix, Big Nate & Tom Gates.
For some reason I can't get him into Roald Dahl, Dinosaur Cove or any cute animal books.

I think defined series are better, because after he's read one he is willing to read more. He is very close minded about trying new books (strange child), always an effort to get him into a new series and then he devours it.

I wondered about Lemony Snicket...?

[EldonAve]

Magic Tree House series?

[sittinginthesun]

Jeremy Strong?

My DS went from Beast Quest on to How Train Your Dragon. Longer, but I think fairly easy reading.

[lljkk]

I hadn't heard of Magic Tree house series, before, will investigate.

Cressida Crowell is good suggestion, I could see him taking to that. And we have book 1 in the house, so easy enough to try. The hardest part is getting him to crack it open & read 2 sentences.

I lurve Jeremy Strong, too, but DS will not consider (argh). Awkward Child.

[Corriewatcher]

My DS is almost 8 and has just got into the Captain Underpants books. Why not try one and some of the other suggestions above by reserving at your local library? That way it doesn't matter if you son isn't too keen on some of them.

[jamaisjedors]

DS is 8 and bilingual but stronger in French (only me in English). He is quite young in his tastes compared to other kids I think.

He didn't get into Beast Quest but liked the magic tree house as a pp suggested.

He also loved the magic faraway tree recently and at Christmas I got him a set of Enid Blyton mysteries which he is devouring.

www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&productId=304381&searchTerm=enid+blyton

www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&productId=309889&atc=aab12f285b6397332303b967d607d972&searchTerm=enid+blyton

My mum sneers a bit about Enid Blyton but the mysteries are perfect for him.

[lljkk]

Why not try one and some of the other suggestions above by reserving at your local library?

:) Already done, I wouldn't dream of getting books from anywhere else. Typically about 35 books on the family library cards. Okay, so we do have the odd 30p charity shop buy, too (hides shelves groaning & overflowing with charity shop buys).

We already have a lot of the other suggestions in the house, including a signed copy of 100mph dog. Just cannot get DS to read them (grumble grumble). He is a strange bookworm.

DS became immersed in Horrible Histories picture book yesterday (Witches), I will go with those to start & see if I can build him up to proper HH books later. I have tucked the other ideas away for future, Cheers.

[DeWe]

Have you tried fact books? Ds loves them on a subject he's interested in and will read ones that you'd think were way above his head. Because they're broken down into segments he can read bits at a time depending on how tired he is.

[sittinginthesun]

I think he does sound like my eldest. Beast quest, How to Train your Dragon, Horrible Histories, Sciences, Maths etc. he has just moved onto Michael Lawrence which he adores. Won't touch Enid Blyton, C S Lewis though.

[mistlethrush]

We sometimes read the first chapter to DS and that hooks him and he reads the rest himself as he's too impatient to wait!

[Badvoc]

Dinosaur cove?

[Leeds2]

Mr Gum. Horrid Henry. Cows In Action. Captain Underpants. Mr Majeika. Flat Stanley. The No. 1 Car Spotter.

He has probably tried most of these already though!

[lljkk]

Just thought I'd update to say DS has discovered... Michael Morpugo. Who I always thought was too turgid & cerebral for my lot. But turns out MM has a load of junior cartoon style books perfect for DS. Now that MM is on the approved list I think DS will read almost anything by him.

Magic Tree house was also received well, eventually. It's always eventually with DS.

[iseenodust]

The marble crusher is a good one as actually 3 short stories by MM.
Have you tried Tintin (caveat about alcohol/racist comments in some)?

[tribpot]

Has he read Slime Squad and Cows in Action by the same author as Astrosaurs and Astrosaurs Academy?

I will definitely have a look for MM, though - my ds sounds similar in terms of reading age. He loved Over Sea, Under Stone (which obv I read to him) but we've given up on The Dark Is Rising as it's too slow for now.

[lljkk]

The Cows In Action books are supposed to be quite funny (says DS13) but they just look a bit naff (I think); anyway, 8yoDS will not consider. He did blitz thru Horrendous Hiccup, eventually, too, btw. That was a good suggestion.

Our House is already full of TinTin & Asterix :). Calvin & H, too. Just trying to encourage DS to do more than reread old faves.

MM titles DS has dived into are Mudpuddle farm series, and similar size ones from MM, although they might have more words & fewer pictures inside. But at least MM is on his approved authors list.

ps: We have 72 books out on the library cards currently. [bushock]

[iseenodust]

DS loves the Mudpuddle Farm series too. He was given MM's The Sandman and the turtles by a cousin this weekend which is another younger reader one.

Yeah for libraries as Horrendous Hiccup has about 12 in the series (and the school library has none!). DS is on no.4

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

Yes, would second Mr Gum, Tom Gates, Wimpy Kid, also How to Train Your Dragon and the Origami Yoda & Darth Paper books. DS3 will happily read anything that doesn't involve actual mental effort.

[DuttyWine]

Woof by Alan Albherg or any of the fudge series by just Blume. Short chapters fast moving stories and a few illustrations here and there.

[DuttyWine]

Judy blume

[lljkk]

Darth Paper books look ace!