Chapter book recommendations for young readers

[Rainmaker]

My son (7) is getting really into reading, and I'm looking for some good beginner novels/chapter-books for him. He's only read a couple longer books so far: James and the Giant Peach, and several of the Magic Treehouse books. I think he enjoys the action and dialogue portions of the books the most.

Anyone with similar age kids reading chapter books? What do they like?

[Grendel]

If you are wanting to stretch his ability I always recommend for young readers is Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea Trilogy. This was the first Fantasy series I read as a kid and I was 8-9 years old when I read the first book "A Wizard of Earthsea". I would be lying if I said I fully understood what I was reading but I was able to follow the overall story line. Over the years I have reread these books many many times and get something else out of them every time. Ursula does not use overly grandiose language just writes very well on multiple levels.

As I child I never enjoyed books written specifically for children or young adults (why to this day I can not seem to get through Harry Potter books). You will be surprised what your son can read if he is interested in to topic. My first book I really got engrossed in (before Earthsea) was Pearl S. Buck's "Good Earth", again was too young and inexperienced to understand everything I was reading and had to resort to dictionaries at times but that was the beauty it made me think and ask questions. Thankfully I had a full family of older siblings and parents that were veracious readers and instead of telling me to pick something else they took time to help and explain things to me.

I have the original paperbacks still and reread them again 20th time maybe just last year.

That all being said, my wife who has masters degrees in early childhood education and literature (and working on Phd) is going to compile a list of age range appropriate authors and books. She does not agree fully with my opinion on the subject. She has asked what might be some of the subjects your son is interested in because that really matters as it is easier to read that which you are interested in.

[Rainmaker]

Ooooh - thanks for reminding me about the Earthsea books, those were actually some of the first books I read as a kid too. I definitely agree about how surprising it is what kids will read. Right now he's reading a Star Wars short novel about Boba Fett. We had just finished watching Clone Wars, and he saw it in the used book store.

He's a very technically minded kid, so he loves space and futuristic stuff. But also very into fantasy and adventure. I read the first Harry Potter book to him and my other kids last year, and they were enthralled. They also really loved the one Redwall book I read them recently. Fantasy/sci-fi is what got me into reading, and he seems to be pretty similar (wonder why, haha).

[punkncat]

There are some more classic works that would be tremendous starts for a child of that age. Call of the Wild comes to mind. Probably old enough to gather some understanding from Mice and Men. The Outsiders (as a book) is also really good....
As an aside from that, the Hobbit and trilogy are outstanding reads, but honestly might be a bit deep and wordy for a child of that age. Some of it is a bit dark too, so there is that.

Great age for some of the "Drew Hardy" type stuff.

[Grendel]

Some recommendations from my wife:

Young Reader Author List:

• Gordon Koman
• Louis Sachar
• Gary Paulsen
• Kate DiCamillo
• Judy Blume
• Rick Riordan
• Jeff Kenney

Recommended Books:

• Because of Winn-Dixie
• Tale of Despereaux
• Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing
• Percy Jackson Series
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Something I forgot that I first read in junior high and have kept a copy over the years and reread occasionally; The Borribles by Michael de Larrabeiti an absolute hoot to read. Basically kids that run away before they have their pointy ears clipped never really grow "up" to adults and it is an alternate culture where the Borribles (kids) are in constant battle with Rumbles (big Rats) and Woolies (Coppers) in the streets and basements of London. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Borrible_Trilogy

If your son is leaning toward Science Fiction there are some good authors and books I would recommend trying that are not too deep:

• H. B. Piper's "Space Viking" this is true "Space Opera" relatively short and well written without getting deep into adult themes.
• Jerry Purnelle's "Janissaries" series relatively short books that are of the Military Sci Fi genre
• Thorarinn Gunnarsson's "The Starwolves" series another "Space Opera/Military Sci Fi" adventure
• Harry Harrison's "To the Stars", "Planet of the Damned" or "Stainless Steel Rat" series are just plain good reads

By the way my wife and I are more then willing to loan/give your son books. If you find something he is interested in let me know and we'll see if we have it in the library and if it is something from my wife's teaching library will most likely just give it to him. She no longer teaches (tutors now) and over the years amassed a huge collection of some of the books she used in the class. We are tired of carrying them around so would love them to go to someone who will read and enjoy them.

[Rainmaker]

Thanks for all the great recommendations! I'll PM you later about a few to borrow, you are awesome, good sir!

[Aperture3D]

The thorough list of recommendations above cover many of my personal picks growing up. My grade school curriculum included 2 or more book reports a month, each being at least a page long. All the books available in the school library also had a multiple choice offline pc test that accompanied the report. These requirements initially stifled my early love for reading. Early on I chased books with interesting illustrations hoping I wouldn't get bored. By the time I was entering high school I developed a deep love for science fiction and other genres. These are some of the reads I remember fondly from early childhood on through today.

Goosebumps series
Call of the Wild, White Fang
A Series of Unfortunate Events
The Giving Tree
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Congo, Sphere, Jurassic Park, Lost World
1984
Animal Farm
Fahrenheit 451
The Watchmen
A Farewell to Arms
Silent Spring

[Jonnydread]

Your son may be a little on the young side, but when I was around that age I really enjoyed the Redwall series by Brian Jacques and His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman

[Killerito]

Gregory the over lander stories are great lots of dialog and action
among the hidden. Little more complex But great all round books
can’t go wrong with the Percy Jackson books as long as you don’t mind him asking How to pronounce a bunch of names/ greek words.

[Cdn_Cuda]

My daughter is 6, she enjoys Geronimo Stilton books. Basically mouse that goes on zany adventures. Has nice illustrations and usually a mystery or adventure theme. These books are more beginner chapter books that most have mentioned.

[Rainmaker]

Oooh, those sound good, and not one I've heard of before. Will check them out

[Obake]

She no longer teaches (tutors now) and over the years amassed a huge collection of some of the books she used in the class. We are tired of carrying them around so would love them to go to someone who will read and enjoy them.

As a librarian for an incarcerated population I would be happy to take any books you're looking to get rid of.

[Obake]

[Obake]

Here's another report from NoveList K-8 - well-crafted dialogue, fast paced, published in the last 10 years. If you or anyone else needs recommendations, feel free to hit up your friendly MCB librarian.

[Grendel]

As a librarian for an incarcerated population I would be happy to take any books you're looking to get rid of.

Will do and you are close enough to me I can make a run in that direction to drop off when heading to visit family in the Finger Lakes.

[Siress]

Augie and the Green Knight.

I bought it as a gift for a few friends with kids because I wanted to support the author's efforts; I enjoyed his web comic at the time. Everyone seemed to really like it.

[Rainmaker]

Augie and the Green Knight.

I bought it as a gift for a few friends with kids because I wanted to support the author's efforts; I enjoyed his web comic at the time. Everyone seemed to really like it.

Interesting, i like the concept of the story (at least from the summary i read), will have to check that one out. Thanks for the recommendation!