I've been reading out lout to my kids at work this summer and I'm running out of book ideas! Suggestions please!

The kids are 1st-5th graders, so about 7-11 years old. The book needs to be be interesting for them, but also for me (ie, no Judy B. Jones, yuck!). I'd also prefer it to be something that I haven't read (So many books, so little time). And I'm trying to stay away from series, since there is such a diverse group, it is easier to jump from one book to another than wanting to read a whole series at one time.

Here are some of the books we have read recently that we have all liked.

Ella Enchanted
A Tale of Despereaux
The BFG
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Half Magic
A Wrinkle in Time
The Silver Chair

How about How To Eat Fried Worms?? My kids always loved that one.

I do discussions with kids in the summer and these have been favorites:

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleishman It is quite funny.
The Kid in the Red Jacket by Barbara Park This is another funny book.

Message edited by its author, Jul 1, 2009, 11:48pm.

I recently have read:

From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
The Ghost Belonged to Me
Bud, Not Buddy

Other Newbery winners and honors are very good as well IMO

Thanks for all the suggestions so far, keep them coming.

I'll take them to the used bookstore this weekend and see which ones I can find!

If you can get hold of Thurber's The Wonderful O or The 13 Clocks, they're great for reading out loud.

I thought of a couple more.
Ellen Tibbets by Beverly Cleary
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo

Rascal by Sterling North

I read it when I was 11 -a Caldecott winner (I think - might be Newberry...). I still have it, so I must have enjoyed it.

Going for the traditional choices, how about E. Nesbitt and Noel Streatfeild?

Ellen Tibbets is very cute.

I am currently reading Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins to my 1st graders. I read it a few years ago to another class of 1st graders...they love it and older kids enjoy it too.

Other good ones:

The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne --get the original, not the Disney picture books.