Books for Eight year olds

Hi all: Hope I have not posted this in the wrong place. My stepson is struggling with his reading and we are reading with him every day to try to improve. He is totally uninterested in books, so it is a struggle to find something that he enjoys. He is eight, and I am having a hard time finding him something that is interesting but not too "hard" for him. All the stuff I read at his age (Chronicles of Narnia, Wrinkle in time, etc) he feels is too difficult. Help! What are good books for young readers???? Help me Lters, your'e my only hope!

Well, what's he interested in? I'm serious. If someone (this goes for everyone, not just eight year old boys) is interested in a subject, they're a lot more likely to be willing to read a book about it, than something you just randomly suggest. As far as specifics, I can't really give any suggestions, as I run into the same problem you have, I was reading Narnia, Wrinkle in Time, etc, when I was that age, and he isn't interested in that stuff.

Two words: Louis Sachar. Try starting with Sideways Stories from Wayside School if he hasn't already read it. It sounds like he might not be into science fiction or fantasy, so you might try some humorous stuff. Besides Louis Sachar, I'd recommend the Captain Underpants series.

He likes creepy stuff, but he is still young enough to be scared by stuff that's TOO scary-you know? I thought about trying some of those Nickolodeon Goosebumps books, but not having read them myself-? He says he likes Fantasy, but again all the fantasy I have tried has fallen flat. I suggested the Spiderwick Chronicles (which I have not read) since he really wants to see that movie, and I did get a lukewarm response. Any ideas from anyone on graphic novels? He does love superheroes, and growing up on comic books didn't stunt me any :)

Ooh I will pick up the Sachar - One chapter short stories sounds good!

Well, I could recommend some great Batman graphic novels, only one problem. They're written for adults, and are pretty dark. Year One is an amazing version of his origin story, but it isn't exactly appropriate for a second grader. You might try some of the Tintin graphic novels. There are dozens of them, and they're great stories. I second Louis Sachar as well. You might want to try Holes. Its a great, inventive story. Plus, you can watch the movie together once he finishes the book.

Another one of my faves from that age was Lizard Music by Daniel Pinkwater. It's got some strange fantasy/adventure elements, but it's very funny and off-the-wall. Great to read aloud and I bet it will hold your interest too.

You guys are heroes. I talked to my stepson, he is excited (!) to read Sideways Stories from Wayside School and Holes. He says he has heard of both at school, but never got to read them. I had bought him Captain Underpants last time I was with him, but never heard about it again; I assumed he didn't like it. But-he says he loved it, and would like to go on with the series-hooray! Off to the bookstore! I have a list!

My bright but somewhat reluctant reader son loved Captain Underpants (which is actually written at a 4th or 5th grade level, but many 2nd and 3rd graders read it) and Dav Pilkey's other series, Ricky Ricotta' Giant Robot at that age. Also, the Spiderwick books, Cornelia Funke's Ghost Hunter series, and comics -- Calvin and Hobbes was and is a favorite, and he also enjoyed the original Flash Gordon. Oh, and The Ink Drinker books by Eric Sanvoisin -- quick, funny reads about book vampires that drink ink instead of blood.

A very good series for early readers is The Magic Treehouse books by Mary Pope Osborne . He (and you) will even learn some history reading these. They are best if read in sequence because some parts of the story continue in the next story. If these are too difficult to read alone, step down to Nate the Great. They are simple mysteries and very easy to read, yet somehow they appeal to the young kids. Another easy reader series is Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant. Henry & Mudge are adorable & very easy to read. They don't have to be read in order. Other good series might be Cam Jansen. I don't think they need to be in sequence. If these are too easy, then step up to A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy or The Boxcar Children Mysteries by Gertrude Chandler Warner. That is a lot of reading. Nate is easiest followed by Mudge and Cam Jansen, then Magic Treehouse then A to Z's and Box Cars. There is also Cobblestreet Cousins at about the Magic Treehouse reading level. After he has mastered these, then introduce almost anything by Roald Dahl or Beverly Cleary. Most of what people has recommended so far are at a reading age beginning at 8. If someone has trouble reading, you can read those better books to him, but have really easy ones that he can read himself. My list here will get you through about 4 levels of reading. Good Luck.

I second the Magic Tree House suggestion. I find that many 2nd and 3rd graders adore this series and they are short, which can be a deciding factor for reluctant readers. The Tintin series is also very good.

Asterix and Obelix! They're a lot of fun. Some of the books do have some more adult content, but I remember it as being on the same level as the adult content in Disney. (ie, it's there for the grownups who're reading to their kids, but it's not necessarily going to jump out at a child). It's been a while since I read any of the books, though, so I could be completely wrong.

I third the Magic Treehouse books and second Ricky Ricotta's Giant Robot.

Some other suggestions: Jon Scieszka's Time Warp Trio, Tony Abbott's Droon series, Debbie Dadey's Bailey School Kids, Patricia Reilly Giff's The Kids of the Polk Street School, and Geronimo Stilton.

My daughter is about to turn 8 and an avid reader. My 6 year old son is our reluctant reader.

We have a list! We picked up Sideways Stories from Wayside School and the next two Captain Underpants books-he is much less unhappy about reading time. I have armed myself with all of your great suggestions! We talked about the books you have here, and he said he would like to read a lot of them. So...THANK YOU! He is happy, I am happy, hopefully his teacher will be happy! If anyone has more, we are all eyes...we have a permanent list now, so we know the next thing to read!

Are your certain, you read L'engle at 8? I read them at 10 and find that I'm still a little earlier than most people I talk to.

Try to find books by Farley Mowat. Owls in the Family is a good start.
When he is older, at the level of say, Jack London's White Fang or Call of the Wild, Mowat has books like Never Cry Wolf or The Snow Walker.

Also there is My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

maybe "Chalie And the Great Glass Elevator" or "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH".

There was also one I liked called "Invasion of the Blue lights"- don't recall the author.

~Jimm

Don't recall the name, but there's a whole series about an alien race that comes and kidnaps a boy and takes him all over the universe, eventually bringing him back to earth to help save the human race. Something like that, its been a looong time. The books are at about wayside level if I remember correctly, maybe a bit more advanced. There is one nude scene. The first time the boy comes on the ship, his clothes get sliced off during a "decontamination" process, but its glossed over.

I am a children's librarian and there have been some great suggesstins here - however if he really is into creepy stuff as you say check out R.L. Stine

The kids in my school love the Goosebumpsseries as well as the Rotten School series

Good luck

>15 GojirasHejira:: yeah, I may be a little off on my reading at different ages! Those would have been a bit too advanced for me at 8!
Our list grows ever longer! good stuff!