Hi everyone - I have been asked to create stickies for threads with lists of book recommendations gathered from member posts for different age ranges (0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, 13+). Here is the thread for the 6-8 age range.

Thanks for setting these threads up, Mark!

I am the "moderator" of the 6-8 list, which means that if people make suggestions for books in this age range, I will edit this post to add them to a master list, so they are all together on the first page. Feel free to post your suggestions, and also any suggestions for list format, etc. I will link to the book on Amazon if I can find it there.

Books for gifted kids aged 6-8
Fiction
the Secrets of Droon series by Tony Abbott
Watership Down by Richard Adams
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater
Jenny and the Cat Club (and others) by Esther Averill
Poppy and others by Avi
Basher books series by Simon Basher
Oz series by L. Frank Baum
The Penderwicks (series) by Jeanne Birdsall
The World According to Humphrey series by Betty G. Birney
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black
Faraway Tree series and others by Enid Blyton
Paddington Bear (and others) by Michael Bond
Secrets Series by Pseudonymous Bosch
Green Knowe series by L. M. Boston
Flat Stanley series by Jeff Brown
The Miniature World of Marvin and James (and others) by Elise Broach
The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley
Lauren Ipsum by Carlos Bueno
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Ruby Redfort: Look Into My Eyes by Lauren Child
anything by Beverly Cleary
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
Eleanor by Barbara Cooney
How to Train your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell
The Adventures of Vin Fiz by Clive Cussler
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
The BFG by Roald Dahl
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl
Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
George's Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl
The Lemonade War and others by Jacqueline Davies
The Secret Science Alliance by Eleanor Davis
26 Fairmount Avenue and sequels by Tomie DePaola
City of Ember and others by Jeanne DuPrau
Half Magic (and others) by Edward Eager
The Saturdays (and others) by Elizabeth Enright
The Familiars series by Adam Jay Epstein
My Mom the Pirate by Jackie French
The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester
Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
My Father's Dragon (and others) by Ruth Stiles Gannett
The Fairy Doll by Rumer Godden
The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden
Asterix comics by Rene Goscinny
13 Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths
The Genius Files and sequels by Dan Gutman
George’s Secret Key to the Universe by Stephen and Lucy Hawking
”B” is for Betsy (and others) by Carolyn Haywood
Redwall and others by Brian Jacques
Finn Family Moomintroll (and others) by Tove Jansson
Toys Go Out series by Emily Jenkins
We Can’t All Be Rattlesnakes by Patrick Jennings
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The Secrets of Hexbridge Castle and sequel by Gabrielle Kent
The Water Horse (and others) by Dick King-Smith
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
Galaxy’s Most Wanted by John Kloepfer
Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson
Catwings (and others) by Ursula Leguin (be sure to preread, as this author spans a very wide age range)
A Wrinkle in Time and others by Madeline L’Engle (first book is also available as a graphic novel).
the Narnia series by CS Lewis
The Year of the Dog and others by Grace Lin
Pippi Longstocking (and others) by Astrid Lindgren
Dr Dolittle series by Hugh Lofting
The Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace
Gooney Bird Greene series by Lois Lowry
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (and others) by Betty MacDonald
Dragon Slayer's Academy by Kate McMullan
Wildwood and sequels by Colin Meloy
The House at Pooh Corner (and others) by A.A. Milne
Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat
While Mrs. Coverlet Was Away and Mrs. Coverlet’s Magicians by Mary Nash
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head by Bill Peet
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Nick and Tesla’s High Voltage Danger Lab and sequels by Bob Pflugfelder and Steven Hockensmith
Jigsaw Jones by James Prellar
Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve and Sarah Mcintyre
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and others by J.K. Rowling
The Lighthouse Family (and others) by Cynthia Rylant
Alec Flint series by Jill Santopolo
The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka
Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor series by Jon Scieszka
A Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
To Catch a Mermaid (and others) by Suzanne Selfors
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
A Whole Nother Story series by Cuthbert Soup
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Geronimo Stilton series by Geronimo Stilton
All of a Kind Family (and others) by Sydney Taylor
The 13 Clocks by James Thurber
Dragonbreath series by Ursula Vernon
Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Calvin and Hobbes comics by Bill Watterson
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
Little House in the Big Woods (and others) by Laura Ingalls Wilder (some of the later books in the series may not be of much interest to younger kids)
Tailchaser’s Song by Tad Williams
Dealing with Dragons and sequels by Patricia Wrede

Non-fiction(ish)
This list includes stories that are technically fiction, but their primary purpose is to teach instead of to tell a story. This separation was a judgment call, and I’m willing to move books from one category to another if asked
Beast Academy math books
The Day-Glo Brothers by Chris Barton
Tell Me a Picture by Quentin Blake
The Elements: The New Guide to the Building Blocks of Our Universe by Jack Challoner
The Magic School Bus books by Joanna Cole
Phineas L MacGuire series by Frances O’Roark Dowell
The Great Scientists by John Fardon (no luck finding this on Amazon – any more hints?)
Did Fleming Rescue Churchill? by Jamies Cross Giblin and Eric Brooks
The Elements and Mad Science by Theodore Gray
Where's Wally series by Martin Handford (do you mean Where’s Waldo? No luck finding Wally on Amazon)
Horrible Science series
Horrible History series
Junior Genius Guides
Muse magazine
Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas by Jim Ottoviani
Q is for Quark by David M Schwartz
G is for Googol by David M Schwartz
You Can Count on Monsters by Richard Evan Schwartz
Encyclopedia Brown by Donald Sobol
Human Body Theater by Maris Wicks (graphic novel)
Banker to the Poor by Muhammad Yunus (prereading recommended as it touches on sensitive subjects)
Science Comics series by Various

Read aloud suggestions
I'm keeping these separate on the list for now, but any of the above books might be read-alouds if you prefer
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones (7 books in this Chrestomanci series)
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein

Thanks Mark and ElizabethN!

Roald Dahl Books:
James and the Giant Peach
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The BFG
Matilda
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
Danny the Champion of the World
George's Marvelous Medicine

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (and others)—Betty MacDonald
The Spiderwick Chronicles--Holly Black
The Night Fairy—Laura Amy Schlitz
Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan—E.B. White
Owls in the Family--Farley Mowat
Beverly Cleary
Pippi Longstocking (and others)—Astrid Lindgren
My Father's Dragon (and others)—Ruth Stiles Gannett
Finn Family Moomintroll (and others)—Tove Jansson
The Lighthouse Family (and others)—Cynthia Rylant
All of a Kind Family (and others)—Sydney Taylor
Jenny and the Cat Club (and others)—Esther Averill
Half Magic (and others)—Edward Eager
The House at Pooh Corner—A.A. Milne
The 13 Clocks--James Thurber
Mr. Popper's Penguins
the Narnia series--CS Lewis
Catwings (and others)—Ursula Leguin
Paddington Bear (and others)—Michael Bond
Little House in the Big Woods (and others)—Laura Ingalls Wilder (some of the later books in the series may not be of much interest to younger kids)
The Fairy Doll—Rumer Godden
The Story of Holly and Ivy—Rumer Godden
A Cricket in Times Square--Selden
the Secrets of Droon series--Tony Abbott
DragonSlayer's Academy--Kate McMullan

Detective Series:
- Droon Series (Abbott)
- Jigsaw Jones (Prellar)
- Encyclopedia Brown (Sobol)
- Geronimo Stilton (Stilton)
- Boxcar Children (Warner)

Fantasy Series:
- How to Train your Dragon series (Crowell)
- Flat Stanley series (Brown)
- Dragon Slayer Academy series (McMullan)
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; The Glass Elevator (Dahl)
- Oz series by Baum

Talking Animals:
- Dr Dolittle series (Lofting)
- My Father's Dragon trilogy (Gannett)
- Cricket in Times Square (Selden)
- Jungle Book (Kipling)

Classics for read alouds:
- The Hobbit (Tolkein)
- Narnia (Lewis)
- Peter Pan (Barrie)
- Moby Dick (Melville)

Question for the moderator. There are a number of books that easily fit into more than one category. Should we post it to both? For example a lot of 8-12 year old fiction, is good for this age for a very advanced reader or as a read out loud but still good for kids 8-12.

I think it should probably be posted in both.

I will add the rest of the books suggested, but it will probably take me a little while to look them all up on Amazon. Posting with links would make my job shorter, but it's not a requirement.

I am also soliciting suggestions for breaking the main list up into categories, as I can see that it is already really too long.

Dealing with Dragons -- Patricia Wrede

Read outloud or advanced readers
-------
The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones
(7 books in this Chestomancy series)

Picture books with more text
-------
The Dragon who Lost his Head,
Eleanor -- by Bill Pete
The Stinky CHeese Man & Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Sciekska & Lane Smith

Science/Math
----------
Magic School Bus Books by Scholastic
Q is for Quark
G is for Google by David M Schwarz, Kim Doner

Junior Genius Guides -- seems to be a newer series, written by a man who held a record in Jeopardy! winnings. DS7 loves them.
http://pages.simonandschuster.com/juniorgeniusguides

The Miniature World of Marvin & James, also Masterpiece by Elise Broach

Rabbit Hill--Robert Lawson
Green Knowe series--L. M. Boston
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland--Lewis Carroll
To Catch a Mermaid (and others)--Suzanne Selfors
The Penderwicks (series)--Jeanne Birdsall

Horrible Science series
Toys Go Out series
Cuthbert Soup "Another Whole Story" series
Asterix comics
Calvin and Hobbes comics
the Dick King-Smith books
E.B. White "Trumpet of the Swan"

The Girl Who Could Fly - Victoria Forester (a favorite!)
The Sisters Grimm series - Michael Buckley

How about Phantom Tollbooth and Wizard of Oz series

The Familiars series (my son could not get enough!)--Adam Jay Epstein
All EB White books-- Charlotte's Web, Trumpet of the Swan, Stuart Little
The Cricket in Times Square-George Seldon
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM-Robert C. O'Brien
My Father's Dragon series--Ruth Stiles Gannett
Roald Dahl books--James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Borrowers--Mary Norton
The Humphrey series--Betty G. Birney
Little House on the Prairie series (books 1-5)- Laura Ingalls Wilder

I know that the list is long, but please try to avoid duplicating what's already there when making your suggestions. Thanks!

OK, I think I am now up to date on all of the suggestions. Let me know if you see any errors or omissions.

Treasure Island. Unlike other Classics Children Ought to Read -- Robinson Crusoe (written before the idea of a novel as a coherent narrative), Swiss Family Robinson (written for moral edification) -- this is actually a really good book!

DD6 was intensely interested, not at all put off by the difficulty level (though with lots of explanations from me, both of vocabulary and historical context). But she got pretty freaked out by how scary it was. She had been asking for books with "wicked" characters, but this was a little too rich for her blood. Unlike their rather sanitized Disney descendants, these pirates are freaky nasty scary.

DD's evaluation: "Let's read this when I'm older." May work for some in this age group, maybe even DD by the time she's 8.

(P.S. As a less scary substitute for her blood-thirstiness, I've been reading her the Tintin adventures The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure.)

Theo Gray's The Elements and Mad Science
Muse magazine

The Saturdays (first of the Melendy series) - Elizabeth Enright

Gone-Away Lake (and Return to Gone-Away) - Elizabeth Enright

The Borrowers (series) - Mary Norton

Betsy-Tacy (series) - Maud Lovelace

"B" is for Betsy (series) - Carolyn Haywood

OK, I believe I'm up-to-date. I can't believe that Betsy-Tacy and the Borrowers weren't on there yet!

I love this list!

I would recommend The Phantom Tollbooth to the read-aloud section.

Also, Enid Blyton's magic Faraway Tree and Wishing Chair Collection for independent reading.

I second the suggestions of My Father's Dragon books - My Father's Dragon, Elmer and the Dragon, and Dragons of Blueland.

For those with kiddos that still like books with some pictures - these are great! Also the print is fairly large and it doesn't take up the entire page.

I believe I'm caught up through here. I haven't been putting books in the read-aloud section if they are already on the main list, and I alphabetized by author to make it easier for me to find if I've posted something already. Let me know if I missed your suggestion!

Do my eyes deceive me or is Harry Potter such a given that no one has suggested it?

DD6 has been breathing down DS8's neck to get him to read each one more quickly so that she can move on. A sensible parent would have bought two sets.

I'd guess the latter. "Goblet of Fire" should soon arrive for my 7yo daughter. All three children have been reading the series. They think it's weird that I have not read Harry Potter.

We just got back from Italy, and I realized there is a wonderful book that is often missing from American book lists. Pinocchio!!

The true, unabridged version of The Adventures of Pinocchio is an amazing story, and the original shares some qualities with epic poems (Gilgamesh, The Odyssey). It has 36 chapters, and is significantly darker than abridged Disney-fied versions (it is not darker than Harry Potter).

The copy we bought is unabridged by Carlo Collodi, and illustrated beautifully by Roberto Innocenti, a Florentine-based illustrator. It is a larger book since it is heavily illustrated, but I think they really add to the story. My DD has probably already read it 5 times since we bought it, and it seems to be replacing Charlotte's Web as her current favorite! (She's the type of child who reads the same book many, many, many times. Pretty much until it's memorized and then when she's bored she'll just start reciting it from memory to keep herself occupied. Makes for interesting dinner entertainment when we're out at a restaurant!)

HP's content is a little mature for some kids in this age range, in the later books. We've stopped DS6 at book 3 for now.

Pinocchio is already on the list.

I posted about HP before finishing the series, myself (Bostonian, my kids think it's weird that I AM reading them!). DD6 is near the end of #3 and I'm going to stop her there for now. DS8 started #4 before I finished it and I'm concerned, given events late in the book. If he's okay with #4, I'll let him read #5, but #6 & #7 are going to be misplaced for a while.

DD6 and DS8 have both been enjoying D'Aulaire's Greek Myths.

Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo is DD6's current fave.

DW cried when Dumbledore died. DD at 6 barely blinked. It's all individual.

For parents concerned about their children's emotional response, Book 4 is the watershed, as that's the one which culminates with a child murdered.

DS8 just finished the first book in the Redwall series by Brian Jacques and loved it. We learned there are numerous books in the series and have just requested three from the library. I didn't see this series on the list.

I've added it - thank you!

Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas, by Jim Ottaviani & Maris Wicks.

It's in graphic-novel format and appears to be aimed at an adult audience (e.g. it mentions Louis Leaky's philandering, so you might want to preview it), but it is totally accessible for a smart child.

One of DS7s favorites has been "You Can count on Monsters" by Richard Schwartz... primes and factors illustrated with nearly no text. The perfect thing for a visual math kid to puzzle over for hours.

Here is Keith Devlin's review... http://www.npr.org/2011/01/22/133118069/math-isnt-so-scary-with-help-from-these-monsters

Updated up through this point. Thanks for everyone's suggestions!

New suggestion: the Poppy series, by Avi. They have some sad bits and some odd dialect, but there are a number and DS loved them.

I need some new suggestions for DS6...help!

Galaxy's Most Wanted by John Kloepfer

A group of smart kids attending STEM camp summon alien life to Earth and then have to put their "planet-sized" brains together to stop an alien invasion.

DS7 is loving it.

The City of Ember series by Jeanna DuPrau (4 books, sci-fy)
The Lemonade War series by Jacqueline Davies

Updated through this point.

Lauren Ipsum is kind of like the Phantom Tollbooth of computer science. I highly recommend it! It's being sold two ways, through No Starch Press or through Amazon and Kindle.

My six year old loved it, but older ages would as well.

Ds7 just read George's secret key to the universe by Stephen and Lucy Hawking. I was a long overdue step up for him and he enjoyed it.

Oh, and the Nick and Tesla books!

Watership Down.

Tailchaser's Song.

I love both of those books. My son is younger, so I'm not sure what level a gifted kid is reading at at this age range, but if Harry Potter is on the list, these two seem about that level. If nothing else, as read alouds.

Max Axiom "comic" science books. Non-fiction.

Watership Down is very sad and dark in places...not that HP isn't, but most people are aware of that. I'm about to give it to my 11yo, though she could have handled it younger, but not at 6.

Two favorites from my childhood that I've just rediscovered for DD7: While Mrs. Coverlet was Away, and Mrs. Coverlet's Magicians, both by Mary Nash.

Along the lines of the James Patterson suggestion:

"The Adventures of Vin Fiz" by Clive Cussler

DD8 just finished Look Into My Eyes, book 1 in the Ruby Redfort series (written by Lauren Child) and declared it one of her faves.

Age 6-8 covers a lot of territory... I'll make a couple of suggestions for the younger end of that range, mostly books at the normal grade 3/4/5 reading level, but which are interesting for young strong readers:

Fiction:
Phineas L MacGuire series, Frances O'Roark Dowell
Dragonbreath series, Ursula Vernon
Alec Flint mysteries, Jill Santopolo
The World According to Humphrey series, Betty G. Birney
The Year of the Dog (& sequels), Grace Lin
The Secret Science Alliance, Eleanor Davis
Gooney Bird Greene series, Lois Lowry
My Mom the Pirate, Jackie French
We Can't All Be Rattlesnakes, Patrick Jennings

Non-fiction(ish):
Did Fleming Rescue Churchill?, James Cross Giblin & Erik Brooks
Tell Me a Picture, Quentin Blake

Non-fiction:
Kids Discover magazine (www.kidsdiscover.com)
The Day-Glo Brothers, Chris Barton & Tony Persiani

For readers unfazed by length:

Fiction:
Magyk (& the rest of the Septimus Heap series), Angie Sage -- long fantasy books that are fun and the author has said she intended them to be suitable for age 8 (so they're lower on violence, etc., than, for instance, Harry Potter)

Adding a link to the thread on book recommendations for "free reading" at school, which mentions a 6-year-old.

Adding a link to the thread on American Library Association booklists, which contains booklists for various ages.

Adding a link to the thread Fiction Book recommendations for kid, which inquires about fiction books for an 8-year old who typically reads for information.

Adding a link to an old thread what book your kid is reading this week (2011).

DS newly 9 has recently rapidly consumed The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch. Loved them.

Adding a link to the thread Western Novels and Historical Fiction, which discusses choices for an 8-year-old boy.

Adding links to discussion threads on high-level picture books:
- here
- here
- Using Picture Storybooks to Teach Literary Devices

Adding a link to the thread Book Recommendations for 8 Year Old, on the General Discussions board.

Adding a link to the thread fun physics book for 6 year old?

Adding a link to the thread High Lexile Level Books for young readers

Adding a link to the thread Adult lit "gateway drug" books?, which discusses literature to read aloud to an 8-year old.

Adding a link to the thread Shorter Books with High Lexile.

Adding links to books featuring diversity... main characters who are positive representations of ethnicities which may currently be considered minority populations in the US:
- books with black and African American characters
- 1000 black girl books, list curated by Marley Dias
- books with Asian characters
- books made into movies
- more books made into movies
- book Fancy Party Gowns, a child's biography of designer Ann Lowe.

Wow, it's been over a year since I updated the first post of this thread! Thanks for your suggestions, everyone.

A Certain Small Shepherd sounds like it would work for this age group.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/985149.A_Certain_Small_Shepherd

Is there any way to figure out which of these are graphic novels/graphic comics? DS6 and DS4 are on a graphic novel kick right now (we're reading to them), and we're tearing through the ones I know pretty fast! I'm running out of titles that are age-appropriate, especially for DS4!

We've been reading the Zita the Space Girl, Baby Mouse, Squish, Lego Ninjago, Bird and Squirrel, Super Agent Jon Le Bon, Guinea Pig Pet Shop Private Eye, Mr. Pants, Binky the Space Cat, Tiny Titans and Scooby Doo Team Up.

I'd say A Certain Small Shepherd is more of a picture book, but has pretty good/strong vocabulary. You might want to be aware that it's a religious book (I don't want anyone to be offended or surprised) and that the beginning is pretty sad, especially for a four-year-old, and that for modern graphic novel fans it might be too slow. But if your son is mature, I think it's s good fit.

For graphic novels, my DS6 loves the Amulet series. He recently read, and enjoyed, Stickman Odyssey, too.

There's a graphic novel version of A Wrinkle in Time that DS8 really enjoyed.

This sounds like a great summer read for DD.

Thank you for the suggestions. The Amulet and A Wrinkle in Time look like they would be terrific reads, but they both look like they would be too scary for both boys at this point. Zita the Space Girl was definitely on the line in terms of level of comfort.

Anything more lighthearted would be great at this point. It doesn't have to be great literature - after all, we tear through about 5-6 books a day (some are still picture books)!

Maybe Rapunzel's Revenge will interest them without being too scary (by Shannon Hale)

For fast light heart reading - maybe The Bad Guys books will be amusing (by Aaron Blabey)

I think the Ramona books would work for this age, too. They're not graphic novels, but they're relatively easy.


http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/beezus-and-ramona#cart/cleanup

My son loves the Jenny and the Cat Club series and also the Catwings books. They aren't graphic novels but both series are charming and not scary at all.

We also read some of the Little House on the Prarie books lately and those were a hit. They contain so many fascinating details about pioneer life and descriptions of how things were made. My son loved them.

26 Fairmount Avenue is an 8-volume illustrated autobiography of Tomie dePaola's childhood, from about age 4 to 8. We are doing it as a read-aloud series, but be perfect as independent reading for any kid 4-8 who was interested.

Thanks for this list! DS6 is reading about 3 chapter books a day right now and I'm in need of new ideas.

One series I didn't see that DS loved (and has asked me to preorder the 4th book released son) is:

Fiction:
https://www.amazon.com/Frank-Einste...11&sr=8-1&keywords=frank+einstein+series

Thanks for this list! DS6 is reading about 3 chapter books a day right now and I'm in need of new ideas.

One series I didn't see that DS loved (and has asked me to preorder the 4th book released son) is:

Fiction:
https://www.amazon.com/Frank-Einste...11&sr=8-1&keywords=frank+einstein+series

Heck, I want to read that.. I've always loved Tomie dePaola's work!

I just reserved some of the Frank Einstein books at the local library. I think my son is going to LOVE them!

My son has recently become obsessed with the Nathan Hale graphic novels. The first is called "One Dead Spy" and it's about the revolutionary war. His favorite was "Big Bad Iron Clad", which was about the Civil War.

A Wrinkle in Time, both novel and graphic novel versions were a big hit with DD6. She says the series is now one of her all-time favorites, up there with HP.

She also really enjoyed the Amulet series. I got into it too but I'm not really sure if I would have let her read it if I had pre-read it as I should have.

Not sure if already mentioned, but DS8 is extremely fond of the Wildwood series by Colin Meloy

Mana, can you provide a little more detail about what "the Amulet series" is so I can add it to the list? Otherwise, I think the first-page list is up to date through here.

Yikes, I am over 3 months late.

I would not recommend the Amulet series for young readers for its violent content. The first book starts off with a parent suffering a very traumatic death. Definitely 8 and up for most children.

OK, I'll leave it off this list, then. Thanks!

My son really enjoyed Bridge to Terabithia, The One and Only Ivan, Old Yellar, Rain Reign, Where the Fern Grows, and Tuck Everlasting. These all deal with some sort of death in the novels though, so discretion is advised for more sensitive readers.

Relatively new and great non-fiction graphic comics for this age group:

- The Human Body Theatre by Maris Wicks

- And the whole Science Comics series (the first is Coral Reefs - Cities of the Ocean by Maris Wicks) is terrific as well. There are already four or five and more will be coming out soon (including one on the human brain!).

- Also, Sea Creatures #1, Reef Madness and Sea Creatures #2, Armed and Dangerous by Christophe Cazenove. There are likely more coming out, as they were first published in French and there are more available in the French series.

- And also, older but still great: All of the Joseph Midthun Building Blocks of Science and Building Blocks of Math books.

DS6 loves all of the above!

And I would almost recommend to add the Beast Academy books on the list! DS6 has taken to reading them for pleasure.

Lovely gentle chapter books to feed the imagination:

Fortunately the Milk by Neil Gaiman

Ottoline books by Chris Riddell

Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve

City of Ember (Series) by Jeanne DuPrau (Science Fiction)
Holes by Louis Sacher

Both of these have been favorites in our house. (Mystery)

Lemony Snicket's "Series of Unfortunate Events" books are DS6's newest reading obsession. I definitely recommend these stories for their dark humour and irony.

Here's a link for books 1-13.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Wre...ny+snickets+series+of+unfortunate+events

"The Genius Files", a five-book series by Dan Gutman about 12-almost-13-year-old gifted twins, and their adventures with a secret government agency (under the oblivious noses of their professorial parents).

https://www.amazon.com/Genius-Files-Mission-Unstoppable/dp/0061827665

And Lemony Snicket is also on our list for the immediate future.

Oooh, that sounds terrific, aeh! I could see DS hibernating and devouring those!

DS8 just devoured the Mr. Lemoncillo's Library series by Chris Grabenstein,along with a few other books by the author. He said "this might be the best book I have ever read" midway through the first one.

Also really enjoyed "The Adventurer's Guide to Successful Escapes" and "The adventurer's guide to dragons (and why they keep biting me)" by Wade Albert White.

Somehow, DS11 missed these on his reading journey. Which is incredible, given how much time he spends reading!

Could anyone recommend books or series that are sort of 'realistic' fiction but don't feature snarky little kids? My son (age 7) is reading at about a 3rd grade level and has decided that 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' is just the best thing ever. I do think the series is funny but he's not emotionally sophisticated enough to understand why the main character isn't always very nice. He's also been reading the 'Weird School' series and it has similar issues with name-calling, etc. I don't want to be prudish but would love to find something that has 'real life' story lines but is a bit more wholesome. Any suggestions?

We got a lot of mileage out several mystery series. As I recall, Jigsaw Jones were pretty decent, ABC Mysteries were OK (and lots of 'em!). Magic School Bus novels were fun. I think we went to all of these after plowing through way too many Magic Tree Houses.

Have you looked at historical fiction?
Oscar's Gift is similar to "American Girl" books, but featuring a boy as the main character.
The author is a former director of SENG.

Thank you everyone! I'm trying to pay attention and figure out what he finds so appealing about these books. I think it's a combination of the humor and feeling like he can 'relate' to the issues. I just wish we could find something funny where the kids chooses a better way to handle his problems.

Historical fiction is a whole genre we've never tried so I'll look into that for sure. Platypus, not sure how old your kids are now but my son is kind of enjoying a series called the Field Trip Mysteries.

Suggestions sound good above.

A couple of years ago I posted some suggestions to this thread. From that post (#220358), for your DS, considering his apparent taste for humor+science, I'd call out:

Phineas L. MacGuire series, Frances O'Roark Dowell -- by Lexile level, it's supposedly about typical 5th grade level, but I don't think it's really that hard -- it may be the occasional scientific vocabulary word pushing the Lexile level up -- incorporates some science into some funny but good-hearted stories.

Dragonbreath series, Ursula Vernon -- this isn't literally "realistic" (as it's about an anthropomorphic dragon and his anthropomorphic other creature friends) and the stories are fantasy type, but it's quite funny in a not-nasty way (my husband kept reading these to our kids for years as he enjoyed them) and it's a hybrid of "normal" text with occasional breakouts into comic panels which may give it extra appeal to a Wimpy Kid fan.

I'd also take a look at:

Time Warp Trio series, Jon Scieszka -- the author is interested in getting kids reading, and in particular interested in getting boys reading. Seems to work well for many boys: get exposed to some history in a fun way.

Thanks Peony! Awesome suggestions.

I have a collection of recommended reading lists designed specifically for students ages 6 and up that are reading at a 4th to 5th grade level. All of the books are pre-screened for content and maturity. The lists are based on age, reading ability, and interest. https://resources.njgifted.org/elementary-books.html

That's lovely- thanks for sharing that!

Books DS6 has been enjoying this summer:

- Grandpa's Great Escape (David Walliams)
- Gangsta Granny (David Walliams)
- Demon Dentist (David Walliams)
- The One and Only Ivan (Katherine Applegate)
- Science Comics (coral reefs, flying machines, dinosaurs, robots and drones, plagues)
- The Series of Unfortunate Events books
- Captain Underpants books
- Charlotte's Web (E.B. White)
- Horrible History books
- Horrible Geography books
- The Narnia books
- Re-reading pretty much the whole works of Roald Dahl
- Harry Potter (books 1 and 2- we'll wait to continue the series)
- Tin Tin comics (translated into English)
- The "Who Was"/"What Was" series
- Beast Academy comic textbooks (not kidding- he seriously loves these)

I've also reserved an English translation of "The Little Prince" by Antoine de St Exupery at the library, as DS' French isn't yet strong enough to read the original. Once he's up to speed, I could see him loving the "Petit Nicolas" series by Gosciny, as well as Asterix et Obelix.

DS is also urging me to let him read some of these, which I'm debating due to concerns about maturity/horror themes:

- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Treasure Island
- The Goosebumps series
- The Hobbit
- Rick Riordan's "Magnus Chase" series

I also found a neat book with 40 philosophy questions that he'd love, and a few books by Stephen and Lucy Hawking that play with physics in a fun way for kids. Will see if DS is interested.

Love your DS's list, aquinas. I'll have to see if my no-longer-quite-so-little wants to try some Roald Dahl. Our summer list so far:
- Waggit
- Guardians of Gahoole series
- Warriors (cat series, as well as associated dog (Survivors) and bear (Seekers) series)
- Pegasus series (The Flame of Olympus and following--kind of a Rick Riordan-alike, but enjoyed by my child)
- Redwall series
- The Familiars series (described as for fans of HP and Warriors--bingo!)
- The Call of the Wild

Other than The Call of the Wild, which appears to have been selected by DC on the basis of wolves, you might notice a pattern of fantasy-quest series, preferably with anthropomorphized animals.

I'll admit to having let DC read through all of the HP books at five or six. YMMV, of course, but they didn't seem to be too scary at the time, but that might be because DC heard them all read aloud first, by DC#1 (in a British accent, of course!).

As we're discussing this, I'm reminded of George MacDonald. Those might be appealing too -- The Light Princess, The Princess and the Goblin, etc.

Also agree about the Dragonbreath books! My 7 year old loves them. This summer he also fell in love with the Secret Coders series and the Myth-o-Mania series, which I also enjoyed!

Adding a link to this thread:
Books with strong female characters for 7 year old (2013)

Adding a link to this thread:
High Lexile Level Books for young readers (2011)

The book "People" by Peter Spier (1980) reads more like a graphic novel. The pictures are worth a thousand words. The text is simple, and the illustrations can launch great conversations on diversity.

Amazon link - https://www.amazon.com/People-Peter-Spier/dp/038513181X/

Some reviews indicate the themes may be for older children or adults. https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R39RS3BDDQSWLO/

The book may lend itself to many great conversations with parents.

The book "This is How We Do It," by Matt Lamothe (2017) is a beginner's guide to world studies and diversity, showing a day in the life of seven children around the world.

Amazon link - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1452150184

Continuing with the theme of diversity, adding a link to a post mentioning the book
"The Table Where Rich People Sit,"
in a thread called "Affluenza Concerns."
http://giftedissues.davidsongifted.org/BB/ubbthreads.php/topics/192211/ljoy.html#Post192211

This post provides more detail on the book:
http://giftedissues.davidsongifted....48157/Affluenza_Concerns.html#Post248157

Adding a link to a thread discussing books on "perfectionism" for a child about 8 years old: http://giftedissues.davidsongifted....25949/Perfectionism_Book.html#Post225949

Adding a link to a thread with books enjoyed by gifted children of various ages, called what book your kid is reading this week (2011), in the Parenting and Advocacy forum.

"Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions" (2016)
Authored by Chris Barton
Illustrated by Don Tate
Link to view on Amazon, including "Look Inside" feature -
https://www.amazon.com/Whoosh-Lonnie-Johnsons-Super-Soaking-Inventions/dp/1580892973

Related post:
Lonnie Johnson, in the thread, "Gifted Adults - applying genius to many endeavors"
in the Age or Ability Specific forum - Adult.