What would be a good book on beginning Algebra for DS8? He has had some algebra on ALEKS, and he likes to play with my Algebra textbooks, but unfortunately those start with Intermediate and I'd like to take him back to the start first. Not only for his education, but so that I can start over again as well! It's been a long time....

I want something quirky, fun, but good, if that's possible.

The Life of Fred series has Beginning, Intermediate and PreAlgebra books: http://www.stanleyschmidt.com/FredGauss/index2.html

Three books (Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus) in the Easy Way Series by Douglas Downing may fit the bill. You can buy each of them for about $4 used on Amazon.

Forgot to add Art of Problem Solving. Introduction to Algebra: I am not sure if he'll find it "fun" fun. But I think it'll be "challenging" fun for a math-intuitive child.

Definitely check out the LIfe of Fred series if you want quirky and fun.

The Key to Algebra workbooks are self-explanatory and introduce most of the topics of Algebra 1 at a very basic level. Not so much fun, but my dd enjoyed them.

AOPS is way challenging. I think you can pop on Alcumus (their online database of questions) and check out for yourself if your child would find them fun or not. DD11 is doing AOPS now, but is glad she had some foundational algebra before she started.

Jacobs Algebra is great for younger kids.

Oh my goodness, is that the Stanley Schmidt of science fiction? I have a rejection letter from him, from about twenty years ago!

Must check that out.

*Edited to add: not the same Stanley Schmidt. Oh well.

Thanks for all the tips, guys!