We have had so much success in the past few days! I moved away from the time and just said, "well, we're going to read..."
He read Judy Moody and has been flipping through Calvin & Hobbes and other magazines.
I checked out a card tricks book - after 35 min. or so of reading, he turned to this and mastered his first card trick.
Makes me wonder why I didn't think of this earlier?!?
Waiting for the Sir Cumference books, LOF will be next and mental magic & secrerts of mental math.
Thanks so much for all the great recommendations!