I need some suggestions from my literary friends and family (which is pretty much every one of you, actually). We read Emily & Steven a bedtime story each night, of course (usually separately). So far, we've read though the Little House on the Prairie series with Emily, and also the entire Chronicles of Narnia. We also read Anne of Green Gables, but I think she'll enjoy the rest of that series more in a few years, so we've left off with that one for the moment.
Currently, we're reading The Great Brain to her, which my mother-in-law read to Scott & his siblings, and he really loved. I need some suggestions for other things to read her -- you get through books pretty fast at a chapter a night! What did you particularly like for reading at the age of 8 or so?
I also need some suggestions for Steven. He's old enough to move on from picture or one-chapter books, but I don't know what to read to him! Something on the level of Little House, but beyond Farmer Boy, he didn't seem too excited about them. He's, um, quite very strongly really extremely a 6 year old male.
Go ahead, go ahead! Chat amongst yourselves!
Love, kristin
hmmmm - it's been quite some time since i was 8, but at that age i was reading a series of biographies called "Silhouette Biography" about famous people as children. it's not too early to introduce emily to people from her nation's history. (said ms. walter primly!)on the lighter side, i was reading books by walter farley (about horses) and albert payson terhune (about dogs). it's always worthwhile checking out the newbury awards list - there are some splendid books there!! http://lib.mansfield.edu/newbery.cfm my favourite idea - risk life and limb and take each child to a book store and let them pick out a book!! ;-]!
ReplyDeleteKristin, I'm afraid that as my daughter has just turned 4, I can't really help you there as our current bedtime favourites are books like "Little Red Riding Hood" & "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" ! I think it's wonderful that you read to your kids each night. It's such a precious gift. I started reading to my daughter from the night she was born & we were still in the hospital together - and have not missed a night in 4 years. I read a beautiful saying in a Kenyan bookshop recently, it was printed on the backs of all the staff t-shirts -:
ReplyDelete"Richer than you, I will always be
For I had a mother, who read to me"
Lovely and sums it all up perfectly, don't you think ?
Bye for now
Lynda, Kilimanjaro, East Africa
Yay! Lynda, it's so fun to have you visit my blog, as I've had such fun reading yours! My 2-year-old will think "Little Red Riding Hood" and "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" are smashing!
ReplyDeleteAnd LadyEloise, I knew I could count on the woman who introduced me to some of my favorite authors ever to have some good suggestions! The Silhouette bios would be great -- Emily loves bios. I will have to let Scott read the dog stories, as those always make me cry -- whether or not they're sad!!
kristin
It has been far too long since I was eight, and many more years before our little one is that age. However, we consulted with another book lover who is a bit older than Emily, and she suggested Little Women (which she just received yesterday for her 9th birthday) and the Faith Girls series of books. Her mom tells me they are really for girls 9-12, so it may be a bit early for Emily.
ReplyDeleteMy knowledge of books for 6 year old boys is even more limited. Alas, I'll be hoping that in a few more years you will be a more faithful and reliable friend to me when I come asking the exact same question!
I will be stealing the quote from your friend Lynda's bookstore - that will make an excellent scrapbook page!
Hilary
hilary - thank you for suggesting Louisa May Alcott's books and reminding me that i was reading those at about this age as well. my favourites were "Eight Cousins" and it's sequel, "Rose in Bloom" (of course). I also loved "Jo's Boys" - but it is important to begin with "Little Women." I've been reading about Louisa recently ("Alcott in her own time : a biographical chronicle of her life, drawn from recollections, interviews, and memoirs by family, friends, and associates" edited by Daniel Shealy - a book i recommend) and her 'target' audience started about emily's age. besides, where else will emily learn about pickled lemons ;-]!
ReplyDeleteHi Kristin, just left a comment on the post you commented on from my blog and great to see your blog! I loved those books you read, I had them all with my boys when we lived in Africa, they were reared on Narnia and the little house on the prairie, though farmer boy didn't cut the mustard as much, and another series they loved were the Adventure series for macho boys (like your 6 yr old!) by Willard Price - brilliant in a boy's own fashion though possibly a victim of the PC police as some stories are about finding animals for zoos, not the most conservation-minded way to go about things, but in the context of the time, quite normal. A bit like King Solomon's Mines, another great boy's adventure. All worth checking out. All the classics are worth visiting, tales of greece and troy are good yarns for boys as well. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteOh, smashing, Catherine! I will look for Willard Price -- I am just so not up on good books for little boys, never having been one (surprise!) -- and my younger brother having not been a reader at all.
ReplyDeleteRMW, this is not to expose the ignorance of someone (moi) who is actually employed to teach English, but I had no idea there were that many Little Women sequels! Emily has read the first one, so I will have to look into getting the others. And Hilary, I'll print this post (the comments, I mean!) so I can give it to you in about seven years!!
kristin
i see i was not clear - shame on me! there are three sequels to 'Little Women' - 'Little Men,' 'Jo's Boys' and one other which escapes me at the moment. 'Eight Cousins' is a separate book with it's sequel, 'Rose in Bloom.' of course there are other Alcott books - 'An Old Fashioned Girl' and 'Under the Lilac' - both of which i enjoyed and many others. there is also an 'adult' novel she wrote but could never get published during her lifetime. it came out some years ago and i have read it a couple of times. 'A Long Fatal Love Chase' is the title. it is not for reading to emily, but you would enjoy it, i believe.
ReplyDeleteHi, I've come over from the post by Catherine about Apple Pie/Tart. I was so taken by your comment about the English language. I look forward to reading more of your blog.
ReplyDeleteI vaguely remember reading Enid Blyton. My daughter is at a similar stage to your boy. When my older girls were at that stage the teacher suggested things I wouldn't have chosen like the Goosebumps series. They liked those sort of things, but it wasn't ideal.
How nice to have you, Linda! I'm going to have fun looking at your blog now, as well. I'll be looking up Enid Blyton, as well!
ReplyDeleteLadyEloise, I believe I actually own "An Old-Fashioned Girl" -- I must go up and look it out in the bookshelves. I got it at the beach this summer at Robert's Bookstore in Lincoln City, Oregon. Which is half the reason I love going to the beach at that particular location!
kristin