General knowledge books to recommend for P3 avid reader
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You could try The Young Children’s Encyclopedia by Britannica (vol 1-16). They are out of print, but you can find them on E-bay. DD enjoyed reading them.
P/s: what’s wrong with the Horrible Science series? DD loves it! -
Percy Jackson? I really enjoyed the series, and although I haven't done mythology and classical studies since high school, the mythology seems pretty solid. It's also full of action and is an exciting read. There are also loads of historical fiction books for young adults/children, including Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (about Nazi Germany), Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoose (historical non-fiction about segregation in Alabama), The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti (Nazi Germany, based on the real story of Helmuth Hubner), Hitler Youth by Susan Campbell Barlotti (YA non-fiction, could be disturbing for younger readers), The Last Mission by Harry Mazer (historical fiction, WWII), and for general fiction books -- Hatchet by Gary Paulson, Watership Down by Richard Adams, Narnia books by CS Lewis, The Giver by Lois Lowry (YA dystopian), Holes by Louis Sachar, The Outsiders by SE Hinton, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
This isn't by any means an exhaustive list, but it's all the 'boy' books I can think of at the moment -
Busymom:
There's only so much about dinosaurs, black holes, nebula that a young child can read. Sooner of later, he'll have to read other things for different sort of exposure (I really got him a lot of children reference books oredi, no point to give more of the same thing).You could try The Young Children's Encyclopedia by Britannica (vol 1-16). They are out of print, but you can find them on E-bay. DD enjoyed reading them.
P/s: what's wrong with the Horrible Science series? DD loves it!
As for horrible series, He was given a set by relative that is still relatively untouched. Ds read a couple but not so keen. Thanks for the recommendation. If I didn't get those reference books, will surely source out that Children's Encylopedia you posted. -
Attolia:
That's a good list, Attolia. Thanks.Percy Jackson? I really enjoyed the series, and although I haven't done mythology and classical studies since high school, the mythology seems pretty solid. It's also full of action and is an exciting read. There are also loads of historical fiction books for young adults/children, including Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (about Nazi Germany), Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoose (historical non-fiction about segregation in Alabama), The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti (Nazi Germany, based on the real story of Helmuth Hubner), Hitler Youth by Susan Campbell Barlotti (YA non-fiction, could be disturbing for younger readers), The Last Mission by Harry Mazer (historical fiction, WWII), and for general fiction books -- Hatchet by Gary Paulson, Watership Down by Richard Adams, Narnia books by CS Lewis, The Giver by Lois Lowry (YA dystopian), Holes by Louis Sachar, The Outsiders by SE Hinton, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
This isn't by any means an exhaustive list, but it's all the 'boy' books I can think of at the moment
Percy Jackson was one of ds's favourites, together with Charlie Bone, LOTR. He's into mythology and especially liked the Eragon series.
I think it's about time I slowly expose him to more 'mature' stuff like war cruelty, apartheid, poverty and stuff. Your list looks good, will check it out. Thanks again for the generous sharing. -
The list can be challenging, content wise, depending on your child. Do pre-read them first. I generally try to avoid dystopian fiction for my kids and only give those with positive endings. Eg I Am David (sometimes sold as North to Freedom) about a boy who grew up into a concentration camp, escaped and trekked across some countries to reach a “free” land. This can be a starting point for discussions on different political systems, intellectual freedom and your child can also learn a bit on geography if you are inclined. It is not so “far out” because similar things are still going on with Afghan boys whose families sold off valuables or bartered off daughters to raise money to smuggle them out and WALK all the way to reach Paris where they can receive asylum if they can prove their age.
We have some children reference books for WWI and WWII because ds was interested to know more some years back.
(oh yes, what about DK Eye Witness series? Documentary series Days that Shook the World is also good, but again, be selective).
There are a number of good picture books in the library that are historical fiction and with positive endings on slavery, racism, wars, and immigration. My 9 yr old has finished the entire Harry Potter series (from which you can actually draw many parallels to real life issues), but I still prefer to give him these non-threatening books for heavier topics. I do not dare to give him any books on the plague because I know he will start to worry obssessively. -
FQW:
No worries. Happy to share. These are all books that I enjoyed when I was younger (and still enjoy, actually). I loved the Eragon series too.
That's a good list, Attolia. Thanks.Attolia:
Percy Jackson? I really enjoyed the series, and although I haven't done mythology and classical studies since high school, the mythology seems pretty solid. It's also full of action and is an exciting read. There are also loads of historical fiction books for young adults/children, including Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (about Nazi Germany), Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoose (historical non-fiction about segregation in Alabama), The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti (Nazi Germany, based on the real story of Helmuth Hubner), Hitler Youth by Susan Campbell Barlotti (YA non-fiction, could be disturbing for younger readers), The Last Mission by Harry Mazer (historical fiction, WWII), and for general fiction books -- Hatchet by Gary Paulson, Watership Down by Richard Adams, Narnia books by CS Lewis, The Giver by Lois Lowry (YA dystopian), Holes by Louis Sachar, The Outsiders by SE Hinton, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
This isn't by any means an exhaustive list, but it's all the 'boy' books I can think of at the moment
Percy Jackson was one of ds's favourites, together with Charlie Bone, LOTR. He's into mythology and especially liked the Eragon series.
I think it's about time I slowly expose him to more 'mature' stuff like war cruelty, apartheid, poverty and stuff. Your list looks good, will check it out. Thanks again for the generous sharing. -
ammonite:
I agree. Depending on how sensitive your child is, you might want to vet some of those books first, especially the war ones. What's suitable for some children may not be appropriate for others. It's hard to know, cos I read everything as a child. I was just let loose in the library, and nobody cared what I read. lol.The list can be challenging, content wise, depending on your child. Do pre-read them first. I generally try to avoid dystopian fiction for my kids and only give those with positive endings. Eg I Am David (sometimes sold as North to Freedom) about a boy who grew up into a concentration camp, escaped and trekked across some countries to reach a \"free\" land. This can be a starting point for discussions on different political systems, intellectual freedom and your child can also learn a bit on geography if you are inclined. It is not so \"far out\" because similar things are still going on with Afghan boys whose families sold off valuables or bartered off daughters to raise money to smuggle them out and WALK all the way to reach Paris where they can receive asylum if they can prove their age.
We have some children reference books for WWI and WWII because ds was interested to know more some years back.
(oh yes, what about DK Eye Witness series? Documentary series Days that Shook the World is also good, but again, be selective).
There are a number of good picture books in the library that are historical fiction and with positive endings on slavery, racism, wars, and immigration. My 9 yr old has finished the entire Harry Potter series (from which you can actually draw many parallels to real life issues), but I still prefer to give him these non-threatening books for heavier topics. I do not dare to give him any books on the plague because I know he will start to worry obssessively. -
There was a period last year where I kept bringing my girls to Littered with Books during the June and Nov/Dec hols at 20 Duxton Road
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Littered-with-Books/153135064725041
The place sells both children and adults books. The staff at that time were young adults - think they were undergrads working part-time there - but definitely with a passion and knowledge of books.
I would tell them my girls' and my book interests, and they would suggest titles that would be of interest to us. No hard selling. U can see the joy when they talk about books.
After our sojourn there, we would explore Tanjong Pagard - so many nice makan and dessert stalls to visit.... and happily read what we bought at the same time. Nice memories to form with our kids. -
FQW:
No worries, you sounded almost apologetic...
There's only so much about dinosaurs, black holes, nebula that a young child can read. Sooner of later, he'll have to read other things for different sort of exposure (I really got him a lot of children reference books oredi, no point to give more of the same thing).Busymom:
You could try The Young Children's Encyclopedia by Britannica (vol 1-16). They are out of print, but you can find them on E-bay. DD enjoyed reading them.
P/s: what's wrong with the Horrible Science series? DD loves it!
As for horrible series, He was given a set by relative that is still relatively untouched. Ds read a couple but not so keen. Thanks for the recommendation. If I didn't get those reference books, will surely source out that Children's Encylopedia you posted.
I have not read the Britannica series, but I think it is written as a story, not like the typical encyclopedia.
Yes, DK Eye Witness is good too (they have the WW1 and WW2 reference books).
By the way, there are a few fiction books (all by Michael Morpurgo) that I bought recently where the review seems interesting:
War Horse
An Elephant in the Garden
Running Wild
http://www.amazon.com/War-Horse-Movie-Michael-Morpurgo/dp/0545403359/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y
http://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Garden-Michael-Morpurgo/dp/0312593694/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363754249&sr=1-1&keywords=the+elephant+in+the+garden
http://www.amazon.com/Running-Wild-Collectors-Michael-Morpurgo/dp/0007456166/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363754574&sr=1-1&keywords=running+wild+michael+morpurgo -
Hi FQW,
Thanks for starting this thread. Just what I needed too.
Some wonderful tips from Attolia, ammonite and busymom. :thankyou:
FQW, did you see the BBC knowledge magazine? I just saw one sample copy. Quite a wide number of topics covered it seems. It was way too high level for DS but you could tryfor your DS.
And thank you schweppes , will see if I can get DS down there. I need to diversify his reading. I am stuck with the choice of books for him , cant seem to understand his interest and aptitude. He just goes into a madness phase when he reads and rereads one kind of book - from Geronimo stilton to Murderous math to harry potter
and then followed by a long lull of no books :faint: