General knowledge books to recommend for P3 avid reader

[iRabbit]

Attolia:

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.

Is that good or bad?

I believe you grew up pretty well so that's a good. :celebrate:

[iRabbit]

schweppes:

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.

Aiyoh Duxton is so near my office, very stress to go near that place during weekends. Like need to work OT liddat. Admittedly, I'm not your Employee-of-the-year sort of employee. Hehe.

Jokes aside, will check out Facebook. Thanks Schweppes.

[iRabbit]

Busymom:

No worries, you sounded almost apologetic...

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

If you say good, must really take a close look. Thanks. Generally speaking, ds has this pattern. At sch will be time for fiction books; at home will be time for non-fiction/reference books. Don't know why, it just happen that way. :scratchhead:

[iRabbit]

Sun_2010:

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:

You're welcome. I'm pleasantly surprised so many helpful parents are willing to share wonderful books and ideas here. I just have to ask, keke.

Ók, will check out BBC Knowledge mag. Thanks. I recently subscribed to this So What? mag that is supposed to teach Humanities and English. Haven't seen it yet, just testing water here and there. Supposed to be for Sec sch but even if ds just manage to read 10-20%, thát's already worth the subscription fee imo.

[iRabbit]

Augmum:

Sun_2010:

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.

This is the magazine which comes to my mind when i read FQW's posting regarding recommendations of General knowledge bks....
Yes, some articles are rather cheem....perhaps still can try out,
if he is not ready, then shelf it to later stage.....

I guess I'm in a period of testing water. Until I expose this BBC mag to ds, I'll never know his preference. Used to subscribe to Singapore Scientist mag, but ds wasn't keen (too dry & cheem) so canned it after one year. Thanks!

[iRabbit]

Harlequin:

BBC Knowledge and Reader Digest. My girls can't wait for them to appear in the letter box.

I am sure your boy would love it.

I bought one copy of RD for ds to read before, but that time he wasn't interested. That was last yr. Mabbe I should get another copy to test water again. Thanks Harlequin.

[iRabbit]

schweppes:

How about Asian Geographic Junior mag which is more age appropriate?

That one is in the shelf collecting dust now. Hehe.

[Jennifer]

Some regional libraries like Jurong and CCK Lot 1 have a variety of magazines. May not be latest issue, still general knowledge.

[ammonite]

FQW:

Btw, I wasn't able to see Harry Porter as mimicking life's issues and challenges. How do you interprete that? You mean the tension between good and evil? Or there's good even in evil people?

Maybe I read too much into it ...oops, pun not intended

Have you read the entire series? Rowling drew on some of her own experiences with poverty, work at Amnesty International with political refugees, clinical depression (represented by the Dementors) and the death of her own mother to write the series.

Once you strip away the magic and humour in Harry Potter, it is actually very stark and realistic in some ways.

For a nine year old, you can very simply discuss
1. style of leaderships and governance (Dumbledore versus Voldermort).
2. State, media and censorship (Ministry of Magic, Daily Prophet and Rita Skeeter) Rita Skeeter is a caricature representative of the British tabloids.
3. War, resistance and readiness (Dumbledore, Snape and Order of Phoenix waited on edge all these years for signs of Voldermort's return.) Parallel with wars/resistance around the world now and in history.
4. The meaning of friendship, and how different friends bring different gifts to us. Friendship is also about forgiving, making up, and helping out. It is importantly, not defined by money or status or popularity. (Luna is an oddball, but a loyal friend)
5. Related to above, poverty and wealth (Harry is poor in the Muggle world, but rich in the wizarding world. In the Muggle world, he often had to go hungry and poorly dressed, and when he is in the wizarding world, he shares generously with Ron and appreciates Mrs Weasley gift of second-hand watch.) Money is nice and good to have, but not above love, friendship and sincerity.
6. The plight of refugees and the persecuted. Many of the descriptions are drawn from Rowling's work with Amnesty International.
7. Death and loss, and the fear of death. This theme is revisited in every book, with greater understanding by Harry each time until finally in Book 7, he \"conquers\" death when he sacrifices willingly but in the half-way point, chooses to return to meet Voldermort for a final battle. Rowling mentioned that among all Harry's friends, Luna is the one with the healthiest attitude towards death and she helps Harry come to terms with his parents' and Sirius' deaths.

(Of course Snape's unrequited love and mixed feelings towards Harry is something they will not appreciate until many years later, as with Dumbledore's backstory and remorse.)

You can bring it a bit of slavery and slave labour (the house-elves). Notice how Hermione's perception is very different from Ron who grew up with house-elves as a norm? Notice also the very different reactions that Dobby and Winkie have to freedom. Freedom can be both welcomed and feared.

etc.

[ammonite]

schweppes:

How about Asian Geographic Junior mag which is more age appropriate?

To be honest I am not a fan of Asian Geographic. I think National Geographic is still a lot better if you buy issues according to interest. You can sometimes buy good second-hand copies at a really low price at Bras Basah. Doesn't matter if the cover is torn as long as the article/photo/map that your child is interested in is in good condition inside.