[Leah Posts: 20 Status: Offline WWW]

A friend asked me to recommend books for her son, who reads at a third/fourth-grade level but refuses to read anything with any tension or potential scariness in it. (I.e. he refused to read the Boxcar Children after reading the description.) He's basically been reading the Ramona books over and over. She wants to find something else for him to read before he gets completely bored.

I told her I was part of a secret Internet cabal who would find her the books she needs.

Thanks in advance!

[jeanne k Posts: 54 Status: Offline WWW]

Has he read all the Judy Blume books, like Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Fudge, etc? If he likes Ramona, he'll like those. The Mouse and the Motorcycle series might also be good (by Beverly Cleary as well).

My daughter enjoys books by Andrew Clements (Frindle, etc).

I also have a list of books that probably appeal more to girls than boys that I could offer up.

[austen Posts: 187 Status: Offline Patience is everything.--Rilke]

My son (4th grade) also doesn't like scary stuff.
One of his favorite series this year was A Whole Nother Story by Cuthbert Soup (all the intense scenes are treated with a lot of humor).
He also liked Hugo and Wonderstruck a lot (Brian Selznick).

[Leah Posts: 20 Status: Offline WWW]

Thanks so much! I knew you'd come through. I'll email her these recommendations. And if anyone has any others, the more the better.

[wolfie712 Posts: 238 Status: Offline Teacher, Writer, Up-All-Nighter WWW]

How old is her son?  My son is in 2nd grade, but reads at a 3rd/4th grade level, and he really liked the Stink books by Megan McDonald.  They say ages 5-8 on the back cover, and their Accelerated Reader level ranges between 3.0-3.7.  Maybe those would work?

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,809 Status: Offline Happy writing to all! WWW]

Also Barbara Park's THE KID IN THE RED JACKET, OPERATION DUMP THE CHUMP, and SKINNYBONES are boy MCs and hysterical!

[Karen Bly Posts: 145 Status: Offline]

Jarret Krosozka's (sp?) Lunchlady series are a lot of fun.
Magic Tree House series
Junie B series
Captain Underpants
(also the Stink books as already mentioned)

Here's a book list I made for my young MG reader (note recommendations in the comments too):
http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/2010/07/the-hunt-for-big-kid-books-in-the-middle-grade-section/

[hairaplenty Posts: 1,456 Status: Offline Don't ever quit!]

I think Sara Pennypacker's Clemintine books are funny and she also does the Stuart books but they might be a bit yong.

[JennaWren Posts: 1,781 Status: Offline WWW]

Some of my 3rd grade son's recent favorites include The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Darth Paper Strikes Back, Warp Speed, Lemonade Wars, Lost and Found. He seconds the suggestions of Lunch Lady, Captain Underpants, and Magic Tree House.   

[Leah Posts: 20 Status: Offline WWW]

Awesome. Sending all these along. Thank you!

[ShannonH]

Kate Messner's MARTY MCGUIRE!

[literaticat Posts: 405 Status: Offline WWW]

Kate Messner's MARTY MCGUIRE!

And the sequel, MARTY McGUIRE DIGS WORMS! just came out.  Yayyyy MARTY!!!

[Vijaya Posts: 6,498 Status: Offline BEAUTY WWW]

Linda Urban's A Crooked Kind of Perfect.

If he's in 2nd grade, he might still enjoy Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant and the Oliver/Amanda Pig books by Jean van Leeuven.

Vijaya

[Lwrites Posts: 164 Status: Offline]

What about nonfiction? Nonfiction for that age group is not one of my areas of expertise, but if you find someone more knowledgeable, some nonfiction books in an area he's interested in might be a fun choice and have less of a chance of having something too scary turn up.

[Leah Posts: 20 Status: Offline WWW]

Thanks again, everyone! These will be passed along too. (My impression was that he's only interested in reading fiction, but I'll ask about nonfiction. It's a good idea.)

[Debby G Posts: 561 Status: Offline WWW]

How about the new Zeke Meeks series by an author I totally adore? ;-)

[Liz Straw Posts: 981 Status: Offline That was a yummy book!]

What about the Hank Zipzer books by Henry Z (played Fonzie my mind went blank)
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