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Books for ds10


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My ds10 has never really liked to read. He pretty much taught himself at 4, read all the magic treehouse books at 5, then quit reading (except for what was required). He listens to lots of audiobooks and enjoys those.

 

He has actually admitted to liking the last 3 books he read:

Missy Piggle Wiggle (by the granddaughter of the original series)

Waylon (by the author of the clementine series)

Save me a seat

 

All 3 were written this year. I really think part of the reason he liked them is that they all are below his reading level.

 

Does anyone have suggestions for fun, light books at about a 4th grade level? I really want to keep this string of enjoying books going. He is a pretty sensitive kid, so I don't think he is ready for books with heavier themes.

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Light, fun, easy books, recently written (maybe?) for a 10 yo boy...

 

Click Here to Start - mystery with a video game theme

Fuzzy - robot goes to school

I, Funny - slightly darker theme (orphaned kid in a wheelchair), but mostly light - he wants to become a stand up comedian

Mr. Lemoncello's Library - kids have to solve puzzles during a library lock in

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen - puzzle mystery book

The Fourteenth Goldfish - girl's grandfather goes back to being her age

The Kid Who Ran for President - title says it all

The Homework Machine - again, the title pretty much nails it

Spy School - again, title

The Lemonade War - two siblings get in a business war with their lemonade stands

 

Might he enjoy Percy Jackson? Harry Potter? Others in that vein? Obviously they're not exactly "light" - but Percy Jackson has a snarky tone. And fantasy can often make heavy themes feel breezy.

 

What about the various Wimpy Kid style books? So...

Jedi Academy

Wimpy Kid

Timmy Failure

Big Nate

Stick Dog

Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja

 

What about graphic novels? So...

El Deafo

Rollergirl

Smile

Amulet

Bone

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales

I could go on with these forever...

 

If it's really about the books being on the easy end, in addition to the graphic novels and Wimpy Kid style stuff, here are some series and books that are probably even easier (I wouldn't usually suggest them for a decent reader 10 yo, but maybe it's what he wants...)

Time Warp Trio

Frank Einstein

How to Eat Fried Worms

Encyclopedia Brown

Alvin Ho

The World According to Humphrey

Boxcar Children

 

 

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Light, fun, easy books, recently written (maybe?) for a 10 yo boy...

 

Click Here to Start - mystery with a video game theme

Fuzzy - robot goes to school

I, Funny - slightly darker theme (orphaned kid in a wheelchair), but mostly light - he wants to become a stand up comedian

Mr. Lemoncello's Library - kids have to solve puzzles during a library lock in

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen - puzzle mystery book

The Fourteenth Goldfish - girl's grandfather goes back to being her age

The Kid Who Ran for President - title says it all

The Homework Machine - again, the title pretty much nails it

Spy School - again, title

The Lemonade War - two siblings get in a business war with their lemonade stands

 

Might he enjoy Percy Jackson? Harry Potter? Others in that vein? Obviously they're not exactly "light" - but Percy Jackson has a snarky tone. And fantasy can often make heavy themes feel breezy.

 

What about the various Wimpy Kid style books? So...

Jedi Academy

Wimpy Kid

Timmy Failure

Big Nate

Stick Dog

Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja

 

What about graphic novels? So...

El Deafo

Rollergirl

Smile

Amulet

Bone

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales

I could go on with these forever...

 

If it's really about the books being on the easy end, in addition to the graphic novels and Wimpy Kid style stuff, here are some series and books that are probably even easier (I wouldn't usually suggest them for a decent reader 10 yo, but maybe it's what he wants...)

Time Warp Trio

Frank Einstein

How to Eat Fried Worms

Encyclopedia Brown

Alvin Ho

The World According to Humphrey

Boxcar Children

Thanks so much. That first group of books is exactly what I am looking for and I'll keep some of the others in mind too.

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I would say don't discount the Wimpy Kid style stuff too much if the goal is just "read more." If you're concerned about the particular attitudes of the Wimpy Kid, most of the ones on my list there don't share that. Jedi Academy is cute and easy to read and has "Jedi values" - be kind, use the force... Big Nate is silly but mostly nice. There's another one I didn't mention that starts with a book called Artsy Fartsy that's got much better values than Wimpy Kid - it's from a smaller press. And there's the My Life as a... series that's also nicer than Wimpy Kid. And there's another boy-centric one... gah... and it's slipping my mind and isn't turning up on my amazon searches. Well, anyway, those books can be really good for older kids who still need to read and build fluency. The comics part that's a gimmick makes a good hook and means they can finish the book in a couple of days (if that). But finishing fast is good for kids who need to build confidence and enjoyment in reading.

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Thanks for all the ideas. I really just want him to enjoy reading and I think it is possible for that to happen (although sometimes I feel like I should give up on that goal for him). I do lots of read alouds and he listens to audio books regularly, so he has heard and enjoyed "good" books.

 

I appreciate the alternatives to wimpy kid. While I wouldn't mind him reading that if he picked it out, I don't really want to be the one to suggest it. I put several of your suggestions on hold at the library.

Edited by lovinmyboys
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OMG! Thank you! My youngest doesn't like to read the same things his older brothers read. (And his older brothers read continuously, and this one doesn't.) This list is awesome. I'm running to Barnes and Noble tomorrow to get some for him and to put in his birthday party goodie bags.

 

Light, fun, easy books, recently written (maybe?) for a 10 yo boy...

 

Click Here to Start - mystery with a video game theme

Fuzzy - robot goes to school

I, Funny - slightly darker theme (orphaned kid in a wheelchair), but mostly light - he wants to become a stand up comedian

Mr. Lemoncello's Library - kids have to solve puzzles during a library lock in

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen - puzzle mystery book

The Fourteenth Goldfish - girl's grandfather goes back to being her age

The Kid Who Ran for President - title says it all

The Homework Machine - again, the title pretty much nails it

Spy School - again, title

The Lemonade War - two siblings get in a business war with their lemonade stands

 

Might he enjoy Percy Jackson? Harry Potter? Others in that vein? Obviously they're not exactly "light" - but Percy Jackson has a snarky tone. And fantasy can often make heavy themes feel breezy.

 

What about the various Wimpy Kid style books? So...

Jedi Academy

Wimpy Kid

Timmy Failure

Big Nate

Stick Dog

Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja

 

What about graphic novels? So...

El Deafo

Rollergirl

Smile

Amulet

Bone

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales

I could go on with these forever...

 

If it's really about the books being on the easy end, in addition to the graphic novels and Wimpy Kid style stuff, here are some series and books that are probably even easier (I wouldn't usually suggest them for a decent reader 10 yo, but maybe it's what he wants...)

Time Warp Trio

Frank Einstein

How to Eat Fried Worms

Encyclopedia Brown

Alvin Ho

The World According to Humphrey

Boxcar Children

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