ProudGrandma Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 My husband and I both read aloud to the kids (me during the day and he at night). He started reading Harry Potter to the kids and they love it so much that I can't seem to find any book that will keep their attention now. I almost regret having him start those...but not really...they are good books. I am enjoying them as much as the kids. PLEASE give me some ideas for me to read to them. I really would prefer not be the fantasy books like Harry Potter. I don't want my kids to start thinking those types of books are the only "good" ones out there...especially my boys . My kids are :dd age 11, ds ages 10 and 7. thank you for any and all suggestions. Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking Squirrels Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 I had ideas until you said no fantasy lol. In case you don't find any non-fantasy ones that totally grab their attention, I highly recommend the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull. And Narnia, if you haven't gone there, yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Series of Unfortunate Events? Little Women? A Little Princess? Tom Sawyer / Huck Finn? Oliver Twist? I'm struggling with the "no fantasy" clause, too... The Odyssey? That's fantasy. Alice in Wonderland? Hmmmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaraby Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 We ran into a similar problem. My kids really enjoyed getting into a story and living with the characters for awhile. After we read the Harry Potter books (still holding off on the last one) all the other read alouds I had picked out seemed too short. I did find that Rick Riordan's books work well for us. So far we've only read "The Red Pyramid," but we have many more waiting in the wings. Riordan has two other series plus maybe a fourth somewhere over the horizon (based in Norse mythology). I like that they're all rooted in ancient mythology which has been a great way to help reinforce what we've learned by reading the myths ourselves. Most of the other books that are often recommended as similar to Harry Potter just didn't work for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 How about Greek Mythology-modernized of course. The Percy Jackson Series! Have they already done the Little House series? Stuart Little, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, The Indian in the Cupboard series, My Side of the Mountain; I'm sure I'll think of more later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 You might enjoy Richard Peck's books that are about quirky characters in early 1900's settings: A Year Down Yonder A Long Way from Chicago The Teacher's Funeral A Season of Gifts Here Lies the Librarian My HP-loving ds also enjoyed some of Christopher Paul Curtis' books: Bud, Not Buddy The Watsons Go to Birmingham Mr. Chickee's Funny Money Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Peter and the Starcatchers Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudGrandma Posted April 17, 2012 Author Share Posted April 17, 2012 thank you for these suggestions. My husband read the whole Narnia series over a year ago...but many of the other ones suggested I haven't looked into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 J K Rowling's favourite book as a child was The Little White Horse. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ma23peas Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 It's on tape but "The Dragon Rider" by Cornelia Funke, narrated by Brendan Fraser...he has us in stitches and they kids hated to have to go use the restroom (a 9 hour drive) :) It was great, and I'm sure a good read aloud, but he does the best job on the different voices! Cracker Barrell had it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIS0320 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 They might like the Half Magic series. My 6 year old daughter loves The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily_Grace Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Mr. Popper's Penguins Treasure Island (still a favorite here) Redwall (talking animals) Hatchet Richard Peck books - Here Lies The Librarian, The Teacher's Funeral, A Year Down Yonder.. The Great Brain Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer Sideways Stories from Wayside School Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwg Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 (edited) We got The Incredible Journey on audio from the library and loved it!! Great read aloud. I pinned this yesterday. I dont agree with all of them of course (I hate Junie B lol) but it did have others I never heard of http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/03/67-books-for-kids/?pid=1185&viewall=true Edited April 17, 2012 by kwg added a list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Rascal by Sterling North was enjoyed by all of my kids. Where the Red Fern Grows From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler Island of the Blue Dolphins The Little Lame Prince and, just cause they are too good to miss, Five Children and It The Moorchild Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 If fantasy was allowed that would be easy, The Enchanted Forest series - starting with the first book "Dealing with Dragons". Your kids are older than mine so I can't really say. Perhaps... Poppy series by Avi. The books are: Ragweed Poppy Poppy and Rye Ereth's Birthday Poppy's Return Poppy and Ereth You can watch this youtube video to find out about the series, and maybe get the kids hooked on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JessReplanted Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 We're having a lot of fun right now with The Hobbit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josie Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 There are some great books that Sonlight uses. I would start there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 my kids really enjoy listening to the Bunnicula books by James Howe. They aren't as long as Harry Potter, but there are several books in the series. It is told from the perspective of the family dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I still stand behind my suggestion of the Poppy series by Avi. But some other suggestions can be found here: http://www.daddoes.com/494/harry-potter-alternatives/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Sid Fleischman's books are realistic historical fiction, and quite funny. Our favorite is Chancey and The Grand Rascal. IF you allowed fantasy, Cornelia Funke's books are awesome. The Ink--- series is great, and The Thief Lord starts off fairly realistically but then jumps the shark a bit in a fantasy way. I avoid a lot of current realistic fiction for that age because it's so issue-driven (divorce, bullying, etc), so it can be hard to find. Some of the historical fic is easy to get into and has great characters, but a lot of the older stuff starts pretty slowly. Miracle on Maple Hill and Thimble Summer are good choices to start with. More for the younger one, tho... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 The Mysterious Benedict Society. My kids loved the first one, and we're reading the second one now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aug17girl Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 What about Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat? It is a fictionalized account of a true story that has adventure and humour. Maybe you could draw your kids by linking it to Hedwig in Harry Potter. What would it really be like to have an owl of your own? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 We have enjoyed Percy Jackson and Roald Dahl books How to eat Fried Worms non-fiction and fictional stories about ship wrecks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 What about Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat? It is a fictionalized account of a true story that has adventure and humour. Maybe you could draw your kids by linking it to Hedwig in Harry Potter. What would it really be like to have an owl of your own? We currently are reading "Owls in the Family". I admit it's a really nice book but it's thin - and it will seem even thinner after read Harry Potter. I would recommend trying to go with a series. I find that after reading a great series it is easy to get into a great series or theme of books. With a series you know all the characters so the reading is easier in one way. You don't have to get to know everyone. The setting is basically the same, the universe is the same. It's just easier to read several books in a series than several stand alone books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negin Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 What about Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat? It is a fictionalized account of a true story that has adventure and humour. We loved this. Read it a few years ago. BTW, your user name is our anniversary date. :D Roald Dahl books Yes, love, love, love Roald Dahl. For ages 11, 10, and 7 - as the OP stated: The Doll People, The Meanest Doll in the World series are great. There are 3 in the series and our ds loved it equally. I've heard that boys like it also. The Racketty-Packetty House by Frances Hodgson Burnett - the illustrated version is really nice Humphrey the Hamster series are great Gooseberry Park by Cynthia Rylant Tale of Despereaux Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane Indian in the Cupboard Harry, the Poisonous Centipede - a few books in this series Freddy Books - we have the Freddy Anniversary Collection and the dc loved that. My only gripe is that the chapters are very long. I have a problem with long chapters ... Detectives in Togas (as well as its sequel) We ourselves are running out of really good read-alouds. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warneral Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 My kids loved hearing My Side Of The Mountain which isn't exciting but very cool. Good for your age range Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebeccaMary Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I would recommend the Gregor the Overlander series by Suzanne Collins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Edith Nesbit books are really good. Our absolute favorites are The Wizard of Oz series. Lots better then the movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 The Mysterious Benedict Society. My kids loved the first one, and we're reading the second one now. :iagree: Dd and I are reading this now. Besides some of the others mentioned...Eragon (probably my favorite though they condensed a lot in the movie and I didn't like that) and the rest of that series or A Wrinkle in Time (also has a series after it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaBearTeacher Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 We just started Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright and it has really captured our attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NASDAQ Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 The Phantom Tollbooth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughing lioness Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 the Wilderking series - Bark of the Bog Owl C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy- might want to preview the 2nd and 3rd Tolkien- My youngers have been on a Jean Craighead George kick lately- she's written tons of outdoor/adventure types, incl Julie of the Wolves, et al The Wrinkle in Time series Redwall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 The Phantom Tollbooth :iagree: We loved this! Also... The Saturdays The Four Story Mistake Then There Were Five A Spiderweb for Two Wizard of Oz? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnitWit Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 My kids are LOVING "Just So Stories" by Kipling for our daytime reading right now. I agree with all the previous suggestions as well! Great books!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Eion Colfer's Artemis Fowl books might do the trick. They are not as long as Harry Potter, but they are interesting and fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnitWit Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Eion Colfer's Artemis Fowl books might do the trick. They are not as long as Harry Potter, but they are interesting and fun. Oh yes! We enjoyed Artemis Fowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JessReplanted Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Oh, we also really enjoyed City of Ember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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