easier but like The Hobbit

[alisha]

My 2nd grade son really, really wants to read The Hobbit, but he's not a strong enough reader for that yet. We'll use it as a read aloud for now, but do you have any suggestions for books LIKE The Hobbit, but easier? Thanks!

[Guest rhoshi]

Not sure if this is close enough to what you're looking for, but have you tried the Tashi books?

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1742372910/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687442&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1865085634&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=19N48DT4JCK9XE1SXKC4

 

 

 

[Tanaqui]

By "like the Hobbit" you mean "medieval stasis setting, high fantasy"?

 

I don't want to suggest books that are also too hard for him. What books can he read on his own? That'll help narrow down a list.

[Lori D.]

Agreeing with previous posters -- it would help to see a list of works at his reading level to know what similar books to suggest.  :)

 

We have a copy of the 1990 David Wenzel/Charles Dixon graphic novel version of The Hobbit. Still a lot of words on each page, but it is abridged and relieved with lots of illustrations. See the 12 pages or so at Scribd -- some of the later pages have more text than these.

[alisha]

Thanks!

I'd say he's about at the Mercy Watson reading level, though he hasn't been motivated to read anything by himself except picture books.

[ILiveInFlipFlops]

Maybe the Lloyd Alexander Prydain books? 

[Lori D.]

I used the Scholastic Wizard website and did a quick book search on reading levels. Mercy Watson is at a grade 2 level. These are what I could think of off the top of my head:

 

Dragon Slayer Academy series (McMullan) -- grade 3 level

Secrets of Droon series (Abbott) -- grade 3 level

The Dragon of Doom (Coville) -- grade 3 level

Catwings series (Le Guin) -- grade 4.5 level

 

 

But, those are all above his reading level, and none are really set in the same sort of world as The Hobbit. My suggestion: do The Hobbit as a read aloud (or audio book) now, and he can enjoy it again later on his own. :)

 

Maybe even pair the graphic novel version I linked above with an audio book version, to make it easy for him to follow along?

[raptor_dad]

At that reading level, the 3 books in Ruth Gannett's "My Father's Dragon" series are probably your only option. They are also charming.

[Zoo Keeper]

When my boys were about that age/reading level they all loved Tales From the Odyssey, by Mary Pope Osborne (yes, the Magic Tree House author, but this series is much better written.)  It is a six book series, but is also available in two volumes.

[Lori D.]

Okay, I had time to dig up some book lists. Again, nothing really like the world of The Hobbit, but here are some fantasy books more at a 2nd or 2nd/3rd grade level:

- Aladdin (Mistry)
- Moomintrolls series (Jansson)
- Toots and the Upside Down House (Hughes)
- The Littles series (Peterson)
- A Grain of Rice (Pittman)
- Sim Chung and the River Dragon (Schecter)
- No Flying in the House (Brock)
- Twig (Jones)

And here are some gentle chapter books that are adventures in Medieval settings:
- The Sword in the Tree (Bulla)
- The Minstrel in the Tower (Skurzynski)
- The Apple and the Arrow (Buff)
- Robin Hood: Tale of the Great Outlaw Hero (Bull)
- Tales of Robin Hood (Claybourne)
- Days of the Knights: A Tale of Castles and Battles (Maynard)

Edited November 11, 2018 by Lori D.