Reading Books

[LisaB]

K, here goes. My son is in second grade and is presently loving the Wally McDoogle series to read to himself. It actually spurs him on to write.

Next?

[mom2one]

Our son is in the "third grade" and can't get enough of Hank the Cowdog. I read them to him at night. He is currently reading at a 4th grade level.

[Jimmie]

My daughter is soon to be 10. She's 4th grade. I'd say that she reads on grade level but not a bit above. I'll be having her tested in March. Very curious to see the results; it will be her first ever test.

She's not an avid reader. Reading is not her first choice of activities. Despite the fact that we have lots of books and she loves to buy books, she doesn't daily read books on her own without prompting. She tends towards picture books and easy chapter books. She's intimidated by long books. Those things make me sort of sad, but I figure that we're all different and she may simply be a late bloomer in this area.

Now, if I'll read aloud to her, she'll listen ALL DAY LONG. So that's what I do. I still read aloud to her a lot.

[mom2one]

Sorry, should have added that DS reads a lot on his own but really enjoys Garfield - in comic strip form.

[LisaB]

So we have
Hank the Cowdog,
Garfield (my 26 y.o.'s favorite growing up too!),
Wally McDoogle...

Jimmie, it sounds like my son was about the same until he discovered Wally books. He still will choose to do something else, like play his guitar or go play outside, but at least now when I require silent reading, he is enjoying it. I think it just takes time to find what they love, what energizes them, and maybe that won't be in a traditional book form (waaa! i think books are wonderful!)

Isn't it exciting that we are all unique and different? and yet, the same!

Keep up the list!

[Donna C]

Mike's favorite series books were:

Bernstein Bear books --- 6 & 7 years old
The Narnia books by CS Lewis -- 6 & 7 years old
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien -- 7 & 8 years old
Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien -- 7 & 8 years old
Redwall, by Brian Jacques --- 9-12 years old (not sure)
Sherlock Holmes stories -- 7 to 12 years old (?)
The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan -- 14-15 years old (?)
The Circle, by Ted Dekker -- 14-15 years old (?)

These are the ones that he remembers the most... there are several he is interested in "here-and-now" at 19, as well a lot more during these younger years, but they give you an idea of what he's been reading...

We read the unabridged Robinson Crusoe by Defoe when he was between 7 & 8, I believe... I would read several paragraphs and he'd read a paragraph here and there and then would draw a picture for each chapter.

[KimW]

My dd loves to read and there are several series that she is enjoying for her "for fun" reading time:

Boxcar Children (I'm convinced she will eventually read just about every last one.....LOL)

American Girl (the 6 volume series, the mysteries and the short stories)--She is now asking to learn about Victorian times (Samantha series) and Pioneer times (Kirsten series)

Sisters in Time

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew

Other recent reads that she has enjoyed:

Clues in the Woods by Peggy Parrish
Key to the Treasure by Peggy Parrish

She likes to read mysteries especially......

She has also read a couple of the Childhood of Famous Americans books and enjoyed those. (That reminds me that I need to get some more of those out for her.)

My husband is on the second read through of the Chronicles of Narnia series with her by her request (She loves those books!)

FWIW, I am going to *try* to keep an updated 2009 book list going (we shall see if I can) here.

It's fun to see what others are reading! I'm always on the lookout for new authors/titles.

[LisaG]

She's not an avid reader. Reading is not her first choice of activities. Despite the fact that we have lots of books and she loves to buy books, she doesn't daily read books on her own without prompting.

Jimmie, our just-turned-10 yo ds is exactly the same way. He will even check books out at the library but they generally just sit there. Just this last year I started requiring "free reading" time but I let him choose whatever he wanted to read, whether it was Auto Trader ads or anything and that's been very successful. We had started reading the Hardy Boys series together about the same time, and he will now choose to read those on his own during his reading time, which is very encouraging. So, I wouldn't worry about it, some people love to read, others don't, and some are in-between. I used to have this preconceived notion that "Homeschoolers Love to Read" - I really thought if I did everything *right* then the love of reading would magically occur. I'm finding that that's not necessarily the case, and it does NOT mean I have failed - or that you have! Our son has a love of creating things out of cardboard and tape (sounds goofy but they are amazing things!), and a love of creating web pages and CAD type things. So, I guess I'm finally realizing that it's OK that he doesn't share my excitement over books - I sure don't share his excitement over cardboard, tape, and web pages LOL!. Like you said, we are all different. Anyway, I'm rambling on here, so I'll be quiet now

[Jimmie]

So, I wouldn't worry about it, some people love to read, others don't, and some are in-between. I used to have this preconceived notion that "Homeschoolers Love to Read" - I really thought if I did everything *right* then the love of reading would magically occur. I'm finding that that's not necessarily the case, and it does NOT mean I have failed - or that you have! Our son has a love of creating things out of cardboard and tape (sounds goofy but they are amazing things!), and a love of creating web pages and CAD type things. So, I guess I'm finally realizing that it's OK that he doesn't share my excitement over books - I sure don't share his excitement over cardboard, tape, and web pages LOL!. Like you said, we are all different. Anyway, I'm rambling on here, so I'll be quiet now

Absolutely! Thanks for your wonderful words. I agree. My Sprite is miss creativity. She spent a couple of hours today tearing apart a broken mosquito net and then using what she salvaged from it (and some old pant legs) to make a dress for a stuffed animal. Delightful!

And another way I know I haven't failed because I'm not over yet. I have hope that her love for independent reading will blossom in the future. Although, I am a tad disappointed, I'm not worried.

[Jimmie]

Isn't it exciting that we are all unique and different? and yet, the same!

Yes! It certainly is! (Sorry if I'm hijacking your thread with the focus on my daughter.)

[Mingo]

First, I'm encouraged that there are other *girls* out there who would rather do than read.

Dd loves to be read to, and reads well above grade level (3rd, currently) on her own. But, she'd rather do things/make things/act things out than read. Or play on the computer recently.

Currently, she's reading the Indiana Jones novelization of the latest movie. (This, the child of a lit major and history PhD?)

Anyway, she loves Sherlock Holmes (on audio), the Narnia books, Magic Tree House (though they are easy for her now). She read the Warriors series by Erin Hunter (until she burned out). Secrets of Droon (though she burned out early on those, too).

Oh, and Harry Potter.

[KimmySue]

The only fiction DS ever enjoyed reading when he was younger was the Magic Tree House series. I think probably because of their historical themes. Otherwise, even at a young age, he preferred non-fiction. To this day that's the section he spends most of his time in when we visit the library.

[KimW]

First, I'm encouraged that there are other *girls* out there who would rather do than read.

My daughter loves to do things just as much as she enjoys reading! (FWIW )

[Jimmie]

First, I'm encouraged that there are other *girls* out there who would rather do than read.

My daughter loves to do things just as much as she enjoys reading! (FWIW )

Yeah! Our girls are "doing" girls!

[Queen Amidala]

I can't believe I missed this thread until now!

Our current read-aloud is Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus. I absolutely love the vocabulary in this book!

We recently finished Science Fair by Dave Barry. (Yes, that Dave Barry.) I wouldn't recommend this book... It is meant for older children but I didn't realize that when we started the book and DS got into it. I had to do some "creative editing" as I read it. The plot is very thick and complicated but DS was able to keep up with all the story lines. He loved the book and is asking me to re-read it. We have literally been reading on this book since Christmas, it is so long.

Anyone else read The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick? We checked it out from the library and read it over the weekend. DS is asking if we can buy the book, so I take it the book was a winner for him.

[Relinda]

WOW! I just love chiming in on a post a year after the fact. I don't even know if anyone will bother reading this, so I might post it over on "THE BOOK NOOK' as well.

Anyway, we have found a super series by Chuck Black called "THE KINGDOM SERIES"
There are 6 books, as follows;

Kingdom's Dawn
Kingdom's Hope
Kingdom's Edge
Kingdom's Call
Kingdom's Quest
Kingdom's Reign

The back cover says, "A Pilgrim's Progress for the XBOX Generation"

We started out by ordering book 1 on CD.....DS LOVES it!!! We now have the entire set from our church library. It's an allegory set in Medieval Times! Swords, Battles, Castles, Plagues...you get the idea. PERFECT FOR MY DS!!!

There is also a WEB site with more info and games and Desktops. Fabulous pictures!!! Just type in "The Kingdom Series by Chuck Black" should get you there!

[Donna C]

I read it! (your post, that is)

[Mingo]

I find it interesting that none of mentioned the "Little House" series. Dd (now 9.5 yo) is reading them independently. She likes them because the print is larger than average, so it's not a stress for her eyes. (still working on that problem....)

[Relinda]

My son, yes my SON, loved the Little House Series!!! You're right how could I forget???? It was lots of fun reading them to him. We also own the 1st 4 seasons on DVD, but I wouldn't let him watch the DVD until we had read all the books first. I wanted him to use his imagination for how they looked and what the cabin looked like, etc. The 1st time we watched LHOP, he saw Michael Landon and said, I pictured 'Pa' as a blonde!!!!

[LisaG]

Oh yes, the Little House Series Our SON loved them as well, we read them together two years ago and they were a bit hit. The DVDs are checked out from the library occasionally as well, we both love to watch them when we have down time.

[Nancy]

All great suggestions!

But ...

DS loves to LISTEN to anything I read.

But how do I get him to READ anything but all kinds of Star Wars books?!!!

[mom2one]

My DS is like that too. It started with Garfield. I just encouraged it...and introduced him to other books in comic form: Peanuts and Flinstones. Gradually, I could tell that he was doing more than looking at the pictures - which IS the ultimate goal right? Now he's gotten into readying science experiment books. Granted, it took over a year. But who cares? He's reading above grade level.

[SunflowerMom]

Our DD is almost 10 and just recently we learned about a local author. She writes a wholesome book series called "Circle C Adventures" about a girl and her horse in the 1800's. I met the author at our HSing support group--what an interesting, intelligent and nice lady. She HS'd her kids too. Gave us lots of tips for helping to inspire our kids to write.
I bought the first book in the series, "Long Ride Home," DD devoured it and is asking for more.
Hope this is helpful!
http://susankmarlow.com/index.html

p.s. She's a Christian too. And another thing I found on the web site--there are free study guides to go with the books. Just terrific!