The Spiderwick Chronicles

[houseelf]

Have any of your youngsters read this series? What did they think of it? It appears to be a bit more difficult than Magic Tree House and the Secret of Droon series but less than Lemony Snicket. I'm always on the lookout for good kids' lit that is palatable to the XY set.

Kelly

[Sheherezade]

Re: The Spiderwick Chronicles

My son didn't go for these. Who knows why? He's tough. He has loved the Magyk, Flyte and Physik series by Angie Sage. He's deeply involved in the third book now. I think it may be too tough for your little guy, but you could check it out.

He like the "How to Train Your Dragon" series as well (it's much easier to read). He read all four (?) of those in short order.

i may try the Spiderwicks again for DD. She likes the "nature" bent in books - and the magical worlds.

Let us know what your DS thinks if you get in to it.

Re: The Spiderwick Chronicles

Have you looked at the My Side of the Mountain series by Jean Craighead George?

[Sheherezade]

Re: The Spiderwick Chronicles

My Side of the Mountain = daughter's favorite book EVER

My son liked it too, but didn't get pathologically attached. I must keep a close eye on the girl, lest she take off and try to live alone in a tree in the woods. :>

Re: The Spiderwick Chronicles

Is she asking for a pet falcon for Christmas?

We started this book together but the siren song of Little House distracted. It is a little scary for DD (easily scared) so we read it together. We need to pick it up again.

[Sheherezade]

Re: The Spiderwick Chronicles

Is she asking for a pet falcon for Christmas?

I've told her she has to catch her own and raise it! :> Wouldn't be fair otherwise....

[houseelf]

Re: The Spiderwick Chronicles

He loved "How to train your Dragon" and gobbled them up.

Yeahs for: Encyclopedia Brown, Magic Tree House, Secrets of Droon, anything by Kate DiCamillo *especially* Tiger Rising, Carl Hiassan's "Hoot", Louis Sachar's "Holes" and the followup novel, the name of which escapes me, and the Sponge Bob Chapter books (Yup there's one for the Harvard discussion group).

Nays for: EB White (too touching and not enough Gore), The Indian in the Cupboard, Beverly Cleary's Mouse and the Motorcycle, and Junie B. Jones. Apparently cute, fuzzy, and touching aren't good enough for my guy.

I will order My Side of the Mountain next! Thanks. I know that these kid lit discussions can get redundant but they really do help me out because he has clear and definitive tastes about what he will read and won't read.

Kelly

[houseelf]

Re: The Spiderwick Chronicles

Where do you all look to see if the reading level of a book will work for your child. I'm struggling to find consistency with assigned reading levels. :huh:

Kelly

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: The Spiderwick Chronicles

ditto on the reading levels. Kate sometimes goes back to go over all the Junie B's. Why? I have no idea...

Even though she is a VORACIOUS reader, she didn't like Spiderwick at all. Or the goosebumps? It was too gory.

The Chronicals of Narnia aren't bad- and I don't think a difficult read? We did them in Kindergarten.

[houseelf]

Re: The Spiderwick Chronicles

Yes, Narnia was a big hit. My reading level concerns stem from things being too difficult rather than too easy. I don't care if he reads below level, but he will not try above level. He also enjoyed Bridge to Terabithia. He also gobbles up kids' non-fiction stuff, and I use the term "non-fiction" liberally: Xtreme Science: Big Foot, Guinness Book of World Records, anything out of the DK Eyewitness series (Religion, WWII) etc., "True Ghost Stories". Perhaps he will become a paranormal investigator someday?

Kelly