My 7year reads everything I can find for her. Any suggestions for new material??

Question

She has read all of the Junie B. books and we have read the Little House books together. We have a very small library system and have trouble finding new books there. Also too poor to pay for lots of books at Barnes and Noble and Borders.

Answer 1

I live in a small town, and we have a used book store, where you can buy used books, and then when you are done, you resell them there. Can you find anything like that?

Also, go to your library and find out if they have any loan system with a larger library. Your librarian should love the challenge of finding more stuff. And, call her school's librarian and see what ideas she has. (Yes, call her over the summer--I bet she's never received a call like that, and I'd bet she'd jump at the chance to help!)

And, garage sales should be a great resource, too.

Anyway, here are my ideas. Some are great for her reading level, and some could be great for you reading together--my sons enjoyed doing this at her age, and older!

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
Minn of the Mississippi by Holling C. Holling
Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

These are all Newbery Medal winners or honor books. Here's a complete list: http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal.htm

And here is where you can get a list of Caldecott Medal books: http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.htm

Additionally, all of Beverly Cleary's "Ramona" books are wonderful. And, consider the classics, like Treasure Island--they publish scaled down books of the classics--good for your daughter to absorb. And, A Series of Unfortunate Events might be fun.

You are to be commended for helping encourage her reading. Reading is the single most important skill for her academic success, and it's one of those skills that stays with you for a lifetime of pleasure. Congratulations!!

Answer 2

The Berenstein Bears have Chapter Books, The American Girl Books, These are a few that my girls and I have read and they love them. My ten year old recommends the Goose Bump Books, they aren't for everyone. I started reading the Box Car Children Books to my children, I loved them when I was a child and they really liked them to. The Wind and the Willows, Tom Sawyer, Black Beauty, The Secret Garden, Davy Crocket,The Little Princess, Super Fudge, any of the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary,are just a few that my girls like. I know that a seven year old my not be able to read these alone but I read them with my girls once and then they read them on their own, when they were able. I know that libraries work together sometimes so if your library or your childs school library doesn't have any of these they should be able to point you in the right direction. Some times you can even purchase duplicates and other books from the libraries for next to nothing at their book sales.

Answer 3

There should be a FreeCycle group in your area. Do a seach for Yahoo Groups. Also, talk with your child's friends and arrange a book rotation. Each buys two books and rotate them around. Find a used book store. Contact a teacher at your child's school - they have more books than some libraries. See if your school has a library you can use over the summer.

Answer 4

If your library doesn't have the books you want, can they get her others that you request through inter-library loan?

My 7 yo is a boy and has a pretty high reading level. He loves to read. I'm trying to think what is close to the Junie B. books in reading level.

Have you tried.....

Magic Tree House series
Secrets of Droon series
Time Trio Kids (I think that's it?)
Jigsaw Jones
Goosebumps
Bailey School Kids

Talk to the librarians for ideas too!

Answer 5

Check out the list of Newbery award winners for children's lit. While they are geared more for the 10-12 year old crowd, if she is such an avid reader she may still enjoy these. Many of these would be available even in a crappy library or school library.

I remember that I really enjoyed Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, A Wrinkle in Time, Clan of the Cave Bear, and almost anything by Beverly Cleary. Except for the tweenage dramas by Cleary (which may be dated), these are older and timeless classics, so they should be available in most libraries--even ones that don't get enough funding.

Answer 6

Your library should have an inter-library system where they can get books for you from other libraries. Ask about it. Check with the second grade teacher or school librarian at your nearby school to see what is available through the school library. Your daughter sounds like she's ready for some classics- try Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, and The Wizard of Oz. Also see if your church has unused Sunday School or Vacation Bible School material.

Answer 7

I would try thrift stores and yard sales first. You might also want to ask friends or playmates to swap books with her for a week. When I was 10, I started a book club in my classroom. All the students brought a book and we wrote the names of all the books down and exchanged them weekly.
OR...if you're having trouble finding books, why not let her borrow the thing with which you're asking this question?? There are tons of reading websites for kids that help them increase their reading levels. Many of them also feature fun reading games. If all else fails, grab an old set of encyclopedias or childcraft books and let her read them...been there, done that to!

Answer 8

I have an avid 9 year old reader as well. It can be difficult sometimes finding age appropriate books for a kid, when they're above their age reading group. My daughter loved the Chronicles of Narnia books, Where The Red Fern Grows, and she just started reading the S.E. Hinton books (Outsiders, Tex, Star Runner) that I used to love when I was younger - I was a bit older when I read them, but she is loving them!

Answer 9

Try having her soak up the knowledge. Ask her what she likes and get books or encyclopedias on that subject. For example, if she likes Sea Turtles...Start with the encyclopedia then the library and Borders, Walmart, Kmart, Yard Sales any where have sales on books. I got a great Sea Turtle book for 5 bucks and Borders.

Good luck and have fun. My mom and I keep joining lists just in case one of us sees a book at a yard sale.

Answer 10

I have the perfect solution for you. You can write a story for her! You might want to write about yourself or about her. What fun!

The other thing you can do is go to garage sales. You can get books for 10 or 25 cents. Save your change in a jar. When you hear of a community garage sale, get out the jar and buy books! Another place you can visit is thrift stores. The books there are more expensive, but they usually have all kinds of fun children's books. Those books might be a dollar or two.