John is an extremely capable reader and we struggle with finding “just right” books (content and level wise) for him. Add to the mix that he doesn’t even like reading (or so he claims) and we’ve been in quite a pickle. You see, Honey and I are both avid readers and would love to see our boys follow suit… not to mention I would really love to see him sit down and read for the required time each night without badgering and cajoling. At the beginning of summer, I reached out for recommendations on great books for boys and I have made it my MISSION in second grade to help show the boy how intriguing and entertaining and wonderful reading can be!
To that end, I have compiled all of your comments and emails with some of our own favorites in the master list below. I even looked up appropriate grade levels (per amazon) as I was going along because there were some that wasn’t familiar with but didn’t want to forget down the road. I printed my list and we keep it in our library bag for quick reference.
Grade | Series | Author |
1st – 4th | Andrew Lost | JC Greenburg |
3rd – 6th | Animal Stories | Thornton Burgess |
1st – 4th | A-Z Mysteries | Ron Roy |
2nd – 5th | Bailey School Kids | Marcia Thornton |
1st – 4th | Ballpark Mysteries | David Kelly |
5th + | Baseball Card Adventures | Dan Gutman |
2nd – 5th | Boxcar Children | Gertrude Warner |
2nd + | Captain Underpants | Dav Pilkey |
2nd + | Choose Your Own Adventure | RA Montgomery |
2nd + | Diary of a Wimpy Kid | Jeff Kinney |
1st – 4th | Dragon Slayer’s Academy | Kate McMullan |
2nd + | Encyclopedia Brown | Donald Sobol |
1st – 5th | Flat Stanley | Jeff Brown |
2nd + | Fudge | Judy Blume |
2nd – 5th | Geronimo Stilton | Geronimo Stilton |
3rd + | Hardy Boys | Franklin Dixon |
4th + | Harry Potter | JK Rowling |
2nd – 4th | Horrible Harry | Suzy Kline |
3rd – 7th | Humphrey the Hamster | Betty G Birney |
2nd – 5th | I Survived | Lauren Tarshis |
1st – 4th | Junie B. Jones | Barbara Park |
3rd – 7th | Little House on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder |
3rd – 7th | Magic Tree House | Mary Pope Osborne |
1st – 4th | Marvin Redpost | Louis Sachar |
3rd – 7th | Million Dollar | Dan Gutman |
2nd + | My Father’s Dragon | Ruth Stiles Gannett |
1st – 5th | My Weird School | Dan Gutman |
1st – 4th | Pee Wee Scouts | Judy Delton |
3rd – 7th | Ralph S. Mouse | Beverly Cleary |
3rd – 7th | Ramona | Beverly Cleary |
K – 3rd | Ready Freddy | Abby Klein |
3rd – 7th | Redwall | Brian Jacques |
3rd – 7th | Shadow Children | |
3rd + | The Chronicles of Narnia | CS Lewis |
3rd – 7th | The Enormous Egg | Oliver Butterworth |
1st – 5th | The Invisible Inkling | Emily Jenkins |
2nd – 5th | The Littles | Jon Peterson |
3rd – 7th | The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart |
K – 3rd | The Prince of the Pond | Donna Jo Napoli |
2nd – 4th | Time Warp Trio | Jon Scieszka |
2nd – 5th | Toys Go Out | Emily Jenkins |
3rd – 7th | Wayside School | Louis Sachar |
2nd – 6th | Zack Files | Dan Greenburg |
I sure hope I can report back with good news by the end of the year. Happy reading, y’all!
xoxo
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My son, Griffin, is in the exact same boat. This will be so helpful, thank you!
Hello! I recently found your site and am so happy that I did. I just love your decorating style!
I just read your post and wanted to share a couple of reading sites that may help. Scholastic has a wonderful site that includes something called the Book Wizard. It allows you to search for books based on genre, age, grade level, and whatever leveling system your school uses (DRA, Lexile, etc.). Also, the website, Guys Read, provides many book suggestions for boys. I hope these help. Good luck!
Thank you for compiling this list – what a great resource to have it all in one place like this. Happy Weekend! xo
Our "girls" read books from many of these series as well. I also remember a teacher once telling us that if we could even find "wholesome" magazines that would get them reading…that worked too. Our girls loved the American Girl magazine, and we felt comfortable with the content. I agree…they are more likely to become avid readers if they don't feel forced. My girls both loved reading from a very early age. However, it became a chore in middle school when they HAD to have so many A.R. (accelerated reader) points each month for a grade. My girls are slower reader, take longer to comprehend and would get sooo frustrated. Fortunately, now that they are older, they are enjoying reading for pleasure again.
As a former teacher, I often found finding books for boys in my 3rd and 4th grade classrooms was always a challenge! I found that Matt Christopher books were great for boys of this age- sports related. I didn't see these books on your list, so I thought I would pass it along!
Leigh Anne B
This is so helpful. Thank you! :)
I just retired as a pre-kindergarten teacher, and my boys (now adults) used to love Matt Christopher books too..based on sports. Our sons were like..on a 5th grade reading level in K and grade 1..so it was hard to find the proper content and the proper level in one! They also read the Hardy Boys in first grade..not sure if the content is totally ok.
Amanda, I HIGHLY recommend the Cricket magazine family (Cricket, Ladybug for younger readers, etc). They are fabulous and maybe John would like getting something in the mail each month too. :) I loved these magazines as a kid and can't wait to get them for my own sons! http://www.cricketmag.com/CKT-CRICKET-Magazine-for-Kids-ages-9-14
Having worked in the Media Center at the school your son attends I would suggest that he ask about "graphic novels". It was my experience that students who weren't madly in love with reading enjoyed what they called "comic books". I really think that they thought they were getting away with something. They're not great literature but any type of reading is better than no reading at all. A lot of parents are concerned about the content of the Captain Underpants series. Again, the kids thought they were hysterical because adults didn't care for them. Who knew that second graders could be such rebels
You must read "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" with your boys. It's probably a bit above the baby's range, but your older son would love it. It's a great one to read together because it brings up many thoughtful themes and YOU'LL enjoy it too. It's a deep book with some really sad moments, but a beautiful ending. I can't recommend it enough. I read it every year to my 3rd graders and they stil mention it years later when they see me.
Thanks for a great list. Just a heads up…my daughter is in 4th and read one of the Judy Blume Fudge books last year. I believe the "Double Fudge" has the characters talking about Santa and how he is not real……but an end to reading those right quick!! Just don't want it to end for a child due to a book!! We are going to hold onto that little bit of magic as long as we can!!
Thanks for the helpful list!
My 6.5 yo has gotten into listening to books on cd and audible. Nice way to chill out for a non-yet independent reader (as well as readers)
I think boys would like listening to "Lunch Money" and "Alvin Ho"
I have recently found your blog and love it! I am from Texas and just found out we are going to Florida in mid October. We are going to go to Disney World, but will only be there for maybe 2 days. I was wanting your suggestion on what would be must sees for my 7 year old daughter. I have read all your Disney blogs and have figured Magic Kingdom is the best. If you don't mind giving me your input. I have never been and after reading your blogs it seems like your trips are top notch. Thank you so much!
Pam suggests Kate DiCamillo's "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane", and it one of my all time favorites! My younger son read in kindergarten, but it does have elements that are sad be forewarned.
I forget if I mentioned George Selden's Cricket series earlier in the summer? It is a favorite of my 8 year old, along with the Freddy series by Walter Brooks. Again, not sure if I mentioned it to you already. Freddy Goes to Florida is the 1st in the series.
My oldest is 14 and a reluctant reader, though he started enjoying non-fiction in the 5th grade.
Happy Reading!
Katey, Definitely Magic Kingdom! I would probably plan on spending both days there so that you are sure you get it all in! Have a wonderful visit.
Thanks so much for putting this on your blog. I emailed you about it a month or so ago and used your list to make some wishes on the amazon wish list. Love it!
great list and some good series for girls on here, too! I'll have to save this for Hudson in a few years. Does your school have a reading counts type program where they get points and awards for reading books and taking quizes on them? I have to credit this program with turning my girls into the biggest book worms. They have a slightly competitive nature (not sure where that came from…..haha) and this keeps them constantly reading and always trying harder books with higher points for taking quizes. Their teachers keep a running display of how many points every one has, so some kids care more than others to have the most.
Instead of Little House- which I LOVE (& so do the boys in my 4th grade class), start with Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Your guys will probably prefer it as an introduction to her work.
THANK YOU!! I'm off to the library! I have been dying for a list! We have been struggling trying to find books to keep my 2nd grader reading!
Awesome, thank you!!!
Great list, thank you! Add Andrew Clements books to your list, he's great! Also the Geronimo Stilton series, and James Howe's series, Tales from the House of Bunnicula — so funny. I'm also getting great interest from my 8 y.o. in books illustrated like a comic book (Hobbit has a good one and of course any superhero you can think of.) Lilly