Suggestions for children's books

[Linley]

One of my co-workers is collecting donations of new children's books for children at a nearby hospital and I thought I would go out this weekend and buy a few to give her. Since I know nothing about children's books these days, I am hoping I can tap your collective wisdom.

The request is for books for children up to 9 years old and I would prefer to buy for the upper end of the age range; that would be more fun for me and I have the impression that lots of people like to buy for the little ones so books for older kids may be more needed.

Any suggestions?

[GratefulMaria]

At that age, mine loved anything by Avi.  Also the Artemis Fowl books.  And Hermux books http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hermux_Tantamoq_Adventures are enchanting!

[rose red]

I don't know about current books, but I recently found a copy of Emily's Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary and remembered how much I loved it.  I was surprised how much I still enjoyed it upon re-reading it.

Another one of my favorites at that age was All Of A Kind Family and read it over and over until it fell apart. 

I think kids still enjoy reading about "olden times."

[kelly_jeanie]

Safe books for elementary kids are Magic Tree House and the Wimpy Kid series, those get checked out over and over again in our elementary library.  Otherwise my son just finished the Hobbit and with the movie coming out this winter that might be a good choice.

[DottyG]

I have a whole thread of suggestions!

http://www.etiquettehell.com/smf/index.php?topic=19947.0

[MummySweet]

Some popular titles for that age range age range (8-9 year olds, 3-4 graders) are:

Diary of Wimpy Kid novels (a new one, The Third Wheel, just came out; more boy focused)
The Dork Diaries (more girl focused)
The 39 Clues series
The "Origami" Star Wars series (Strange Case of the Origami Yoda, etc.)

The above are all chapter books, but you might also consider books like  The Essential Pokemon Handbook, or the Lego Character Encyclopedias (Star Wars, Ninjago, Super Heroes).  The books are colorful and have lots of fun "facts", and don't require the commitment or time that a longer chapter book does.   They are even fun to just look through when you don't feel like reading.

The DK encyclopedia series is also popular.  Volumes focused on everything from ballet to weather to favorite animals with great full color photographs and interesting information.

Kids around this age also love cartoon collections.  Our school library can't keep Garfield, Calvin and Hobbs, Family Circle, Peanuts Collections, etc. on the shelves.

[DottyG]

I've bumped the thread up for you to make it easier.

However, may I suggest the best book EVER for a child - or adult?  "The Wizard of Oz", of course!

[Firecat]

Susan Cooper has a lot of good books for children, but I particularly recommend her The Dark is Rising sequence.

Also Harriet the Spy, although I don't remember who wrote that one. The Beverly Cleary books are always good. And the Betsy series (I believe the author's last name is Lovelace).

Besides the Judy Blume books suggested in the other thread, Blubber is another good one.

How to Eat Fried Worms

[snowdragon]

The Dear America Series is wonderful. I love it.

Also the American Girls are fun too.

Encyclopedia Brown is making a come back in my nephew's school

[DottyG]

I love Encyclopedia Brown! It's coming back?! I may need to go to the library tomorrow.

[Rohanna]

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.
The Borrowers.
Anne of Green Gables.
Swallows and Amazons.
Harry Potter.
The Secret Garden and A Little Princess.

[Arrynne]

Monsters Eat Whiny Children.  It's adorable.

[snowdragon]

I love Encyclopedia Brown! It's coming back?! I may need to go to the library tomorrow.

Every boy in my  nephew's grade claims to have read them.  It may be local,  but I doubt it.

[sourwolf]

These aren't all strictly for 9 year olds, but they are all chapter books.

The Ramona books by Beverly Cleary.
The Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan.
The Matt Christopher books - each book is about a kid's involvement in a sport ie, basketball, baseball, hockey.
The Wayside School books by Louis Sachar.
D'aulaire's Book of Greek Myths by Ingri d'Aulaire - I loved stories of the Greek Gods and Goddesses when I was in elementary school.
Any of the Roald Dahl books.

[Betelnut]

For younger kids: Any picture or early reader by Mo Willems.  He is really funny.