Name a good book suitable for children that is NOT Harry Potter

[SemiCharmedQuark]

I loved the Wizard of Oz series as well as the Redwall series.

[ogradda]

1. little house on the prairie series.

and the boxcar children series. and the encyclopedia brown books :)

[Bridget Burke]

5. Yes. I read the "Little House" books long before the TV show.

Michael Landon was NOT Pa Ingalls. I also loved the Boxcar Children.

Another recommendation from the old days: Edward Eager. Half Magic is the first one in a brief series, but all of his were quite special. I believe the success of Harry Potter has helped the reissue & marketing of these magic tales.

[Soopercali]

2. Edward Eager.

"Half Magic" and "Knight's Castle."

"Harriet the Spy," Louise Fitzhugh.

[JanMichael]

3. age and gender of the child?

?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

4. Just in general.

I think the popularity of Harry Potter has overshadowed some really great books, and I'd like to make a list of them if I can.

[Theres-a]

6. penrod and sam

by booth tarkington

[Joe Power]

7. Lots of them

"The Chronicles of Narnia" - CS Lewis
"Tom Sawyer" - Mark Twain
"A Wrinkle in Time" - Madeleine L'Engle

My 13 yr old loves the Charlie Bone series (Jenny Nimmo). He's currently reading both "Huckleberry Finn" and "Call of the Wild." His favorite book so far has been SE Hinton's "The Outsiders."

I guess it depends on how old the child is, if they are a boy or a girl, and what their interests are.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

13. Narnia! That series is absolutely brilliant!

And I enjoyed the Outsiders very much. I wish my feeble mind could remember these without having to write them down :)

CS Lewis and Mark Twain are fantastic authors. Their books can be reread again and again and you can find new symbolism every time.

[Theres-a]

8. ferdinand the bull

[Theres-a]

9. the narnia chronicles

[Theres-a]

10. isabell's raven

[Theres-a]

11. where the wild things are

:dunce: typed too fast

[Theres-a]

12. where the sidewalk ends

shel silverstein

[Phillycat]

14. Just curious--why not Harry Potter?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

15. Because everyone knows Harry Potter.

Harry Potter is pushed by every media outlet. There is no way you can live on this earth and NOT know about Harry Potter. And in the process, many many great children's books are forgotten.

I personally don't like the Harry Potter series, but everyone else I know does. That's great, Im glad they enjoy reading. But when I hear things like "Oh that is the greatest series EVER written" I get worried because I know that some other children's books could definitely give it a run for its money, but they have been left by the wayside.

[Phillycat]

27. Conversely...

There are a lot of children who have been introduced to a love of reading IN GENERAL by the Harry Potter books. They weren't into reading at all before; then, through peer pressure and media attention, they read the whole series, including the last book at 800+ pages, and realized they COULD read and that they enjoyed it. THEN they started with Chronicles of Narnia, or the Madeleine L'Engle series, or Lord of the Rings, or whatever.

Just saying... :)

[SmokingJacket]

87. I agree: there's nothing that warms my heart like the sight of a kid

reading an 800 page book she can hardly hold up!

The writing in HP is really cinematic -- basically they're movies in words, and accessible to otherwise non-readers for that reason.

I think it's great they've taken off.

[Brewman_Jax]

16. The Prydain Chronicles

by Lloyd Alexander. Not as well known as the books mentioned above, but definitely a great series. I read the 5-book set in high school. One of my favorites, up to the present day.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

18. That's a new one to me, I'll have to pick up the first book.

Thanks :hi:

[Brewman_Jax]

28. The first book's title is...

The Book of Three. The other series books are:

The Black Cauldron

The Castle of Llyr

Taran Wanderer

The High King.

There are a couple of other related short story books. I think you'll find those to your liking. :hi:

[TransitJohn]

23. Doh!

You beat me to it. I read those when I was 8 or 10. REALLY loved them. So good.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

45. Wow. I forgot all about those books

I loved them when I was a kid.

[liontamer]

64. these are awesome books

stay away from the movie version of the black cauldron though

[Midlodemocrat]

17. My kids enjoyed

Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew when they were younger. Available at Costco which is a plus!

[SemiCharmedQuark]

20. I've never read one of either series...

I will definitely pick one up. They've been a staple of children's books for so long, they must be doing something right!

[Maestro]

39. I remember devouring those Hardy Boy books

as a fourth and fifth grader in the seventies.

[kittycat1164]

79. I remember reading Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew

I had a huge pine tree in our front yard and I'd sit up in that tree in the summer and read a book a day. No one could tell I was up there. My own private club. Loved it!!! Thanks for reminding me of that time.

[Orsino]

19. The Phantom Tollbooth

...by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Pfeiffer. It's a brilliant book, well suited for reading out loud. Best for smart kids who love words.

[MissMillie]

44. I LOVE this book!

I didn't read it until I was an adult, and I STILL enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Bullwinkle925]

82. Absolutely!!

[peacefreak]

21. Beauty --Robin Mckinley

My Father's Dragon--Gannett
Catherine Called Birdy--Cushman
Danny, Champion of the World--Dahl
My Side of the Mountain--George
Out of the Dust--Hesse
His Dark Materials--Pullman
Adventures of Charlotte Doyle--Avi
Northern Light--Donnelly
Lost on a Mountain in Maine--Fendler
Hatchet--Paulsen

[TransitJohn]

22. Lloyd Alexander

The Prydain Cycle.
The Book of Three
The Black Cauldron
Taran Wanderer
etc.
Excellent.

[Billy Ruffian]

24. A Wrinkle in Time

Madeline L'Engle (sp? too lazy to check)

[ScreamingMeemie]

30. I agree. Best book I ever read.

[Orangepeel]

77. that's what I was going to say!

:-)

[Loki]

25. Lemony Snicket

And A Series of Unfortunate Events. My two love this series.

[Squatch]

26. The Hardy Boys?

I still have mine from 30 years ago...

[TyeDye75]

29. Mrs Frisby and the rats of Nimh

my all time favourite childrens book.

[ScreamingMeemie]

31. Way of the Peaceful Warrior.

Especially right now. :hi:

[SheilaT]

32. Homecoming

by Cynthia Voigt. It's about four children (the oldest is about ten or twelve)whose mother simply abandons them and they wind up walking for several weeks to reach the only relative they know of. Heartbreakingly true to life. Everything else she's written is also good.

As for Nancy Drew books, keep in mind that in recent years they've been rewritten and dumbed down. If you can get the originals from the 30s and 40s, do so, otherwise don't bother.

The Boy Who Reversed Himself by William Sleator is about the fourth spacial dimension. Very, very good. Sleator has written lots of good stuff also.

[redqueen]

33. For older kids: Star Beast by Robert Heinlein

For younger kids: Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog

or ANYTHING by Graeme Base - he's fantastical!

on edit: sample of Base's illustrations:

[Texasgal]

34. The lion, the witch and the wardrobe

Good set in my opinion!

[SOteric]

35. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson

[Debbi801]

36. Beverly Cleary books and Judy Blum books are great, too.

[noonwitch]

37. Charley and The Chocolate Factory

by Roald Dahl. He also wrote "James And The Giant Peach".

[mondo joe]

38. The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews

[mondo joe]

40. Island of the Aunts by Eva Ibbotson (who wrote a lot of other good books)

One of my 9 yr old's favorites.

[Red State Rebel]

41. Caddie Woodlawn & Anne of Green Gables n/t

[CornField]

42. Two great series inside

Artemis Fowl Series by Eion Colfer -- Artemis Fowl (Book One), The Artic Incident (Book Two), The Eternity Code (Book Three)

Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud -- The Amulet of Samarkand (Book One), The Golem's Eye (Book Two)

Another really great author is Cornelia Funke. She's written great stories like Inkheart, The Thief Lord, and Dragon Rider.

And my 12-year-old just reminded me of Robert Stanek's series, Ruin Mist Chronicles.

[Solitaire]

43. Nancy Drew! n/t

Just bought six of the books for my Godchild.

:)

[Tyrone Slothrop]

46. The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois

My absolute favorite book as a child.

I pulled this "editorial review" off of Amazon.

Professor William Waterman Sherman intends to fly across the Pacific Ocean. But through a twist of fate, he lands on Krakatoa, and discovers a world of unimaginable wealth, eccentric inhabitants, and incredible balloon inventions. Winner of the 1948 Newbery Medal, this classic fantasy-adventure is now available in a handsome new edition. "William Pene du Bois combines his rich imagination, scientific tastes, and brilliant artistry to tell a story that has no age limit." -- The Horn Book

[hickman1937]

47. Anything by L.M. Montgomery

My favorite was Pat of Silverbush.
Also loved Big Red, Outlaw Red, nd Irish Red, by Jim Kjelgaard.
The Black Stallion etc. by Walter Farley.
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguarite Henry
Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

[City Lights]

48. Many great ones already mentioned, but here's a few more.

Holes, by Louis Sachar, The Whipping Boy, by Sid Fleischman, Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O'Dell, and The Egypt Game, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder.

[skygazer]

49. The Wind In the Willows

Watership Down - older kids and adults, great book

The White Mountains
The City of Gold and Lead
The Pool of Fire - these three are a series, SciFi, very good

The Phantom Tollbooth is marvelous

[ImpeachBush]

50. The Stinky Cheese Man n/t

[eoberhauser]

51. Some of my favorites that my dad read to me

Trumpet of the Swan
Charlie and the Chocolate factory
Ludmilla
Watership Down
Alice in Wonderland


Brings back memories!

Erin

[derbstyron]

52. James and the Giant Peach

or anything by Dahl for that matter.

[J-Lo Biafra]

53. "Goosebumps" series

How young are we talking? That may be a good one.

[RevolutionaryActs]

54. For a girl: Ella Enchanted. For a boy: Holes. And Madeleine L'Engle's,

Time quartet series. :)

[AlCzervik]

62. My daughter read both and especially loved Holes

I liked it as well.

[StoneCold513]

55. I liked Animorphs when I was younger...

...and Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights.

[Dora]

56. Newberry Award winners

I remember being given a boxed set of Newberry novels for kids. It included The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Johnny Tremaine, and three others. They were all great books, and the Newberry award is a great quality gauge.

I notice that none of the Potter books have received a Newberry, but maybe they're not eligible because they're first released in the UK.

[Culture Mind]

57. The Gammage Cup by Carol Kendall

The Gammage Cup: One of my favourite fantasy books of all time. Was a Newberry Honor Book in 1960. This was a very thought provoking book for me at the age of 12. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/015202493X/102-2518336-4022560?v=glance

Check out other Newberry Award winners at: http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal.htm

[LWolf]

58. I assume you mean novels?

Some authors not already mentioned:

Sharon Creech
Jean Craighead George
Gary Paulsen
Lois Lowry
Betsy Byars
Patricia Wrede
Mark London Williams
Mary Hoffman
Susan Cooper
Phillip Pullman
Kate DiCamillo
E.L. Konsiburg
Cynthia Rylant
Ursula Le Guin

Most have written plenty of great stuff; I can't pick just one to share!

[SemiCharmedQuark]

59. Here's one of the main reasons I asked this question:

When I was in 7th grade, about 8 years ago, we had novels assigned to us to read as pretty much all classes do. Our list included The Hobbit, To Kill A Mockingbird, some Poe (Cask of Amontillado for a start), Animal Farm... Those great books have been replaced by the Harry Potter series on the readers list now.

[City Lights]

60. No they haven't.

"Those great books have been replaced by the Harry Potter series on the readers list now."

The Harry Potter books haven't replaced anything. They have been added to the list.

The great books you mentioned are still on my kid's list of books to read. My daughter (7th grade) is going to read Slaughterhouse-Five for her next required reading for school.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

61. At my school they were.

[City Lights]

63. So the only books on the required reading list are Potter books?

How sad.

My daughter was given a long list of great novels to choose from. The Potter books weren't even on the list. She narrowed her choice down to three or four before deciding on Vonnegut.

[Phillycat]

69. This is bullshit.

I would love to see the school board that would allow this. This poster is not being honest.

[City Lights]

70. I agree.

I think the poster must be exaggerating.

[Phillycat]

66. I do not believe this. I think this is a falsehood.

I want to see some evidence that any of the books you mentioned were removed from a school reading list in favor of Harry Potter.

[liontamer]

65. american kids only seem to read about death

I had a hard time explaining why a basic american reading list includes: bridge to terabithia, where the red fern grows, ole yeller etc.
when it came time to explain other classics such as roll of thunder hear my cry, I too began to wonder what was wrong with us as a society.

We talk so much about protecting childhood innocence (at least from sex). I think if you want to supplement your child's reading draw heavily from fantasy. It'll be good balance

[Bullwinkle925]

81. I see where you're coming from

I think (unfortunately so) that electronic media has certainly taken over the time that was once spent in devouring good books. 'Harry Potter' is certainly entertaining, but I agree with you - the use of
literature is a key in the process of developing the mind of the 'critical thinker'.
Having said that - I need to turn this computer off and pick up a book!

[HEAVYHEART]

67. How old are the children?

[liontamer]

68. hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, the jungle books

and for fluff reading: babysitter's club, sleepover's friends, anything Sweet Valley.

Rather than picking out books though, why not just take the kid to a library's junior section and let him or her pick out whatever they want?

[peacefreak]

71. Oh my goodness!

I forgot about The Giver & Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry. Two amazing books for everyone to read.

[TrogL]

72. Tom Sawyer/ Huckelberry Finn

I'm re-reading it right now 'cause it fell into my lap (literally).

My edition has the two books back-to-back in one cover.

[Shakespeare]

73. Can't believe no one has mentioned Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials

GREAT trilogy of (fantasy) books: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. Great reading for kids (5th-6th grade or higher) AND adults.

[crispini]

74. Those are great!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading those.

[davsand]

75. Lots of great stuff out there.

Depends on the maturity of the kid and what subjects interest them...

It is difficult to go wrong with ANY of the Newberry titles. There is a list from 1922 to present here:

http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberywinners/medalwinners.htm

Additionally, most states have literary awards. Here in Illinois it is the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers'Award. Here's a list of winners that goes back to 1988. There is some mighty fine reading on this list, and this is stuff kids and teacher agree on:

Past Winners of the Caudill Award:

2004 Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
2003 Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
2002 Holes by Louis Sachar
2001 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
2000 Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
1999 Frindle by Andrew Clements
1998 Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park
1997 The Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson
1996 The Giver by Lois Lowry
1995 Flight #116 is Down by Caroline Cooney
1994 Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
1993 Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
1992 Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
1991 Matilda by Roald Dahl
1990 Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn
1989 The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright
1988 Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

About the Caudill awards:

http://www.rebeccacaudill.org/award/

Here's a nice website that has lists of Children's Book Awards. It can help you out a lot in your hunt for books that kids can and will enjoy reading.

http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/awards.html

I want to go on record as saying that the phenom of Harry Potter is not to be sneezed at, IMO. When was the last time you ever saw a bunch of kids standing in line for a book release? THAT is huge! These are kids who are into reading for fun--and if your kid associates reading with fun you have won the war.

Harry Potter may not be a literary standard, but I'm still happy to see a kid pick it up and read it voluntarily. The same goes for Goosebumps, or Sweet Vally High or any of the fad series that kids like so much. (For my generation it was Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Robin Kane and the Hardy Boys, and THOSE were sneered at by teachers and librarians too!)

Buy books for kids!!!!!!


Laura

[LWolf]

76. And don't forget

Andrew Clements and Edward Bloor.

[tngledwebb]

78. Winnie the Pooh,

Grimm's fairy tales when tailored to kids, Mother Goose, Alice in Wonderland, Wind in the Willows, or for pre-teens, The Once and Future King, The Hollow Hills, Catcher in the Rye...

Anything but HP or Tolkien or any other buy-a-big-expensive-badly-written-book-every time-you-go-to-a-bookstore crap. That includes S. King and anything retold by Disney. Bah...humbug...

[MsAnthropy]

80. Annotated Alice by Martin Gardner

He explains all the jokes, songs and puzzles in Alice in Wonderland.

[WritersBlock]

83. "Charlotte's Web" was one of my favorites.

Didn't care too much for Stuart Little, though, even if it did get made into a movie.

[Gayla]

84. Old Yeller

and the Call of the Wild..
and the Black Stallion series...

I think I'll pull these out and re-read them myself!

[WritersBlock]

85. Oh yeah.. and "My Friend Flicka" n/t

[mia]

86. The Z was Zapped by Chris Van Allsburg

I bought this book when it first came out in the 80's because of the art. Years later I started reading it to my students and found that they were mesmerized by it. The vocabulary and illustrations are excellent. Over the years I've seen kids pile on top of each other to get to the book during "free choice" time.

A few months ago I cut that first book (now very torn and tattered) apart and made the pages into laminated posters. My young students enjoy acting out the play and every one of them knows the book by heart.

Needless to say, I've given this book as a gift more than any other.

http://www.campusi.com/ta_The_Z_Was_Zapped_by_Allsburg.htm

[SmokingJacket]

88. "Adam of the Road" and "A Door in the Wall" for kids who like

Medieval stuff.

Also, "The Nine Questions" by Edward Fulton, though it's totally out of print and impossible to find.