Any “recommend a book for a child” thread needs a Phantom Tollbooth recommendation, so here it is.
Does she like a modern, historical, fantasy, or scifi setting?
If you can track down the Princess Academy trilogy, I recommend it.
Ella Enchanted is also good.
Yes! That was about the age I was when I started reading Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden ad the Bobsey Twins mysteries.
The Melendy books by Elizabeth Enright: The Saturdays, The Four-Story Mistake, And Then There Were Five, and Spiderweb for Two. Flora and Ulysses, by Kate DiCamillo, and the Mercy Watson books by Kate DiCamillo (which are easier to read).
I agree with taking her to a bookstore. There are lots of great nonfiction books for young readers her age, and she might see a book about a subject you didn’t know she was interested in. Or maybe even she didn’t know it until she sees the book.
Julie B Jones, there are lots of them.
That should’ve been Junie B. Jones.
I actually would think she’d be ready for at least the first Narnia book (Wardrobe, of course–even has a bit of Christmas in it) if she’s doing the Little House books. But you know here better than we do.
What comes to mind are the books my sister liked at that reading level. She was into the American Girl books, which all have a Christmas or Winter holiday book for book 3. She was also into Babysitter’s Little Sister books. Both sets have this type of ritual to them with how they are arranged.
And, yeah, the Phantom Tollbooth was fun at that age, even if I didn’t understand any of the satire at the time.
Please go and ask the children’s librarian! The problem with soliciting kidlit recommendations from oldies is nostalgia. Many of the books mentioned here are objectively bad books. Rose-coloured glasses, yanno? I’m not saying all classic kidlit is bad, far from it. It’s just that time marches on, and if the same two dozen titles keep getting bought for the next generation of eight year-olds, how do newer titles ever get a look-in?
Ask your librarian what kids that age are reading in your town.
araminty, I understand what you are saying, and I do think I’ll talk to one of the kid librarians when I’m at work next Wednesday. But even thought the older books have non PC stuff in them(Pa Wilder in blackface, anyone?) they are sill good books and the unPC parts could be a teaching tool.
I don’t mean for people to feel defensive about their own childhood faves. And I don’t specifically object to any one aspect of older books. Just that, the world has changed, and so has the field of children’s literature.
Oops, it wasn’t Mr Wilder but Mr Ingalls in blackface, I was thinking of Laura’s married name!:eek:
If you want a Christmas themed book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is wonderful. Hilarious and touching. I still get teary eyed when I read it.
I asked my eight-year old granddaughter and here’s what she replied. The spelling is hers:
June b Jones
Marvin red post
Hunpry the hamster
Humphrey is a great choice!
Boxcar Children Gertrude Chandler Warner
The set includes the first four books in the series.
The books were a childhood favorite of mine.
Great introduction to mystery books. Then later the child can read Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys.
https://www.amazon.com/Boxcar-Children-Books-1-4/dp/0807508543