Desperately Seeking decent books for 7yo boy

[crazy88]

Ds1 is nearly 7, is a very capable reader but is not that keen on reading alone. I need to find him some decent, accessible, imaginative chapter books that are not too long, preferably about ordinary kids having 'adventures'. He has read the first 4 books in the "magic tree house" series and really enjoyed them but has stalled now so needs some variety.

My local library consists of about 3 shelves of Rainbow Fairies books , a few (to me) soppy-looking books about animals, and an assortment of negative and patronising books clearly aimed at boys e.g. Horrid Henry, Dirty Bertie, Captain Underpants etc.

We have tried Beast Quest/Dinosaur Cove but ds1 finds the unusual names of dinosaurs and beasts etc confusing.

Oh, and I tried Waterstones and WH Smith and it was basically the same things. Also had a look on Amazon but unless you know what you are looking for it is pretty time consuming.

Find it very frustrating actually. I was into Secret Seven at his age but had hoped to find something more up to date (I.e. with less dodgy "circus-folk" etc).... To coin a phrase, am I being unreasonable?? Any recommendations??

I think there are modern non Enid Blyton penned Famous Five stories about their kids or something that presumably have fewer circus folk/ gypsies/ evil foreigners. I haven't read them though.

Swallows and Amazons, or is that too old, again haven't read for many years so can't remember the level.

The fabulous soccer boy series (book people)
How to train your dragon
Mr gum
Shorter roald Dahl eg the twits
Diary of a wimpy kid
The worst witch

Swallows and amazons much loved by my 7 yo ds, but much harder than magic tree house. What about Wild rescue (series, there are q a few of them), Helen Moss Adventure Island (like an up to date famous five), some non fiction eg Usborne young reading collection; actually there are simplified classics egTreasure island in the same Usborne collection which were popular with my ds at about the same stage.

What about David Williams. My boys loved him. Very funny but also poignant.

YY to non fiction. Eg usborne encyclopedia

Roald Dahl / my DS who is 7 years is loving them

He also likes factual books about cars, encyclopedias and space

DS (almost 8) loves A boy and a bear in a boat, The lighthouse keeper, lots of Michael Morpurgo stuff, Paddington bear paperbacks!, Just William and Famous Five. Definitely think if you are looking for modern books, girls are easier. When DS reads too many older books he starts to talk like the characters!

Roald Dahl
Paddington chapter books - very amusing
Lighthouse keeper - you can get them as chapter books now
wishing chair?

sorry - I have girls so most of ours are a bit too twinkley and girly.

You're a bad man Mr Gum made me laugh out loud when I read it with my 6yr old ds (he found it quite funny too), there's others in the series too. Very childish humour though!

Another vote for Roald Dahl too.

jeremy strong

Secret Seven books are much easier than Famous Five series. Dick King - Smith books are quite good as well. So are Flat Stanley books.

Michael morpurgo - elephant in the garden and butterfly lion and (best of all) kensuki's kingdom.
How to train your dragon series are fab
But if you want up dated version of 'kids on adventure' then the Jack Stalwart books will do the trick - perfect for boys of your child's age.

Alexander McCall Smith's children's books. And another vote for Jeremy Strong. I defy ANYONE to read My Dad's got an alligator without collapsing in fits of laughter.

Yy to Mr Gum and Jeremy Strong's books.
The Beaver Towers series by Nigel Hinton?

Yes to mr Gum ....brilliant books, diary of a wimpy kid series, Roald Dahl are classics, David Walliams are v funny.

my dd and ds love the Tom Gates books...the pages have doodles all over them which breaks up the wordiness. Have given them as gifts and they have really been enjoyed.
www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?productId=424169&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&searchTerm=TMGS+-+Tom+Gates+Set&cm_mmc=Bing%20Adwords--Product--tom%20gates%20series-_-TMGS%20-%20Tom%20Gates%20Set&istCompanyId=9E28718B-80EC-4C70-9F52-4431EC3FF1DE&istItemId=ilmaaxap

Thanks to everyone for these. I knew there had to be some out there but for some reason they are being ignored by my library and all the bookshops I have been to. Makes me

Hi my boy is 8 and a VERY reluctant reader much to my book-loving frustration. I am disappointed with the quality of boys books and the language used. Horrid Henry is a particular hate with the constant use of words like stupid, idiot etc. Anyway! My son did read Diary of a Wimpy Kid and was keen to start the second. I think it helps that it's not page after page of text, it's broken up with pictures x

Also you should be able to request the books you want from your library. As far as I know they have to transfer any book from nearby libraries if they are requested. Might save you a fortune!

Ricky ricotta series (by the same author as Captain Underpants but aimed at younger kids)

Billy Bonkers books by Giles Andrae
Prince Jake or Oliver Moon books by Sue Mongredian
Aunt Severe and the Dragons by Nick Garlick

My 7-year-old loves the Spy Dog series, and also Enid Blyton's Five Find-Outers series – they're a bit easier than the Famous Five books.

As you are looking for books that are a little easier than dinosaur cove and beast quest, I would suggest the following:

Flat Stanley
Mr Majeika
Oliver moon
The owl who was afraid of the dark
Michael morphurgo mudpuddle farm (his easiest book with fun illustrations)

They are good first chapter books for boys.

If he can tackle these and you want something harder then try:
Astrosaurs
Jack stalwart
Beast quest/sea quest
Mr Gum

Then: other michael morpurgos, how to train you dragon.

Many of the book listed by readers above are significantly harder than the magic tree house series.
My son is just 8 and above is the list that he read!

Mr Gum is a must and enjoyable for parents too as they're so funny!! My girls listen to Kate Winslet reading them on audiobook-brilliant! They also love the Horrible Histories series of books!

The Tom Gates books have all the good features of the wimpy kid books but the lead character is much less brattish and annoying.

My boy also loves graphic novels (ie comics).