Would really appreciate some ideas for FANTASTIC books for DS1(9)...

[jenpet]

...but its not straightforward! We live in France, and he's only ever been to school here, so although I've tried hard to keep up his English, he naturally is only really interested in what his friends are.

I would love him to be able to enjoy a book in either language, but feel already English is falling behind for him. He's got a reasonable reading level, but not much beyond his chronological age in English, and if its too hard, he gives up!

So, I would love please to hear of any books your DS's have been absolutely gripped by - he's just finished the Anne Fine Killer Cat books (which he loved as he did them in French at school) he's read a couple of Michael Morpurgo books which were OK, but it was a struggle at times, and I've just ordered "Stig of the Dump" from Amazon (because I loved it and I'm running out of ideas!) Harry Potter we've tried, but he's such a wuss he finds a bit challenging to read alone.

I'm way out of touch with English authors and would love to hear what your 8/9 year old DS's have enjoyed. Thanks in advance..

To read himself?
the clarice bean books ( thick ones not picture) look girly but all my three adore them
has he done beast quest etc? long series of boyish books

oh and there was a detective series er - oh yes ( h rememvered) jack stalkwart here
www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Agent-Jack-Stalwart-Dinosaur/dp/1602860041/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301946111&sr=1-1

i have about 12 beast quest here to sell if you want - roughly 12 - no 26 a few ommisions

www.amazon.co.uk/Utterly-Clarice-Bean-Lauren-Child/dp/1843623048/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301946191&sr=1-2

and also oi cave boy www.amazon.co.uk/Iggy-Urk-1-Oi-Caveboy/dp/B0049U413O/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301946236&sr=1-1

wimpy kid ( comes wiht movie!) www.amazon.co.uk/Iggy-Urk-1-Oi-Caveboy/dp/B0049U413O/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301946236&sr=1-1

www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Nate-Biggest-Head-World/dp/0007355165/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301946277&sr=1-1 big head boy

all read several times by my 8 year old( vg reader) and 10 year old - occasionally dipped into by 12

mopurgo too hard and a bit gloomy imo

let me know if you want me to post any to you, i buy a lot of htem on ebay second hand. we are currently reading willoughy chase i got for £2 on there!

That's fantastic! Thanks for all those, I hadn't heard of any of them...
Yes, they are to read alone btw
(will be on Amazon all night!)

My DD (9 tomorrow) is really enjoying the boosks by David Walliams. She has enjoyed Billionaire Boy, is currently reading Mr Stink and has The Boy in the Dress to read next.

yes all have big clear font, intersting starts and picture littered throughout.
also will keep him up to date with current english

wimpy kid is THE UTTER fave

Mr Gum
Captain Underpants

How To Train Your Dragon

Anthony Horowitz - Diamond Brothers series (detective spoof - v funny and easy to read) and Alex Rider series

Eoin Colfer - Artemis Fowl series

Cressida Cowell - Viking series

plus wimpy kid of course

Argh. Had ordered a couple before I came back! (slow in a lazy way rather than a French way!) MR if you have chance to bundle some together that won't be read any more, let me know what you want & postage I would be overwhelmed! (really!) Thanks again all...

Someone recommended this to me today - looks fabulous and the illustrations are beautiful. www.amazon.co.uk/Invention-Hugo-Cabret-Brian-Selznick/dp/1407103482/ref=cm_lmf_tit_13_rdssss0

The Charlie Bone series

yy to Wimpey Kid

Tangshan Tigers

Jeremy Strong- possibly a bit young, but short, easy to read and lots of pictures.

Horowitz and Colfer - though quite tough linguistically for an 8/9 yr. old boy.

My bi-lingual nephew living abroad found Horowitz the best he'd ever read but that was when he was 10.

Yy captain underpants. My DS is 9 and a reluctant reader, but loves these books.

my 8yo loved the cressida cowell books, and also devoured the entire percy jackson series in a worryingly obsessive manner.

lemony snicket books good, but the word play might be tricky if he isn't used to speaking/ reading english.

Books by Philip Ridley? I seem to remember reading them at about that age...

The 'Nicholas' series by Goscinny and Sempé are actually translated (very well) from the original French into English. The stories are set in France and are very amusing in a quiet sort of way. Very readable.

Mr Gum! There are six I think. Wonderfully funny. Andy Stanton is the author, he's won a bunch of awards.

Look at The Book People website. They sell packs of books for really cheap prices and I'm sure they will send on to France. You can buy a set of 15 Roman Mystery books costing £5 each for £7.99!!!! Its amazing value.
They have lots of mixed sets as well. If you've only paid £10 for a set of 10 books its not such a big deal if they don't read them all.
I'm trying to get my DS1 who is Y6 to read in French, he hasn't got past fairy stories yet.

Agree with The Wimpy Kid. :)

From there, ds progressed onto Skulduggery Pleasant (Book 4 -he was given it out of sequence) which he took ages to read - but loved. He's now started Book 1 and is flying through it.

He's 10 now - so slightly older than your ds, but something to bear in mind (espcially if he's capable of reading Harry Potter).

Once ds has read all 5 books in Skulduggery Pleasnt series (think there is also a 6th out/due out) he's said he thinks he'll be ready to try the Harry Potter books for himself.

we hated the dragon ones tbh though