Which fiction books for non-fiction lover?

[Strictlyison]

DS2 is in year 3 and G&T in Maths. He also loves science, and is in the top set for English. He enjoys reading but reads mostly non-fiction books, facts books about astronomy, science, biology, dinosaurs, animals, etc. I am struggling to find fiction books that he will happily read for pleasure, as he says he doesn't like made up stories as he doesn't 'learn' anything - obviously I think he could learn a lot from fiction books, but he has always been a very practical boy in his play and in the toys he chooses to play with (building models, Lego, games such as dominos, chess, etc) and he doesn't 'get into' made up stories.

He also likes books such as Diary of a wimpy kid and Tom Gates, as he sees the characters as 'real people'.

Can anyone recommend fiction books with lots of facts, science stuff (not science fiction, he just doesn't get science fiction)?

The Phantom Tollbooth might work.

What about historical fiction - the Roman Mysteries series are very addictive too.

If he likes animal facts then these might work. Currently being read by my 6 and 8 year old but quite easy reading for an 8 year old. Full of scientific animal facts but presented in a story e.g in the bat one it explains the differences between the different species of bats.

the willard price books should appeal to his interest in animals and any zoology related parts from science and biology.

George's Secret Key to the Universe mixes fiction with some facts pages - Lucy Hawking

Arthur Ransome, starting with Swallows and Amazons, then the other dozen or so by him.

DD liked Lucy Hawking's books at that age. Also, Gareth Jones - the Considine Curse - although that might have been a bit older

He sounds very similar to my DS.

Books/ series which have appealed over the years:

• the Akimbo series by Alexander MacCall Smith - about a boy growing up in Africa, lots of animals
• Spy Dog series by Andrew Cope
• the 100 miles an hour dog books by Jeremy Strong (hilarious)
• the Wombles books, much to my surprise (think they appealed to both his fact-collecting tendencies - lots of geography! - and his sense of humour).
• the Percy Jackson series - only fantasy he's ever really got into
• recently the Henderson's Boys series as he is interested in the war, but suspect this is for a somewhat older age group (DS was 11 when he read these).

How about 'The number devil' if he's into his maths?

If he was a girl I'd suggest 'Little House on the Prairie' but you might have difficulty persuading a boy to read that.

Would Sophie's world be too hard?

Or if you want him to learn about world religion and geography how about Theo's Odyessy.

If he's an avid reader, then don't worry. Many boys prefer fiction books.

What about the Gerald Durrell series - My family and other animals. Not sure what age hats aimed for. Steve , the Deadly 60 presenter, has also written kids books.

Mine only got into fiction when he discovered the Rob Child books, and that was because they were based around a football team.

The David Walliam books are very popular with kids, and my youngest likes the James Patterson Middle school series.