Suggestions for reading for a year 1/year 2 boy

[squashpie]

Following on from my thread yesterday enquiring about reading schemes vs out-of-school books and another revived one on here about reading schemes and free readers, could mumsnetters share recommendations for books for a, in my case, DS just coming out of year 1.

He has already read (with our assistance or by us as bedtime stories) all of Mr Gum, one Beastquest, all of the shorter Roald Dahl's, and a couple of Michael Morpurgo/ Dick King Smith. He does not like the Philip Ardargh books he's read and is not so into Astrosaurs. He loves joke books.

Also any poetry books for children? He seems less willing to try this form and, as a poetry lover myself, I would love him to get 'into it'. But I don't want to put him off with anything too hard or too easy and I just don't know what's out there.

Thanks in advance!

WHat about the Usborne non-fiction books? Ds is a bit younger but reading ahead of his age so about year 2 level and they're really good. You can pick those which appeal to his interests.

DS2 is the same age and a similar reading level if I remember rightly.

He actually re-reads a lot of things like Mr Gum as he enjoys them so much! The same goes for the shorter Roald Dahl's, Horrid Henry, Dirty Bertie and Bob the man in the moon (the reading books rather than the picture books of the last two).

He is currently reading a lot more factual stuff, as runout suggested the Usbourne books are good. He is interested in things like the Vikings, Celts and Romans so things like this and this are good.

To be honest I tend to just let him loose in the library to choose what he likes. He also searches on Amazon for topics he is interested in, he knows how to limit the age range to 5-8, then he puts them onto a wish list if he likes the look of them.

I'm not hugely worried about stretching his reading as he is already ahead. I just encourage him to read lots of different things which take his fancy, that way he's stretching himself sideways too. He reads in two languages as well so there are an awful lot of books to cover at each stage!

squashpie - below is a list of books that both my ds and dd have enjoyed - variety of reading levels as sometimes they enjoyed reading a more involved book followed by a couple of light relief stories.

The Legend of Spud Murphy, The Legend of Captain Crow's Teeth and The Legend of the Worst Boy in the World by Eoin Colfer

The Scarecrow and His Servant by Philip Pullman

Famous Five series / The Island of Adventure series by Enid Blyton

The Children of Green Knowe series by Lucy M. Boston

Stig of the Dump by Clive King

Oliver Moon series by Sue Mongredien

The Raven Mysteries by Marcus Sedgwick

The Happy Families series (Allan Ahlberg)

Winnie the Witch (picture and chapter books)

My Naughty Little Sister (he doesn't seem bothered that it is about a girl)

Paddington

He is very "in" to Star Wars and Indiana Jones so likes any books about these - could look for books on any interest your DS has?

Dragonese....start with how to train a pirate.

And Horrible Histories!

The Dragonese books are on my ready for Christmas wish list, they look fab.

I know this sounds like a silly question, but how "horrible" are the Horrible Histories books? I've seen a few reviews saying that they aren't suitable for younger children. My two boys (6 and nearly 8) are quite wimpy sensitive so I don't want to scare them, but on the other hand they are both very into history. They don't watch much TV and haven't seen the series on there so I can't gauge from that how scary they are.

DS also 6 just finished Y1.

Agree the Usborne books are great - we have 6 of the See Inside ones. Currently rereading See Inside London and See Inside Castles. These though are non fiction, obviously.

We are also rereading Captain Underpants, having read all of them a year or so previously. Don't discount rereading, I find he's understanding a few more of the jokes this year!

DS's absolute fave is Matilda by RD, although he loves all RD.

He wasn't esp keen on Magic Faraway Tree, Wishing Chair or BeastQuest. Its just trial and error really.

and forgot about poetry

don't know if this counts, but both mine love the Dr Seuss stuff. DD (3) has a Cat in the Hat treasury that DS regularly reads to her.

gives me a warm glow