Book recommendations for 7 yr old

Nikki - posted on 02/19/2013

My son loves the Percy Jackson books.

Madame - posted on 02/19/2013

"The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster - challenging, creative and for all ages. One of the best "children" stories ever written.

Jennifer - posted on 02/15/2013

The author of "George's Secret Key to the Universe" is Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy.

Marisa - posted on 01/19/2009

I have had a similar struggle.  I have finally concluded, that just because he CAN read that high, doesn't mean he should.  My son is 6 (7 in March) and I don't feel that at that age they are emotionally ready for so much that is written at a higher level.  So, I feel fine giving my son high quality literature from the juvenille section.  Some of those books, even though they are written at a 4-6 grade level, have such beautiful writing and descriptions and vocabulary.  The story also appeals to the child because it is something they can more relate to than someone 10 years older.

Nicola - posted on 01/18/2009

My son who is now 7 has been reading at high school level for over a year now and we had real trouble finding books for him but we came across Jack Stalwart he is a spy looking for his brother who has been kidnapped or Roald Dahl books and he has seemed to like these. Hope this helps a bit.

Victoria - posted on 01/17/2009

Roal Dahl....think Matilda, the BFG, Eso Trot. I actually did not let any of mine read junk literature. It did sneak in a bit though...Lemony Snicket and the like and the books by Riddle Pearson and Drew Barry.

Nikki - posted on 01/17/2009

My 7-year-old son & I are on the 4th book in the Septimus Heap series & he absolutely loves them. As karen wrote above, they are written by Angie Sage. The titles are "Magyk", "Flyte", "Physik" & "Queste". My son thinks that they are even better than Harry Potter & I almost have to agree with him. But I do have to say, if you don't approve of Harry Potter (my sister won't let her children read the books or watch the movies), then the Septimus Heap books aren't for you.

Karen - posted on 01/17/2009

I have the same problem with my nine year old daughter. At seven I could almost keep up and read everything she did so I would at least know where to expect questions and what to expand upon when I didn't like how a book handle something.

By eight she just read too much, too fast, for me to read every book she did. (She read the last 4 Harry Potter books in under a month. The "Chronicles of Narnia" in three weeks.) I steered her toward historical fiction. The "Dear America" series company has several levels and books geared toward boys and girls. That lead to studies of the times and places that could be pulled from non fiction sources which would allow more challenging content levels.

For the most part I at this point rely on the her habit of talking to me about what she's read rather than trying to censor her reading. (I do often set and age limit if the main characters are more than twice her age then it stays on the shelf. If there is a romantic plot thread I limit the age of the main character to 15 years.)

I occasionally have to discuss with her that some things are inappropriate for her to discuss with the kids her age. (She went through a short period when she talked about death.) To me, it seems that the higher the reading level the darker the themes of contemporary fiction geared to kids.

My daughter suggests "Magyk" by Angie Sage. She says the second book in the series "Flyte" is less scary. "The 39 Clues" series are fun to read and have puzzles to do on an online site. You can pick your own ending in "The Name of This Book is Secret". 

Nikki - posted on 01/15/2009

Jean Craighead George is also a great author! You should definitely check her out. "Julie of the Wolves" is wonderful!

Debbi - posted on 01/15/2009

Also, both of my kids love books of facts, like 1001 facts about mammels.  I put them in the car and they read them cover to cover.

Debbi - posted on 01/15/2009

My son started the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, The Lightening Thief, between 2nd and 3rd grade.  He loves these books and has read them over and over since.

He also loved reading all of the stories in the D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths.  It is a large book with illustrations and has been around since I was a kid.

anything to do with Greek Mythology can be a little graphic and cold hearted.  Just a warning.  But it seems like all the kids I have talked with love them.

Kristina - posted on 01/14/2009

My 7 year old is also very sensitive. She took one look at the Fable Haven cover and refused to read it. Two series that she enjoyed (she loves mysteries) are A-Z mysteries and the Boxcar Children. THey may be on a too simple level for your son, but they are great fun. Plus, there are more than 120 Boxcar children books - you won't run out for a long time.

Megan - posted on 01/14/2009

I would also suggest the Little house series. It's not difficult, but is long, and historically accurate. Also not to scary or suspenseful.

Mara - posted on 01/14/2009

Hi,
I see that many of the books posted here are very mature in topic. My daughter loves to read and understands what she reads. She can get very frightened when the books are scary.
My daughter is coming to help me post the books she enjoys. She is 7, sensitive and reads at a very high level. She likes The Littles series by John Peterson, The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osbourne, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L Engle, The Doll People by Martin Godwin,Anything by Roald Dahl, The Beast Quest Series, The Magic School Bus Series, The Time Warp Trio, Animal Ark series, Tom Sawyer, The Robinsons, My Side of the Mountain, Little Women, Tom Trueheart, (Enders game was my all time favorite book when I was a kid...I just think she is not there yet.)
I also think The Hobbit is too scary, depending on the 7 year old.

Jennifer - posted on 01/14/2009

He also liked "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card.  We read it together, and then I went on to read the rest of the Ender/Shadow series.  "Ender's Shadow" would also be good, but the rest of the series is not appropriate for him yet. (He's 9)   

Jennifer - posted on 01/14/2009

My son really liked 'Goerge's Sevret Key to the Universe".  I don't remember the author's name, but he's a famous scientist and the book includes some incredible space photos.

Jennifer - posted on 01/14/2009

I am new to this all but my daughter is 8 and loves Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. There are 3 in this series and she also has a series that came out before this one. Hope this helps.

Julia - posted on 01/13/2009

My six year old is loving all of the Andrew Clemmens books (Frindle was huge this year...but he wrote a whole bunch). She also reads loads of science and art books and classics (they have loads that are somewhat simplified). Urgghh...can be so tough finding books for such a reading level...our child is maybe 4 years above grade level...and I find that tough. Good luck!!

Erin - posted on 01/12/2009

My 6 year old has fallen in love with the Beast Quest Series!  Discovered it when he was 5 at a school book fair.  We immediately went and got the rest of the series.  He also enjoys The Magic Treehouse series and Cam Jansen mystery books.  He is also getting into the collection of Encyclopedia Brown mysteries that he got for Christmas from his uncle.  I remember my brother reading a lot of Danny Dunn adventures when we were kids and I know those are still in print.  I've seen them at the store.  Your son might be find those enjoyable.  And I certainly recommend Harry Potter!  (I'm somewhat of a HP fanatic myself!!!)  Have fun reading!

Michelle - posted on 01/12/2009

My son is 6 and loves the Narnia Series! He and Daddy have read through the whole series a couple of times now... He also loves the Magic Tree House series and any of the Starwars books... Happy Reading!

Jami - posted on 01/12/2009

Samantha, our sons sound as if they have very similar taste.  Mine loves all the Klutz craft books.  He's always wanting something new...potholders, origami, jewlery, magic tricks, knitting, card tricks, math tricks, chess openings, piano...it never ends! 

Amy - posted on 01/12/2009

Thanks for the tip about the scholastic book wizard... that was great. We have a similar situation with my son. He's very sensitive to violence or even suspense, but can read at a high level. One of his most favorite ever books was "My Side of the Mountain".

Samantha - posted on 01/12/2009

Excellent Point Jami! I enjoyed reading the Harry Potter Books! :-)

Jami - posted on 01/12/2009

I'd like to make the point that just because you are reading at a high school level doesn't mean you can't enjoy lower level books.  I myself have been enjoying the age 9-12 books.

Megan - posted on 01/11/2009

"A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L'Engle it's a series but I know that you can get a complitlation book with them in it. The Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Colfer are another series to try. My son really enjoys these because they're about a really smart boy and all his troubles and adventures.

Kelly - posted on 01/10/2009

Go to scholastic.com under the teachers section and click on Teacher Book Wizard. Then do a leveled search. It allows you to input your child's interest level and their reading level. I've been using this for awhile with my 6 year old and it's amazing. We're able to find books that challenge her without getting into material that she's not ready for otherwise.

Samantha - posted on 01/08/2009

My 7 year old boy likes to read to learn new things. So while he will gobble up a novel in one sitting like the Captain Jack original pirate series, he's much more entertained and challenged by 6th grade science books, joke books, books about zoology, and books that teach him new skills like sign language, majic tricks, juggling, piano and chess. He gets lost in books that teach him to do something physically.

Hope that helps.

Jami - posted on 01/07/2009

My 7 year old likes the new 39 clues series and Beast Quest lately.  SOme of the Goosbumps books he's been interested i, too.  He's breezed though the Magic tree house and the Andrew Lost in the ...series  The Andrew lost series is a lot of fun, but he reads one in an evening.  One book he's really enjoyes reading out loud is the Mysterious Benedict Society.  And he read Hugo Cabret over Thanksgiving and really enjoyed it.

Lynne - posted on 12/12/2008

My 8 year old has read Roald Dahl and we both enjoy those. He is currently reading Treasure Island, which I'm embarassed to say that I've never read. He also has 39 Clues and enjoyed Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It has inspired him to keep a journal o his own as well. He has only read the first Harry Potter and that was when he was 6. He didn't like to read the "made up" magic words, so I didn't push it. I think he'd enjoy it more now. He also has read a few of the Unfortunate Events books and wants to read the Spiderwick Chronicals. He loves the Magic Treehouse books and they are good for most Advanced Reading Programs at schools if you have that particular program. He has all of the Little House on the Prairie books, but hasn't started those yet. I loved those as a child also, along with Trixie Belden.

Heather - posted on 12/12/2008

My daughter is a very good reader, and we've had the same problem. She is also 7 and these are some (more challenging) books she has really enjoyed:

Shiloh, Shiloh Season, Saving Shiloh, 21 Balloons, Indian in the Cupboard, Earthquake Terror, Matilda, Dick King-Smith books, Midnight for Charlie Bones, Ruby Holler, Everything on a Waffle, Ella Enchanted, Beverly Cleary books, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Chronicles of Narnia, Afternoon of the Elves, Sign of the Beaver (Hatchet and Brian's Winter are great adventure books that she hasn't read yet) Hope this helps!

Lauryan - posted on 12/03/2008

Another idea- there are some awesome biographies out there as well that he may enjoy. It's cool to learn about the people whose movies and books you enjoy.



Let him start with something like "Going Solo" by Roald Dahl (author of some awesome kiddies books, this book is aimed at high school kids.



There are also a host of books by Gerald Durrel, which are autobiographical by nature. Start with "My family and other Animals" - it's funny and interesting and will give your son lots of fun ideas

Lauryan - posted on 12/03/2008

Also - what about the Hardy boys? If you can still find them that is... Those are fun adventure stories. Others he may enjoy if he is into fantasy is the Terry Pratchett books - these are fun to read. And for something a bit more serious (although you may want to wait another year or two first) is the Dragonlance series of books by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weiss.

Kat - posted on 12/02/2008

Thank you all for your great recommendations. He started The Hobbit yesterday and is loving it. I appreciate you all for posting!!!

Kim - posted on 12/02/2008

There's a new series, The 39 Clues, that has just come out. It involves 2 kids who can either inherit $1,000,000 each or search the world for 39 clues that will lead them to the secrets of power throughout history. My 8 year old and I are both enjoying it so far! You can also get on the website and play along to try to find clues.

Meaghan Boland - posted on 11/26/2008

My husband says, if he's a boy, he should read Horatio Hornblower. Historical naval adventures from the Napoleonic Era. By C.S. Forester

Jennifer - posted on 11/21/2008

What about a few adventure books like Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain?

Meaghan Boland - posted on 11/20/2008

My daughter who just turned 9 and is reading at the highschool level really likes Watership Down, the Redwall Series, anything by Cornelia Funke. We also give her classics to read. She has read Lord of the Flies several times. She also loved Lord of the Rings. She loves fantasy, and there are a lot out there at the middle school level for content...fairly tame with slight violent images. She is really enjoying Mark Twain, Scott O'Dell, The Three Muskateers (a slightly simplified version). I enjoy going the classics route because while they explore some deep subjects, the language is such that you really need to know what they are talking about to get everything. Therefore these books lend themselves to multiple readings over the years. Hope that helps!

Sarah - posted on 11/20/2008

I know your dilemma. I have a 6 year old who is reading at a high level for her age, not quite high school. have you done "The Magic Tree House" series? great books. there are probably 20 to 30 in the series and it talks a lot about history. my daughter really enjoys them.

Kristin - posted on 11/20/2008

The juvenile section of a public library has enriching literature minus inappropriate subjects. My seven year old enjoys C.S. Lewis "Chronicles of Narnia", Brandon Mull "Fable Haven" and the Harry Potter series. Authors like Sharon Creech and Shel Silverstein are personal favorites. Check out www.goodreads.com to learn details about books and see reviews.