Do you have any 4-H Clubs in your area? A Cooperative Extension Service (aka County Extension Office)? I teach nutrition and cooking classes for children at our local Food Bank that are open to anyone. Maybe those are some sources you haven't thought of. Perhaps you can use the link below... -Grainlady Here is a link that might be useful: Kids a Cookin'

Gosh, thank you all so much for the great ideas. I have a Pete the Cat book but didn't realize it was a series. I'll look for more. I'm very interested in the Harry McLary books, but interestingly my library doesn't have them! But they are on Amazon, so I'll give them a try. I was going to try to thank everyone individually, but worry I'll leave someone out, so I hope you'll know that I'll look at each of these and try them out. For anyone else reading this looking for ideas, my grandson loves a book I found called Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. And I can second the G'night, G'night construction site. How do boys seem to emerge with an affinity for construction equipment? At 2 and younger? It's crazy! Also, no one answered about Where's Waldo? I know it's older, but does anyone recommend it? If so, which one? Please keep adding books if you think of more. It's great to have them all in a place to check back with. Thanks again!

I have a 10 year old girl and 13 year old boy. My son is not a big fiction reader, he reads for information, but he loves Artemis Fowl or anything by Eoin Colfer. He also loves Calvin & Hobbes, Foxtrot and Tintin comics. I think that consulting with a good children's librarian may be better than the awards (though the Newberry is always pretty reliable), because some of the YA award books can have some material you might consider objectionable. For example the book Tender Morsels that had a thread on here not long ago. Here's a list of books my kids have really enjoyed: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH The Tale of Desperaux Any of the Magic Treehouse books The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents Andrew Clements' books (Frindle, Janitor's Boy etc...) Dragon Rider Here's what's on the eighth grade summer reader list at my son's school: They all have to read Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Patilla Beals, then they can choose any of the following: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou It's Not About the Bike - Lance Armstrong Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood - Ibtisam Barakat A Walk in the Woods - Bill Bryson Facing the Lion Growing up Maasai on the African Savanna - Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton In the Heart of the Sea: the Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex - Nathaniel Philbrick (we live near Boston, so local history) Chew on This - Eric Schlosser The Man Who Ate the 747 - Ben Sherwood Big Mouth and Ugly Girl - Joyce Carol Oates Travel Team - Mike Lupica A Step From Heaven - Na, An A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams Summerland - Michael Chabon Dune - Frank Herbert The Green Mile- Steven King There are a few others on the list. For the younger ones, there are some really great picture books: The Olivia books by Ian Falconer The Three Pigs by David Wiesner The Miss Spider books Jan Brett books are a feast for the eyes Hope that helps.

You all are amazing. What a variety and wealth of info about kid's books (and so many other things)! I remember hearing of Lemony Snicket (didn't Jim Carey do a movie?) so I'll check those out. I looked at Beverly Cleary books, not sure he'd be drawn to Ramona, but the Mouse and Motorcycle looks like a great fit. He loves furry creatures and all things vehicle, so I think he'd love it. It looks like there will be a movie about How to Train your Dragon, and I think that might be a nice segue from the My Father's Dragon books (well, at least both about dragons), so will add that to my list, too. How fun Renogirl to write that blog. I'll bookmark it and watch for your other recommendations. We saw a children's theatre performance of Charlotte's web so that might not be a first choice for him, just because he knows the story, but I'll look at Trumpet of the Swan. Thanks! Illustrated classics looks interesting, too. Thanks! I'm probably the only person in the world who hates the Wizard of Oz (the movie, but it will have ruined the books for me), so he'll have to get that from someone else :-) I never read the Little House books, just grew up on the TV show, but I think he'd really like the pioneer aspect, how people used to live. I know I didn't personally address everyone who posted. I've been having terrible internet problems, so just gave up, but please know I so appreciate you all taking time to write your thoughts. I think we've got 7-10 about covered here! Thank you all.