Books for a really smart, imaginative 8 year old boy?
May 25, 2020 4:39 PM Subscribe
My nephew's birthday is coming up. He LOVES to read and I want to get him a few books that are appropriate for his age group. He already loves the Zombie Goldfish series. Any suggestions for similar series that he might enjoy?
CatStronauts would probably be a treat for someone who likes the Zombie Goldfish.
posted by BibiRose at 4:53 PM on May 25, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by BibiRose at 4:53 PM on May 25, 2020 [3 favorites]
(Looking into it a bit further, I'm having trouble figuring out what age group Bunnicula is meant for. It's worth checking that I'm not too far off before buying it. But, there were a few years when I loved it.)
Also, my favorite book in the world when I was in second/third grade was The King of the Cats by René Guillot. I haven't read it in decades. I suspect it's a bit dark and advanced, and may have genuinely ugly bits that I don't remember, but it sure captured my imagination as a kid. I named my first cat after the main character.
posted by eotvos at 5:08 PM on May 25, 2020 [2 favorites]
Also, my favorite book in the world when I was in second/third grade was The King of the Cats by René Guillot. I haven't read it in decades. I suspect it's a bit dark and advanced, and may have genuinely ugly bits that I don't remember, but it sure captured my imagination as a kid. I named my first cat after the main character.
posted by eotvos at 5:08 PM on May 25, 2020 [2 favorites]
My 8yo loves Tracey West's Dragon Masters series.
posted by goatdog at 5:55 PM on May 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by goatdog at 5:55 PM on May 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
Rutabaga the Adventure Chef has been a sleeper hit to any kids we’ve gifted them to.
posted by furnace.heart at 5:59 PM on May 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by furnace.heart at 5:59 PM on May 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
My really smart and imaginative 7 year old boy loves:
- How To Train Your Dragon series
- Wings of Fire series
- Captain Underpants series
posted by forza at 7:26 PM on May 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
- How To Train Your Dragon series
- Wings of Fire series
- Captain Underpants series
posted by forza at 7:26 PM on May 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
+1 catstronauts. My imaginative kid LOVES them.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:51 PM on May 25, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:51 PM on May 25, 2020 [2 favorites]
Oh and also Zeus the Mighty, a story about a hamster named Zeus but it mirrors Greek mythology.
He thinks every day objects are secret relics, it’s wonderful.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:54 PM on May 25, 2020
He thinks every day objects are secret relics, it’s wonderful.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:54 PM on May 25, 2020
If he is interested in graphic novels, my son devoured the Amulet series the summer he was 8. (And continues to re-read them forevermore).
posted by rozee at 8:08 PM on May 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by rozee at 8:08 PM on May 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
I know that this isn't quite the series you were asking about, but when my nephews were 8 they LOVED the Guinness World Records books.
posted by Juniper Toast at 8:24 PM on May 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Juniper Toast at 8:24 PM on May 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
My sons loved the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series, and the Silverwing series.
posted by angiep at 8:51 PM on May 25, 2020
posted by angiep at 8:51 PM on May 25, 2020
An 8 year old who loves reading is ready for middle grades books, and for middle grades books you can't do much better than the Newbery awards.
Every few years I'll catch up--books for young readers are getting so much better. Some recent and classic that have stuck out to me (descriptions/authors are on that wiki page I linked):
When You Reach Me
The Westing Game
Holes
Doll Bones
The Graveyard Book
The Giver
I also recently read The Mysterious Benedict Society...not a Newbery winner and as an adult reading it it's not a stick-with-you book, but I would have enjoyed it a lot as a small kid I think. There's a short series. In a similar vein, the Wayside School books are a ton of fun.
posted by phunniemee at 8:59 PM on May 25, 2020 [3 favorites]
Every few years I'll catch up--books for young readers are getting so much better. Some recent and classic that have stuck out to me (descriptions/authors are on that wiki page I linked):
When You Reach Me
The Westing Game
Holes
Doll Bones
The Graveyard Book
The Giver
I also recently read The Mysterious Benedict Society...not a Newbery winner and as an adult reading it it's not a stick-with-you book, but I would have enjoyed it a lot as a small kid I think. There's a short series. In a similar vein, the Wayside School books are a ton of fun.
posted by phunniemee at 8:59 PM on May 25, 2020 [3 favorites]
You should have a look at Terry Pratchett's "Johnny" books. They are set in England in our world, from the point of view of a young boy called Johnny. They have an absurdist fantasy element to them - aliens, ghosts, time travel. They are funny and thoughtful and twisty. They do deal with some serious elements like war and death, but in an age appropriate way.
The series is:
Only You Can Save Mankind
Johnny and the Dead
Johnny and the Bomb
posted by Zumbador at 12:25 AM on May 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
The series is:
Only You Can Save Mankind
Johnny and the Dead
Johnny and the Bomb
posted by Zumbador at 12:25 AM on May 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
My 9-year-old loved The Secret Coders series which sneakily teaches some basic coding concepts. (The author Gene Luen Yang is a former computer teacher.) Despite its educational merit, the series doesn't feel the slightest bit medicinal. It's funny, imaginative, fast-paced, and suspenseful.
Also a big hit in my household: the Treehouse Series, which begins with The Thirteen Story Treehouse.
posted by yankeefog at 3:25 AM on May 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
Also a big hit in my household: the Treehouse Series, which begins with The Thirteen Story Treehouse.
posted by yankeefog at 3:25 AM on May 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
Suggesting that if you are open to getting multiple books maybe you could get a bit of a spread, smart kids often get books they have to reach up for, which is great but maybe get a book or two that might feel like an easy read as well, I know sometimes I just want to kick back with a book that is ‘easy to chew’. My son also loved list books. I would like to recommend Donn Fendler’s ‘Lost on a Mountain in Maine’ a true story about a 12-year-old boy who was lost for a few weeks by himself on Mt. Katadin, it left me with a lifelong belief that survival is possible.
posted by InkaLomax at 3:58 AM on May 26, 2020
posted by InkaLomax at 3:58 AM on May 26, 2020
Warriors
At this age, my child loved this multi-series / volumes set.
posted by maxg94 at 7:00 AM on May 26, 2020
At this age, my child loved this multi-series / volumes set.
posted by maxg94 at 7:00 AM on May 26, 2020
Geronimo Stilton Kingdom of Fantasy Series - these are really fun adventures, and there is an amazing amount of illustration in each book. The hardcovers are really worth the price.
posted by SNACKeR at 9:44 AM on May 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by SNACKeR at 9:44 AM on May 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
I like Sal and Gabi Destroy the Universe by Carlos Hernandez. It’s middle grade though but it’s likely fine for eight
posted by azalea_chant at 7:30 PM on May 26, 2020
posted by azalea_chant at 7:30 PM on May 26, 2020
We really liked Geronimo Stilton (and his photojournalist sister Thea Stilton). The books have complexity while still pitched for the young elementary age. They use typeface to help build reading skills, in a fun way. They have a European feel, I believe they were originally in Italian.
posted by latkes at 7:51 AM on May 27, 2020
posted by latkes at 7:51 AM on May 27, 2020
JK Rowling is doing a serial novel for kids stuck at home! Just started yesterday.
https://www.jkrowling.com/j-k-rowling-introduces-the-ickabog/
posted by kestrel251 at 8:01 AM on May 27, 2020
https://www.jkrowling.com/j-k-rowling-introduces-the-ickabog/
posted by kestrel251 at 8:01 AM on May 27, 2020
At the risk of just adding to the pile of obvious classics you've already thought of, I think A Series of Unfortunate Events is unparalleled. I admit I don't know much about kids or what they need for their development, and I guess maybe the series is aimed at slightly older kids, but growing up it meant a lot to me.
posted by jy4m at 12:53 AM on May 28, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by jy4m at 12:53 AM on May 28, 2020 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by eotvos at 4:53 PM on May 25, 2020 [2 favorites]