Thursday, October 05, 2006
Looking for Suggestions
My son is currently interested in the middle ages. I was wondering if anyone knows of any good boy adventure stories set in the middle ages that are at a middle grade reading level - but have a content appropriate for a first grader. He's read The Arthur chapter book "King Arthur" and the Magic Tree House book set in the middle ages. He's read the first two Harry Potter books, so is up for a challenge. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Hi Christine,
Crispin: Cross of Lead by Avi is set in the middle ages. I'm not sure if the content level is ok for a first grader, but it would be worth a look on your part. It's definitely a boy adventure story.
You might also try Edward Eager's Tales of Magic books. At least a couple of them involve kids going back in time to the days of King Arthur. These should be appropriate for a younger boy without any problem.
Hope this helps! Jen
Christine, we're just starting the Magic Tree House and A to Z Mysteries series, but I did ask a librarian friend for a recommendation for your son. She suggested Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles series, the one that starts with The Book of Three. She also mentioned Kate McMullan's Dragonslayer Academy series.
Totally spaced on Lloyd Alexander, that would be perfect.
I'm also thinking Jane Yolen, particulary Wizard's Hall.
I know what you mean about appropriate content for younger kids -- I have a first grader, second grader, and fourth grader.. Some of these might be fairly easy reads but most are ripping yarns and very appropriate for young boys. We read through all of them the other year when we were studying the Middle Ages.
"The Castle in the Attic" and "The Battle for the Castle" by Elizabeth Winthrop
"The Whipping Boy" by Sid Fleischman
"The Minstrel in the Tower" by Gloria Skurzynski
"The Sword in the Tree" by Clyde Robert Bulla
"Sword in the Stone" by T.H. White
Nonfiction but great fun and easy to get lost in is David Macaulay's "Castle". And a great big second to Edward Eager.
And don't forget Robin Hood! You might want to check your library to see whose version -- Howard Pyle, Roger Lancelyn Green, Paul Creswick, et al. -- your son prefers... Besides the book version, my kids like the Jim Weiss audio cd and especially the Naxos unabridged audio book (by Benedict Flynn), very nice for falling asleep to with your rubber Ikea sword and shield under the pillow :)
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli. Wonderful, wonderful book set in medieval England. Won the Newberry in 1950, and features the son of a knight who learns some important lessons, most of them courtesy of a group of selfless monks.
Post a Comment