Book List for Boys

Fiction:

Tony Abbott Realism & SurvivalAbbott’s series feature fun and adventure.
Danger Guys and the Golden Lizard (Danger Guys Stories) HarperTrophy, ISBN: 0064420116, Ages 9 - 12 yrs.
Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet (Secrets of Droon Series) Little Apple, ISBN: 0590108395, Ages 9 - 12 yrs.

Avi
Avi writes good solid stories: Poppy is a deer mouse and her tales revolve around other animals in the meadow, while McKinley in The Good Dog is a sled dog torn between his human family and the wild world of Lupin, who is out to replenish his wolf pack.
The Good Dog Atheneum, ISBN: 0689838247, Ages 9 - 12 yrs.
Poppy (Series) Camelot, ISBN: 0380727692, Ages 9 & Up

Michael Chabon
Summerland is a treat where a “less than mediocre Little League player “ is recruited by a mystical 100 year old scout and accepts a mission to overthrow the evil, shape-changing overlord, Coyote. Shades of Narnia and the Hobbit say some. A challenge for older readers.
Summerland Hyperion Press, ISBN: 0786816155, Ages 9 & Up

Eoin Colfer
Science Fiction Colfer’s Artemis books are extremely popular and creative! “When a twelve-year old genius tries to demand a ransom, the fairies fight back with magic, technology, and a particularly nasty troll.”
Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl Series) Hyperion Press, ISBN: 0786817070, Ages 10 & up

Mark Crilley
Science Fiction Crilley’s Earthling hero, fourth-grader Akiko, joins an intergalactic cast of characters in a mission to rescue Prince Froptoppit of the Planet Smoo.
Akiko on the Planet Smoo (Akiki Series) Delacorte Press, ISBN: 0385327242, Ages 10 & up

Franklin Dixon
Oldies, but still goodies.
Hardy Boys Starter Set Platt & Munk, ISBN: 0448416719, Ages 9 - 12 yrs.

Edward Eager
Time Travel Knight’s castle by Eager follows four cousins who find themselves back in the times of Robin Hood and Ivanhoe!
Knight's Castle Harcourt, ISBN: 015202073X, Ages 7 - 9 yrs.

Cornelia Funke
Fantasy and Survival The Thief Lord by Funke is the newest book on this list: an exciting story about 2 brothers who run away to Venice, Italy, their aunt who hires a detective to track them down and the mysterious thief lord who takes them under his wing.
The Thief Lord Scholastic, ISBN: 0439404371, Ages 10 & up

Dan Greenburg
The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot (Zack Files Series) Grosset & Dunlap, ISBN: 0448420414, Ages 7 - 9 yrs.

Jackie French Koller
Dragonling Dragonling Series) Aladdin Library, ISBN: 074341019X, Ages 7 - 9 yrs.

Gary Paulsen
Realism and Survival In Hatchet, a boy is the lone survivor of a plane crash and is stranded in the wilderness with only a hatchet. This gripping tale is by Paulsen, who has written many wonderful stories including Mr. Tucket and Dogsong.
Mr. Tucket Yearling Books ISBN: 0440411335, Ages 9 - 12 yrs.
Dogsong Simon Pulse, ISBN: 0689827008, Ages 10 & up
Hatchet Simon Pulse, ISBN: 0689826990, Ages 9 -12 yrs.

Emily Rodda
High Fantasy
The Forests of Silence Apple, ISBN: 0439253233, Ages 9 - 12 yrs.
Deltora Book of Monsters (Deltora Quest) Scholastic, ISBN: 0439390842, Ages 9 - 12 yrs.

Louis Sachar
Holes was a recent movie written by the talented Sachar; think “curse, desert correctional camp treasure and friends”. This is very different from the humorous tales that occur on the thirteenth floor of Wayside School, which was accidentally built sideways with a classroom on each floor.
Sideways Stories from Wayside School (A Series) HarperTrophy, ISBN: 0380731487, Ages 9 - 12 yrs.
Holes Yearling Books, ISBN: 0440414806, Ages 9 - 12 yrs.

Jon Scieszka
Time Travel
See you later, Gladiator (Time Warp Trio Series) Puffin, ISBN: 0142300691, Ages 9-12 yrs
Sam Samurai (Time Warp Trio Series) Viking Childrens Books, ISBN: 0670899151, Ages 8 & Up

Non fiction

A variety for all tastes. Try to pinpoint some of your child’s interests; then browse the non-fiction shelves. It can be awesome! A strong alternate way to present non-fiction might be to use a narrative form, or group by topics i.e., true tales, poetry, biographies, and special interests.

Nathaniel Philbrick
The Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex Putnam Pub Group Juv, ISBN: 039923795X, Ages 9 -12 yrs.

Brian Colburn
Triumph on Everest: A Photobiography of Sir Edmund Hillary (Biography) National Geographic, ISBN: 0792279328, Ages 9 -12 yrs.

Mark Stewart
One Wild Ride: The Life of Skateboard Superstar Tony Hawk (Biography) 21st Century Books, ISBN: 0761326669, Ages 9 - 12 yrs.

Gary Paulsen
Puppies, Dogs and Blue Northers: Reflections on the Author’s Life with His Sled Dogs (Biography) Yearling Books, ISBN: 0440418755, Ages 9 - 12 yrs.

Tomi De Paola
The author, creator of Strega Nona, grandmother witch, looks back on his childhood.
Twenty-Six Fairmont Avenue Puffin, ISBN: 0698118642, Ages 9 - 12 yrs.
Here We All Are Puffin, ISBN: 0698119096, Ages 9 - 12 yrs.
What a Year (Biography) Puffin, ISBN: 014250158, Ages 9 - 12 yrs.

Walter Wick
I Spy Gold Challenger: A Book of Picture Riddles Cartwheel Books, ISBN: 0590042963, Ages 4 - 8 yrs.

Seymour Simon
Whales Harpercollins Juvenile Books, ISBN: 0064460959, Ages 4 - 8 yrs.
Big Cats HarperTrophy, ISBN: 006446119X, Ages 4 - 8 yrs.
Danger! Volcanoes SeaStar Books, ISBN: 1587171813, Ages 4 - 8 yrs.
Muscles: Our Muscular Skeleton HarperTrophy, ISBN: 0688177204, Ages 7 & Up
Animals Nobody Loves SeaStar Books, ISBN: 1587171554, Ages 4 - 8 yrs.

Richard Platt
Eyewitness: Pirate DK Publishing, ISBN: 0789466082, Ages 9 -12 yrs.
Eyewitness: Spy DK Publishing, ISBN: 0789466163, Ages 9 -12 yrs.

Jack Prelutski
Monday’s Troll Greenwillow, ISBN: 0688096441, Ages 4 - 8 yrs.
A Pizza the Size of the Sun Greenwillow, ISBN: 0688132359, Ages 4 - 8 yrs.

Douglas Florian
Poetry
Laugh-eteria Puffin, ISBN: 0141309903, Ages 4 - 8 yrs.
Beast Feast Voyager Books, ISBN: 0152017372, Ages 4 - 8 yrs.

Eyewitness Books Eyewitness Books stand out in the non-fiction collection. They are bountiful and beautiful, including wonderful photographs along with information. Browsing these gems is a treat. Examples: Sharks, Whales and Dolphins, Islam or Money. The Eyewitness Juniors, which are mostly in paperback, are perfect for lower elementary grades i.e, Amazing bikes, Amazing crocodiles and lizards.

For more great books for boys, look for Kathleen Odean’s Great Books for Boys: More than 600 books for Boys 2-14.

Source: Parents' Choice Foundation