And now back to our regularly scheduled topics. First off, We Recommend, where we use our we-know-the-right-book-for-you superpowers to offer up books. And then everyone else offers their suggestions in the comments, giving you a hefty and attractive list. So write in, challenge us!
Oops! We are late, we are behind, we are not keeping up…etc, etc. But this person maybe can still buy a book in time? Take a look.
Every Christmas, every single human in the house receives a book from “The Grinch.” For adults, it may be the newest hardback from your favorite author that you would never buy for yourself; for children, usually a classic, or a book that might expand your young mind. (Little Women, Wind in the Willows, The Brothers Lionheart, to name a few)
Well, this Grinch would like some advice on what book I might give to my 7-year old son. He’s reading so well on his own – and very typical fare: Diary of A Wimpy Kid, Captain Underpants, Calvin & Hobbes comics, etc. We recently read together the original HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON book, which we both thoroughly enjoyed (and yes, he’s getting some of those from aunts & grandparents this holiday).
If he were a girl, I would have a hundred ideas of what to nudge him toward next. But he’s not. He’s just a great, young reader. And I hope he continues to love reading. But I don’t know what the next captivating book might be for him.
OK, captivating book for a boy here we go.
I wish I knew more of what he likes: magic? Trains? Biographies? Grossness? He's 7, so nothing too crazy (I guess), but something that would just knock his socks off. But maybe the whole fact that he's a boy is a red herring here. What we really want is a great, interesting, not-too-difficult book. Perhaps, in keeping with childhood traditions, a classic.
Here's what I got, though with the caveat: it's just great, but if he's not a silly person it might not work. But if he is, oh boy…
These are just fun and great, a complete pleasure. For what it's worth, I did consider some Roald Dahl—Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is such an excellent book for a 7-year-old, but I figure they've already read that?
But who knows? Now come on, all you readers and parents of boys and generaly concerned citizens. Give the Grinch a hand here.
marcialerner.com 
Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies!
And seriously, give him anything you’d give a girl with his reading skill and interests. Seven is way too young to be discouraging him from enjoying half of all published works.
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My 7 and 9 year-olds recommend the following: Dr. Doolittle, The Bunnicula series, Oliver Twist, Farmer Boy, The Tale of Despereaux, Because of Winn-Dixie, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Chronicles of Narnia, Gulliver’s Travels, Charlotte’s Web, and Stuart Little. Hope this helps!
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Phantom Tollbooth!
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Oh, I LOVE The Phantom Tollbooth!
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I think that I recommended this earlier for a girl but “My Father’s Dragon” is a a great book for this age, esp. boys. And something of a classic. Bunnicula is seconded by my (now 13 year old) son.
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I totally agree with My Father’s Dragon, which is a trilogy and comes in those nice gift boxes. Also a little Shel Silverstein poetry has that 7 year old sense of humor.
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The Mysterious Benedict Society
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My Side of the Mountain (which is probably still more of a read a-loud). Also I second Wayside School and there are other books by the same author; There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom was a favorite of mine (also, Holes, but that might be a little too intense for a 7 year old). From Judy Blume: Freckle Juice, SuperFudge,Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing or any in the Fudge series. From Beverly Cleary: The Mouse and the Motorcycle rocks for all genders (well all of these books are gender neutral, I loved them all as a girl and none of them are traditionally girly).Ohhhhh! How could I forget the wonderful amazing book: The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet. Bonus, it’s a series!
I think I read most of these in 3rd or 4th grade, so they might still be read a loud, but I’m not sure. The Cleary and Blume are certainly the easiest of the bunch but I highly reccomend all of them.
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I agree with a lot of the suggestions here…especially The Phantom Tollbooth.
How about Diana Wynne Jone’s _Dogsbody_? Though that might be hard to find and a little too old for reading alone.
And, while not great literature, my daughter at that age loved _Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher_ and other Bruce Coville books.
Actually, my first thought was to get one or two Dorling-Kindersley books on subjects that fascinate him, but I think they might be a year or two away…
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Not sure how advanced the 7 year old reader is- some of these books seem a bit old to read by himself. We loved the Look Alike books by Joan Steiner (as the subtitle says- discover a land where things are not as they appear). We like the first few, have not looked at later ones in the series.
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The Riot Brothers are a huge hit with my sons. 4 books in all I think. Funny stuff!
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The Rod Albright series(book 1 is called Aliens Ate my Homework)
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