Here's the AR site we use:

http://www.arbookfind.com/default.aspx. And, here's another cool site:

http://www.bookadventure.org/.

Ahh, the wonders of edumacation. <groan>

Val

Dottie, GS9 has been able to access anything we find on that site. Any idea why some schools don't have full access?

I believe while there is a "full access" option from Renaissance now, our school has an older subscription that apparently requires a "per test" purchase to access. According to the school, we can't even share tests between buildings within our district. This sucks because a lot of the books we do find end up on the next progressional school list, but not ours. These aren't even necessarily "advanced" books. I bought that "Hitchhikers Guide" book, and it's only level 6.6...yet the 5th/6th school doesn't have it, only the 7th/8th, .

I might have to take on the librarian again...it's been a few years since we've talked about this "problem".

I usually use RenLearn and Scholastic for reading levels.

Mission Impossible to the library went pretty well on Saturday! I really wanted to post back to add to the category of well illustrated, myth and poetry-infused books:

http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Makes-Sandwich-Adam-Rex/dp/0152057668

Does 'mythological' apply to monsters? I am not sure, but this book is the first one DS8 grabbed from the pile and after he read it in sheer delight, he said 'You should really read this it is sooooo funny', so I dutifully picked it up.
It is hilarious.
These are all poems about various monsters having modern day dilemmas - the writing is great and funny funny funny. The illustrations are so brilliant too, with visual puns and little writings here and there!
___________


We also got another book of poems by Jack Prelutsky ('a Pizza the size of the Sun') which ds has also been enjoying. And some books on Norse and Greek myths. I am holding off on some of the other suggestions to give ds more options later in the year.
Thanks again everyone!!

Isn't it great when you can read & discuss the same books with them?

How about the Wayside School series by Louis Sachar? DS started reading these when he was 5. He has read and re-read them many times. "Holes" by the same author is very good too. There's also a movie on it. Another good, old classic I can think of is The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.

To add: DS loves the "Choose your own adventure" series too. We are very lucky that we managed to find these in the library (even though they were torn and tattered!). When DS8 didn't know what else to read back in grade one, his teacher recommended him the Encyclopedia Brown books... which he found in the libraries too and devoured all of them!

Oooh, KG just started the Encyclopedia Brown books! He really likes them.

Does your ds have any other non-fiction interests? Some kids are just drawn to those. The DK Eyewitness books really are great, and there are a ton of topics. Or you could try some of the picture-heavy books aimed at adults -- space, weather, etc. KG *loves* his "Restless Skies" book!

If he's interested in mythology, D'Aulaire's mythology books are fabulous; they're oversized with great illustrations. I used to love the Greek one when I was that age, and she has several more:

http://www.amazon.com/DAulaires-Greek-My...1065&sr=1-1

Glad the trip went well!

My dd8 loved 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret' by Selznick and 'Kids' WHODUNITS' BY Hy Conrad.