Gift Help Needed! Fantasy for Girls and Books for Little Ones
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Reader Harmony writes in and says:
Hey. Everyone in my family is getting books from Christmas. I know what I'm getting most of them but I need some help with a few. I have two little cousins, ages 1 1/2 and a few months. I'd like to get a few books that they can both enjoy but I'm slightly stumped.
Also, I have a friend, age 13, who's really into fantasy books. I know she likes Tamora Pierce, Harry Potter, and Charlie Bones. I'd like to get her a few books to add to her collection but since I'm not a very avid fantasy reader, I'm stumped.
Any suggestions on either of these would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Let's help her out!
Posted byAmy at 11:23 PM
Tags: Help Needed
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There are TONS of Fantasy books out there... most of them aren't gender specific. I also like to recommend series, especially for kids, because if they like the first one, they've got tons more to read afterwards.
- Eragon series by Christopher Paolini is about dragons. I've heard good things.
- I like the Into the Land of the Unicorns series by Bruce Coville. When I was in Elementary School (I'm now 20), the second installment was released... and now there is finally rumour of the 3rd!
- Depending on how mature she is, I would recommend the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers. My cousin is 14 and has read it. Be advised there is a bit of sex in the last one... it's hinted at in the first few though.
- His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman. Starts with the Golden Compass -- soooo much better than the movie!
- I've also heard good things about the Spiderwick Chronicles books, but you might want to check the reading level on those, because I think it might be a younger crowd.
For the little ones I would suggest 'board-books' if you aren't familiar with these, they are smaller sized books, often square, with very thick, sturdy pages.
The best types are ones with very colorful pictures of everyday things that will catch a child's attention. Many parents of babies use the ones that are only black and white because apparently the stark contrast is very helpful in developing a child's concentration.
I find that the words within do not matter so much, because the person reading it to the child can make up any story to go with the illustration, which encourages the child to do likewise (even if they are doing so in baby-talk)
I like board books myself, because my kids could play with them, put them in their mouths, whatever they wanted, without damaging the book. For me it was a way to introduce reading to my children and familiarize them with the idea of reading - turning pages in order, pointing out the pictures and developing the idea of words going with pictures.
Some of my favorite board books are by Karen Katz. They are just wonderful and my kids loved them too. Our all-time favorite is "Where is Baby's Belly Button?" and "Where is Baby's Mommy?" There are tons more -- the "Counting Kisses" one is so precious too. I saw that they are selling boxed sets of these books. My 4 year old still likes to read them and lift the flaps!
My favourite board books when my son was little were the Sandra Boynton books. My son LOVED "Moo, Baa, La la la".
For the fantasy reader, there is so much fantasy out there for teens now, that it should be pretty easy to find something she'd enjoy. However, if you want something she very likely hasn't read (it's older) I'd try the original Pern series by Anne McCaffrey (Dragon Flight, The White Dragon, Dragon Quest) and the Harper Hall trilogy that takes place over the same time span (Dragon Song, Dragon Singer, Dragon Drums). She creates a marvelous world (though her later books got kind of silly, in my opinion, so I'd stick with the original series).
GRACELING by Kristin Cashore could be a good choice for the 13-year-old. I found the themes reminiscent of Tamora Pierce, and the story just flew by.
Mercedes Lackey isn't strictly YA, but I think her books could also have a lot of appeal for a Pierce fan. ARROWS OF THE QUEEN is the best one to start with.
Even though they aren't quite in the same vein, I'd also recommend Ysabeau S. Wilce's Flora books. The first one is FLORA SEGUNDA.
My idea would be Far World: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage. The main character Marcus is a 13 year old boy and I've heard really good things about hte book...and it'll be a series as well!
Another one would be The Questory of Root Karbunkulus. It seems to be something fans of Harry Potter would enjoy.
I haven't read this one either, but I'd like to read it...Far World as well!
-Lauren
I concur with Monica about His Dark Materials -- those are great fantasy books.
Diana Wynne Jones is another good YA fantasy author. I can't remember a book title off the top of my head, but I'm sure any of them would be good.
Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness)
Books I have reviewed that I believe are suitable reading for 13+
Dragons, Heroes and Wizards
Books I have not reviewed but still recommend.
Dragon Riders of Pern by Anne Mcaffery
Anne Mcaffery is one of those authors whose books just leave you feeling good once you read the last page. While a combination of Sci-fi and Fantasy (the argument continues about which one it is) they sit on my fantasy shelf. Anyone who has ever dreamed of riding a dragon should read these.
Xanth Series by Piers Anthony
Fun series full of fantastic creatures, a unique parallel world and a magic system based on puns. Yes I said puns! These are a light read and funny as heck (by the rules of the Adult Conspiracy if I say the other word really bad things will happen.) Anthony has taken puns sent to him over the years by readers and woven them into a tongue in cheek universe where babies are actually delivered by storks and children are kept innocent at all costs. Corny but fun reads.
Uglies Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld
UGLIES trilogy follows the high-tech adventures of Tally Youngblood. As an ugly, then a pretty, and finally a special, Tally works to take down a society created to function with perfect-looking people who never have a chance to think for themselves.
And for great holiday gifts for the younger set, I ran across this site recently.
Fantasy Books
Hope that helps!
For your friend, I recommend "Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow" by Jessica Day George. Odds are, she hasn't read it yet and it's marvelous! Or anything by Shannon Hale (Goosegirl!) or Diana Wynne Jones.
For the littlest ones, I second the board book recommendation. My niece just turned 1 and she LOVES her Sandra Boynton books as well as "Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb" and "Jamberry."
I definitely recommend three books by Terry Pratchett with a young girl as the protagonist: Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky, and The Wintersmith. All are in paperback and available pretty cheap, and Tiffany is one of the best fantasy heroines I've encountered.
Tamora Pierce's books are also great, and her female characters are great role models. I really, really liked the Alanna quartet and the Trickster's Choice / Trickster's Queen pair. :D
Hi Harmony,
I would recommend The Oddies Series.
The Oddies is a popular series of illustrated books aimed at children aged 2-7 about the adventures of odd socks (or Oddies, as they are known) in a magical world far beyond the moon called Oddieworld. Each book in the series is about a different Oddie – Pirate Oddie, Ballet Oddie or Footy Oddie to name a few.
For every character in the series there is a pair of Matching Odd Socks, so that children can literally step into the characters!
Check out the site at www.oddieworld.com
Or the Oddie blog at www.oddies.blogspot.com.
The Oddies series is perfect for improving your child’s reading skills, encouraging their imagination and spending time together in a fun and interactive way.
Happy reading!
For the fantasy reader, I've got two excellent series and one stand alone:
- The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray: Victorian boarding school girls who find themselves caught up in a battle for magic in The Realms while bucking against social custom in the "real" world. Intensely readable, and a more "modern" sort of Tamora Pierce heronine.
- The Horatio Lyle Books by Catherine Webb: Special Constable Lyle is a sarcastic, highly moral, scientist who often is called upon to investigate things - that to his consternation - are magical or fey in nature. In the first adventure, he must recover a cultural artifact before the strange people with the hypnotic green eyes can use it for a ritual. A brilliant mix of Harry Potter, Doctor Who, and Sherlock Holmes.
- The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye: I LOVED this book as a young girl, and still read it today. The story of Amy the 7th princess of a royal family who is born - gasp! - ordinary! When her parents cannot find a prince to marry Amy, she runs off on an adventure of her own. The great thing about Amy is she's so charming that kids won't suspect the story is teaching them to follow their hearts and be who they are, not who society tells them they should be.
I thought of a book for the little ones and another book for the fantasy reader...
For the little ones:
Are You My Mother by Dr. Seuss - A little birdy goes out looking for his mommy, gets lost, and finds all sorts of things - including a Snort! - that are not his mother. Fun for parents to read to the kids, who will no doubt laugh with glee at the Snort!
For the fantasy reader:
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - A passive, average-joe Londoner is pulled into the strange world of London Below after he rescues an injured street girl - or what appears to be an injured street girl, but is actually the Lady Door, the only surviving member of a family who has a talent for opening anything. I'd say if she's mature enough to read the Twilight saga, she can handle Neverwhere. Oh, and while you're at it, Stardust by Gaiman is also brilliant!
And I second the Mercedes Lackey recommendation. Especially her Elemental Masters series. Oh! Or Robin McKinley's books, or Patricia McKillip...
Okay, last comment, I promise, but I thought of 3 more books for the fantasy reader and I had to share:
- The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski:
Petra's father is a gifted metalsmith who is commissioned to build a great clock for the Prince. But when her father returns home blind, and Petra discovers that the Prince stole his eyes, she sets off on a quest to retrieve them. Philip Pullman-like fantasy for younger kids, and the first of a quartet. Plus, there's a talking tin spider!
- Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevemer:
Jane Austen meets Harry Potter when cousins Cecy and Kate write letters about the strange goings-on they find themselves in the center of! Kate is almost poisoned by a sorceress and then plays fiancee to the dashing but exasperating Marquis the sorceress meant to kill, while Cecy spies upon the village's wizard, who may or may not be evil. Sorcery and Cecelia is the first book in a trilogy.
- Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier:
While their father is away, five sisters escape the doldrums of life under their greedy cousin's thumb by dancing in a moonlight fairy land. But when mysterious dark ones join the gathering, second eldest Jena must find a way to save her sisters from both the dark ones and her cousin. A lush retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses mixed with old vampire myths and set in Transylvania.
Okay, just bear with me: Shameless self-promotion alert.
I've written several fantasies for just that age. I'll just give you the site address and you can look them over yourself.
www.christine-norris.com
/Shameless self-promotion/ I love Tamora Pierce myself, and there are some awesome new fantasies, like the Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan. One of my favorites, especially nice if you like Greek Mythology. Also look into Children of the Lamp and the Sisters Grimm series.
That's just off the top of my head :)
For the little ones I suggest the books of Olivier Dunrea. He's the author of a series of board books about gooslings. The titles are "Peedie"; "Ollie"; "BooBoo";
"Goosie and Gertie"; and more. My little ones love the books.