Literacy for Boys

My kids like to make fun of me a lot.  There's the time I made salmon tacos, for example.  And now that I have a teenage driver to scrutinize me, everyone thinks my driving is a bit subpar.  That's why it's so surprising to notice how much they actually do follow my example.  In the past few months, three of my boys have been writing their own books.  And, thanks to me sitting around reading books instead of doing something more productive, all my boys love to read.  (This whole example thing also works with my husband, by the way, who started an exercise program after I started getting fitter.)

I always thought the ideal way to get kids to do something was to sit them down, give them a lecture, and set a goal--or just simply nag.  I thought if I wanted to help my kids with spelling, I should drill them on spelling lists.  It turns out that the process of writing books has helped them with their spelling as much as the old drills.

Finding books for my boys is completely different than it was for my daughter.  My boys tend to love a great series.  If they find one book they really love, they will read everything the author has written.  And they love books about fighting.   I asked them to tell me what their favorite books were this year, and here are their answers:

Toddler:
books about animals
books that are based on a song

Beginning reader:
Dodsworth in New York (series)
Magic Treehouse series
Frog and Toad series

Fourth Grader:
Bullies in the Headlights by Matthew Buckley
Harry Potter series
Gladiator series (I'm not sure if I've approved this one yet.)
Diary of a Wimpy kid series

Sixth Grade and Up:
Christopher Paolini books
Fablehaven series
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Cirque du Freak series

Please let me know if you have any favorite boy books.  I'm starting my Christmas list.