Book list

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Shaun Hately" <drednort at a...>
wrote:
> ...
> 
> ... I am coming under increasing pressure to specialise as a 
> literacy teacher ...
> 
> A... As part of my goal of possible eventual 
> literacy specialisation, I have started collecting children's books 
> across a range of areas. I've spent the last few days cataloguing my 
> 'teaching collection' of children's books and I have put up a list 
> at:
> 
> http://www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/bookindex.html
> 
> I hope my eventual collection will be much larger than this - but 
> it's already reasonably sizeable. ...
> 
> I would like to ask as many people as possible to please look over 
> this list and if you can think of a book that you think should be on 
> it, that isn't, please let me know. ...
> 
> I still have a year and a half to collect these books before I'm 
> actually teaching.
> 
> 
> Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
> Shaun Hately 

bboyminn:

Shaun, I'm surprised after our recent conversations that you didn't
include "Ender's Game" and "Ender's Shadow" By Orson Scott Card. These
books were not created as children's books even though they are both
about children, but they are very popular with young readers. They are
also very deep and poignant books, that have a strong moral center
combined with humor and courage. Well, you've read them, so you know
what they are like.

I found "Ender's Game' more exciting, but "Ender's Shadow" touched me
on a much deeper level, though both books were excellent. Like Harry
Potter, Ender and Bean, in a sense, have become real to me. I love
them and I want to know more about them. Consequently, just a couple
of days ago, I ordered the complete series with the exception of the
final book of the 'Shadow' series; I'll wait for the paperback on the
last one. As, I'm sure you know the last six books (three in each
series) are about Ender and Bean as adults, so they are less likely to
appeal to children, but the first two books, are certainly an
extremely captivating and emotionally moving read.

I also liked the "Artimes Fowl" series by Eoin Colfer. These are fun,
funny books with captivating stories and characters. A little on the
light-hearted side, definitely geared toward young readers, but still
with solid captivating stories and a strong subliminal moral message.

The book I am currently MOST looking forward to is the second in the
"Inheritance Trilogy" by the very young Christopher Paolini. The first
being "Eragon" which is a fast-paced action-pack book rich with
characters and story. The second in the series is "Eldest" which is
already on order and due to be released near the end of August.

I also found "The Bartimaeus Trilogy" by Jonathan Stroud very
captivating. I wouldn't call it flawless writing, but it is very good,
and does create somewhat annoying but none the less captivating
characters and story lines, and presents a completely different take
on magic compared to Harry Potter. Book 1: "The Amulet of Samarkand",
Book 2: "The Golem's Eye", Book 3: "Ptolemy's Gate" which is due out
the first part of 2006. The books have plenty of humor, but less
likable characters. Although, I think that's intentional; much like
Atremis Fowl, Nathaniel/John Mandrake is not initially meant to be a
well liked character. 

Someone else mentioned " A Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony
Snicket, I've always had the feeling that because there are so many
volumes of these books, that they were like the modern equivalent of
Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. True, those are all time classic books, but
I wonder about the substance of them, as in, do they have any? I'm
willing to be enlightened by group opinons on the books.

Thanks to Shaun and everyone else for all the great book recommendations.

Steve/bboyminn