Looking for recommendations - Kid/YA

[dreamshark]

One of my colleagues is looking for recommendations for books for her precocious 8-year-old daughter. My friend is Chinese, so she isn't familiar with classic American children's literature and would like some suggestions.  The little girl recently discovered "Wrinkle in Time" and couldn't put it down, and Liling is looking for more science fiction books that will keep her reading voraciously.  Any ideas?  

Comments

Re: Books

[barondave.livejournal.com]

You're probably right about Kara's book(s). The problem with reading juvies as an adult is that, at least for me, "Young adult" can span tween to HS. Also, I recently saw the Faerie Tale Theatre version of "The Nightengale" (with Mick Jagger as the emperor) which is YA.

Re: Books

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

"You're probably right about Kara's book(s). The problem with reading juvies as an adult is that, at least for me, "Young adult" can span tween to HS"

Exactly. Bear in mind that this little girl is only 8 years old. She must be a pretty advanced reader to be reading L'Engle at that age, but she still has the sensibilities of a 3rd grader.

I immediately thought of the Mushroom Planet books, for which she is exactly the right age. Two or three years from now the idea of building a working space ship out of tin cans will probably seem stupid to her, but 3rd graders are not usually sticklers for straight scientific accuracy.