Books !!! - Sarasota,FL

Both my 15 year old and my 10 year old have always been readers. We loved the Harry Potter series. I was not a big fan of The Series of Unfortunate Events, but the kids seemed to like them. I liked the original Boxcar Children book and they made it into a series of chapter books. I adore the C.S.Lewis series The Lion The witch and the wardrobe and so did my son and daughter.
My daughter liked Junie B Jones, they were not too bad, I preferred the Beezus and Ramona books...I read everything my kids read, the reason is it makes for great conversation opportunities. Also ask at the local library, they love to recommend age appropriate books.

My older daughter loved the Junie B. Jones series and The Magic Treehouse ones as well. What about The Little House on the Prairie series? Charlotte's Web?

For 6 year old:
Rainbow Magic
Magic Tree House
Emily Windsnap
Magic Schoolbus
Classics

The "Ramona" books by Beverly Cleary! I still love them!

My son wasn't too traditional. He love the "Captain Underpants" series.

Babysitter's club books were a favorite of mine for years when I was younger...

Your younger children might really enjoy the Paddington Bear chapter book, very sweet and funny. Also check out Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie" series (even just the first book is really enough at this age. You can add one each year.) "My Father's Dragon" is great too, as well as "Doctor Doolittle" and "Mr. Popper's Penguins".

For independent reading chapter books, Cynthia Rylant's "Henry and Mudge" and "Mr. Putter and Tabby series is charming.

One last suggestion for this age, for a couple years from now or so : Dean's "A Book of Fairy Tales" illustrated by Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone. This collection of fairy tales is out of print, but worth every penny. The stories-- a wide variety of classics-- are well-written and so beautifully illustrated, it's a treat to read. We just bought a copy on eBay, and I spent time in bed last night reading "The White Cat" over again, marvelling at the gorgeous pictures, and actually fell asleep to "Ole Luckoie:the Dustman" (ironically, he brings dreams to children).

I have no idea what 14 year old boys like these days, but will second the Lord of the Rings books idea. Marvelous, and the kids I know really love them.

Might I suggest the classics? (Especially for the older boy.)
The first chapter book I read to my son was Treasure Island and he loved it! He was about 5 then.
Dan Gutman is a great author for childrens books also. appropriate for 5-6 year olds. he does sports hero books that might appeal to your son and school-oriented books about teachers that your daughter will find hilarious!

I think I was a little bit older when I started reading chapter books but the ones I read a lot of were Roald Dahl books (I think that's how you spell it). My favortie was Matilda. I also read a lot of the Boxcar kids books and American Girl Series. I know a few kids who really like the Series of Unfortunate Events books, but I've never read those so I don't know how age appropriate they are for a 6 year old. I also read a lot of Beverly Cleary books (again I think that's how you spell her name).

For your 14 year old, I might actually second World War Z, although I too am not sure how age appropriate it might be. It really depends on you. But, it is a good book about the aftermath of the zombie apocolypse. I also don't know what kind of video games he enjoys, but my boyfriend plays the Call of Duty game in zombie mode. It depends on how much you let him play violent shooting video games. As far as the liking English class, you could look into some book that he will probably be reading in English class (depending on if his school has banned them or not). My favorite in high school were Of Mice and Men, Grapes of Wrath, and the Catcher in the Rye (although they can be somewhat intensive too so again I think it depends on how much you do or don't want him exposed too).

6 yr old -- Junie B Jones
5 yr old -- anyhing he picks off the shelf. Mercer Mayer is a good author with a lot of books that your son could start reading on his own.
14 yr old -- Goosebumps series?

For the 6 yr old is she is into horse look into the Heartland series. My girl LOVED them I just wish there were a more adult series like that for her now. The 14 yr old might enjoy the Eragon series or Lordof the Rings as well. Gon into the young reader section at Barnes & noble or any of those book stores & take her with you. Theres also manga books you read them backwards from left to right instead of the traditional left to righht for the 14 yr old.

I don't have any great suggestions for your 5- and 6-year olds but for the 14-year old, check out Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy. It is readily available--even Walmart and Target carry it. The books are called The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay. Also, the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld is good young adult fiction. I believe there are four books: Uglies, Pretties, Specials, and Extras. You may have to go to Barnes and Noble or somewhere like that to find those.

go to scholastic.com. They have a lot of books split by grade level. Many of them are at the library too, so you don't necessarily need to buy them unless you want a library collection. Also, often times your purchases allow your kid's classroom to get a free book.

For your 5 year old - Frog and Toad books, and Hank the Cowdog (there are TONS of these books - my 6 year old loves them. Your daughter might like them, too).

both of my kids love the Warriors books (kids chapter books), Baby Mouse and Series of Unfortunate events. Good luck!

My 6 yo boy & I are enjoying the Nancy Cutler's "Jason and Edward" books right now. He cannot read them on his own, but it sounds like maybe your 6 yo old could. Take a look at the 1st one & see what you think.

How about "James & the Giant Peach" to read to your 5 yo (if it's not too scary)?

I suggest older Stephen King for the 14 yo. How about Salem's Lot?

My 6 year old son loves The Magic Tree House books and How to Train Your Dragon books. Also anything Pokemon he reads.

For your stepson, try the Lord of The Rings trilogy. My husband loved them when he was that age.

My oldest loved the "Magic Tree House Series", which is appropriate for the 5 and 6 year old. For your 6 yo daughter, you might want to check out books by Beverly Cleary, which include the "Ramona" series. Ronald Dahl is also another good author, his most famous is "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Matilda". Both of my daughters loved "The Secret Garden". You could also check out the great illustrated classics, which are shorter versions of the classics like "Heidi", "Black Beauty", "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", etc.

Has your 14yo read the Harry Potter series. It's great for all ages. He might also like the "Eragon" series.

For your 14 year old stepson - I *might* recommend "World War Z: an Oral History of the Zombie War". It is an excellent zombie book. The best I've read. But it might not be age appropriate. Granted, I'm a wimp, but I had zombie dreams every night while reading it. http://www.amazon.com/World-War-Oral-History-Zombie/dp/03...

For a less intense zombie read, try "Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks" http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Survival-Guide-Complete-Prot...

My SO, who is fairly obsessed with Zombies and Zombie Apocalypse, has been reading "The Walking Dead" comic series. It is, almost certainly, not age appropriate...It is one of the most extreme, graphically violent and heart-wrenchingly-horrible comics available in it's genre. But, something to keep in mind for when he's older. Also, it's been made into a TV series on AMC (I have been really disappointed with it so far).

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles was one of my favorite series as a young kid. I wonder if your daughter and son would enjoy it?http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_31?url=search-al...

YES, YES! I second Kaitie's Roald Dahl suggestion, though *my* favorite was and is the BFG!!! So. Good. Gosh, I need to read those again.

And also Hazel's suggestion, "My father's dragon".

My 5 year old daughter is LOVING The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe right now. She learns some of the old fashioned Eglish words, and there is just enough action and fantasy characters as well as kids. She fights sleep trying to get me to read one more chapter, one more chapter. Before that she loved Dr Dolittle, The Secret Garden, and the Wizard of Oz, and the long versions of Pinocchio and Beauty and the Beast.