Ask HN: What books would you recommend for 7-8 year old kid?

2 points·vishgm··3 comments

My nephew likes maths, so I am thinking of gifting him a maths puzzle book on his birthday. But, I am looking for some recommendations on story books.

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The Way Things Work by David Macaulay. The way it mixes comic illustration, simplified explanation of everyday things, and fictional narrative is deeply engaging to curious minds but also very forgiving of a child's fickle attention. I'm within arm's reach of the copy I was given almost twenty years ago.

http://www.amazon.com/New-Way-Things-Work/dp/0395938473

I think one needs to know both the mental age and the level of mathematical ability if one is to source a puzzle book. A seven year old in 'normal' maths development or a seven year old who does algebra / calculus / maps members of the Julia set when he's doodling or what have you?

My 8 yo nephew has some Lego games, one with sheep and one about pharoahs (Amazon http://amzn.to/iN8Kkh [aff]). The rules encourage modification and, for example the Ramses Curse one can allow for some complex payoff considerations.

... or chess?

Edit: Saw these Maths (and other subject) puzzle books, http://amzn.to/lUSxXp [aff] might be worth a look?

Our 7 year old likes reading Roald Dahl, Dr. Doolittle, The Great Brain, and Encyclopedia Brown (for fiction), and Macaulay books (The Way Things Work, Built to Last), Usborne History books (The World Wars, The Ancient Greeks), and The Magic School Bus/Ms. Frizzle's Adventures (nonfiction).

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