At that age, Abby was devouring the Junie B. Jones books, Ginger. And Magic Treehouse.

Also the Ramona Quimby books, I think. She could also try Little House in the Big Woods.

What's her level? I was a freak, so it's hard for me to tell what's the norm.

Little Women?

Ooh, Trixie Belden? Loved Trixie Belden!

Zylpha Keatley Snyder "The Witches of Worm" "The Egypt Game"? (Although WoW STILL kinda scares me.

Matilda? James and the Giant Peach?

Shel Silverstein?

Encylopedia Brown?

What's her level? I was a freak, so it's hard for me to tell what's the norm.

That is my problem, as well, in addition to not knowing much about kids these days. At that age I was reading Little Women and really every book I could get my hands on. I know I liked The Wonderful Trip to the Mushroom Planet at that age and I started on Narnia not long after.

Oh, Erin, I was just talking about Zylpha Keatley Snyder the other day. I LOVED The Velvet Room so, so much-- I was probably a little above first grade. Probably third, when I first read it. Wound up nicking it from the library.

I know, I know... unrepentant thief, that's me. But come on-- the book hadn't been checked out in ten years before I got it.

The only ZKS books I ever read were the one's listed above (hey, they were the only ones my childhood library had.)

I should check if the KC library has more. I read TEG over and over and over...

I read Anne Waldo Somewho's "Sacajawea" when I was about 5. Some of the more sophisticated parts I didn't get, but I read it over and over again, till it fell apart. My dad quizzed me on it, and after I passed, sky was the limit. I could read anything I wanted, with the caveat that if there was something in a book I didn't get, I should ask mom or dad about it.

Dad had a large collection of Burrough's books, and I remember being absolutely PUZZLED by what a gee string was that all the girls wore. It was in Heinlein's books, only as a "minimum gee" and until I finally asked Dad what it was, I thought it was some kind of gravity stabilizer.

I think my dad about had a laughing apoplexy when he figured it out.

I know, I know... unrepentant thief, that's me. But come on-- the book hadn't been checked out in ten years before I got it.

Heh. Buffistas are notoriously bad library patrons, and often use this excuse. Or, once they rack up the fines, they go into avoidy/denial mode.

Ha. Yeah, after about 4 years of an $80 fine, I finally return some "missing" books and paid the rest of the fine, and it is LOVELY to be able to go into the library again.

Previously, I would use my school's departmental card and slink over to the self-check machine, so no one would wonder why a high school English department would need to check out so many books on apartment decoration and paranormal romance.

Zilpha's homepage

With an interesting piece by her on how she writes.

She uses the "Notebook Method."

Buffistas are notoriously bad library patrons, and often use this excuse. Or, once they rack up the fines, they go into avoidy/denial mode.

I am shocked! I guess my guilt complex outweighs my bibliophilia. I'm incredibly anal about returning my books on time, and I would never take a book from the library because it would keep other people from being able to read it. Although the "hadn't been checked out in ten years" argument may hold some sway.

My best story about such things is as follows: In fifth or sixth grade, there was a book on the chalkboard, placed there for the Lost and Found. It was Bury Me Deep, by Christopher Pike. It looked really interesting.

So I, um, took it home and read it and then brought it back. A day or two later, when the owner of the book was identified, he let me keep it. And that's how I became a Christopher Pike fan.