For the 11-year-old: The Changeling, The Egypt Game, The Headless Cupid, or really anything by Zilpha Keatley Snyder.

She was the best. Even as a kid, I loved how her stuff was slightly darker than the other children's books.

Hey, there's a current discussion of the Prydain Cycle going on over at Readerville.

Even as a kid, I loved how her stuff was slightly darker than the other children's books

It's awesome. Her kids almost never come from the typical happy homes -- the main character (Dawn?) in The Egypt Game has basically been dumped at her grandmother's house (her father is dead; her mother has ambitions that don't include children); the kids in The Headless Cupid are none too happy about the whole stepfamily deal; and in The Changeling, which is still one of my favorite novels, Martha is regarded as a disappointment by her family for much of the book, while Ivy comes from a chaotic family. (Mental illness and substance abuse are implied, and criminal behavior is mentioned outright, IIRC.) Those are the three books I remember best, but I believe that the kids in her other books are in similar situations.

Also, I have to tell my ZKS story: When I was 16 or 17, I found her web page and sent her a fan note. In it, i mentioned being sad that The Changeling isn't in print anymore. She wrote back and said she'd send me one of her copies if I gave her my address. I did, and the copy I have now is signed by her. I've always thought that was incredibly nice of her.

This discussion of childrens books is incredibly usefull; I need to purchase gifts for a kindergardner (boy) and his older sister (7-8). I don't really know them, but I'm told they're a reading family. I've been taking notes. Any other suggestions, beyond what's been posted?

A not-helpful post:

Micole is quite amazing, just for the record.

Lyra Jane, that's such a lovely story.

t Natter Kate P and Jess M - I hardly ever "see" either of you anymore, so it's nice to post with you here t /Natter

t making notes

It's hard to triangulate similar authors from those two points -- Gibson and Dick don't have much in common besides from writing near-future SF that's been recognized as "literary" (and they're both good, of course). Do you know what your brother likes about them?

Hmm. I know he got into Dick because he loves Blade Runner with a passion (he's studying film), and I think I gave him Gibson's Neuromancer a few years ago and he finally read it recently and liked it. I don't really know of any other authors he likes--like I said, he doesn't really enjoy reading, which is why I really want to encourage him reading the stuff he does like. I'd guess that it's the ideas he finds really exciting in both Gibson and Dick, and probably the cyberpunky style too (at least in Gibson--Dick preceded cyberpunk, didn't he?).

Neverwhere might also appeal unless he hasa big hate on for fantasy - then it might be to far out of his interests

He doesn't hate fantasy (loves the Lord of the Rings movies and is slowly working his way through the books) but for the most part it doesn't appeal to him like SF does.

Will definitely check out Stephenson, Sterling, Delany, Lethem, et al. at the bookstore today. Thanks!

Hi Nilly! Lovely to see you around.

Any other suggestions, beyond what's been posted?

For age 7-8, I think that's about when I started reading Lloyd Alexander, so I'd definitely rec the Prydain Chronicles.

that's a good suggestion, thanks Kate.

Will definitely check out Stephenson, Sterling, Delany, Lethem, et al. at the bookstore today.

Hayden's Jonathan Lethem article from The High Hat, Vol. 1.

Jess, Picture books for the kinder?

My faves of the past two years are (and they might not already own these):

Daisy Comes Home, by Jan Brett. A chicken named Daisy runs away and she has to go through trials and tribulations to get home.

Snowmen at Night, Caralyn Buehner. What do the snowmen do when you aren't around?

Goldfish and Chrysanthemums, Andrea Chang. A grandmother is homesick for hong kong so her granddaughter attempts to build a koi pond to make her feel better.

"Let's get a pup!" said Kate, by Bob Graham. I love this family. They go to the pound to get a puppy and they end up falling in love with a dog.

Max, by Bob Graham, Max is the child of a superhero family, but he himself lacks superhero powers.

Blabber Mouse, True Kelley. Blabber Mouse is always blabbing everyone else's secrets. His friends turn the tables to show him what it feels like.

I stink, Kate McMullan. A sad sad dumptruck. I adore this book.

Old standbys I love?

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (best rhythm EVER!)