I don’t know if you don’t realize or don’t care, but you have made an incorrect judgement about my attitude towards books based on one simple post. I have over 100 book lists and on many of them I have been very forthcoming about my dislike of "books for boys" and "books for girls" book lists. This is one list based entirely on what my 8 year old BOY was reading. My "parenthetical afterthought" was not an afterthought at all. If you continued to read my blog you will see that I very frequently write in parentheses, it is merely my writing style (however imperfect, and I admit to it being very imperfect), and it is my assertion that these books are good for all children. It is not sexist or condescending. I realize I cannot please everyone all the time, so I take no offense to your incorrect assumption. It is wise to take in the whole picture, rather than make snap judgements. There are many things in this world to "see red" about, such as child poverty, war, the rights of women, corporate money in politics, inequality, racism, the lack of health care for all, etc., but I think this blog post is probably not one of them.

I'm so glad the list was helpful, Rachel!

I've had a few Australians recommend Griffiths' books. They sound fun.

My son did too (he is 8) but he re-borrows them - and is doing that with the Wimpy Kids now) as I think it is comfort reading - just silly and not as disrespectful as some of those cartoon books for older kids. He loved the Franklin Richards series and we own them so he dips into them a lot. And we inherited 2 boxes of Horrible Histories magazines which are a bit old for him but as long as not too scary I let him read them.

But by FAR the most fun for 8 year old boys is Andy Griffiths - an Australian who wrote the 13-Storey Treehouse, and now the 26th and the 39th. Also his "Just" series, e.g. Just Disgusting!, Just Annoying! Just Crazy! Just Doomed! Just Macbeth! - brilliant