Are there any books you guys would recommend for a 9 year old to read? I'm going to have my boy in the deer woods with me and it will be two all day affairs. I want something for him to read while getting impatient and while sitting in camp in the evenings.

I have been buying Francis Sell's books on the used book market. They are excellent on hunting techniques, although the guns are all from the 50s.

jim

I don't of anything modern. What about the Hardy Boys? That's the 9, 10, 11 year old area.

Tom, I can't think of any hunting books for kids that age, but my 8 year old (reads at a 6th grade level) has just started reading Encyclopedia Brown books and seems to like them.

Maybe a little advanced but any Jim Corbet will keep him ready for action. Muddy

I am reading The Old Man and the Boy to my eight year old and he is enjoying it but he is not yet ready to read it own his on.

You looking for story type books or hunting type books?

My son loved the book "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen. It's not purely hunting, but, rather more outdoor adventure. My son ended up reading several of the author's books and there are hunting theme's througout. Here's a synopsis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatchet_%28novel%29

Fred Gipson that wrote Old Yeller had one about a coon hunter, believe it was "Hound Dog Man" Most of his other books aren't about hunting but are for that age range and have hunting in them.

Where the Red Fern Grows

"Hie to the Hunters" by Jesse Stuart is a good Appalachian hunting story.

That is my all time favorite book and I wore that sucker out. Just be prepared to get begged for a hound!

My 11 Y/O grandson is nose-deep in John Barsness' Born to Hunt. It's well written and keeps his attention well.

I liked The whole "Hatchet" series by Gary Paulson, and also the "My Side of the Mountain" series by Jean Craighead George. Not strictly hunting, but very outdoor oriented. Also loved "The Swiss Family Robinson"

How about Meshack Browing and Phillip Tome's autobiographies?

They're written if fairly simple language. They certainly are exciting.

How about Fredrich Gerstacker? If the lad is of German-American heritage, this will be an eye-opener.

I was fond of Jim Corbett's works when I was at that age.

This!

The "Sackett" series by L'Amour would be good as well.

That's one every boy should read!

Another question is how much he likes to read? Some kids like to read more than others. Some of the books mentioned would be o.k. at age 12 or 13, but, are pretty heavy reading for a 9 year-old unless he's really an advanced, passionate reader. I have two sons. One is a natural reader and enjoyed "Death in the Long Grass" and the McManus books at age 10. However, my other son is an honor student, but still has to force himself to read. He struggled with "Old Man and the Boy at 13. He absolutely devoured the Paulsen books though!

So, I would recommend something really written for kids. If it's too hard, he won't enjoy it and will be turned off by it.

"Old Yeller" for sure, followed by the sequel, "Savage Sam".

I'm thinking "Hatchet".

One of the best books ever, but heart-breaking for an adult...much less a kid.

There was an author named Jim Kjelgaard, he wrote "Big Red" and about 40 other books mainly outdoor novels about hunting, trapping, hunting dogs and wilderness living for boys. In my youth I read them all and gave some of them to my grandaughter to read.

Some are still in print, and listed on Amazon. More can be found on ebay .

Great reading for a young man interested in the outdoors but they are dated as travel in them was by train and dogs were shipped by train with the conductor walking them on long trips or handler riding in the baggae car. I loved them and couldn't get enough.

great thread! My son just finished Wilson Rawls "Summer of the Monkeys". Same guy that wrote Where the REd Fern Grows.