Good role models for boys (in literature)

Lamplighter has really great selections with boys as main characters that learn strong values along the way

Sir Malcom and the Missing Prince

Teddy’s Button

Sir Knight of the Splended Way

Are just a few that we have read and my ODS (6 years) has really enjoyed. My DD too 🙂 Sir Malcom was one of the first books that my son would ask me to keep reading after each chapter. Lamplighter has their books broken out by Character Themes which is another great way to search

Kingdome Series by Chuck Black are recent books, but really good. I am reading out loud and my kids really enjoy. I do too.

Narnia

Robin — I’ve had Little Britches on my list for years; never got to it with my older crew of girls, but just in the past week or two it has reemerged as an interest. What general age would you recommend it for reading aloud vs reading alone, and  can you be more specific about the language? I’ve heard that said before is it just maybe 3-5 instances of d*** or something similar, or is it more prevalent or stronger?  

Thanks so much!

We all enjoy Little Britches 4yo to adult. There are only a handful of coarse cowboy words in books 1 & 2. You could easily omit if reading aloud. I must say the audiobooks are FANTASTIC and favorites!

Christie – did you get the audios through Audible?  I’ve gotten most of them from there, but we haven’t listened to them yet. 

Here are a few of my favourites for boys:

Not a series, but this past weekend I read Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls (wanted to read it before assigning to my boys this week) and I could NOT put it down, lol!  Great boy stuff here, and there is a good deal of content on his “becoming a man”…the little steps he’s taking here and there that are encouraging him towards “manhood” and the idea that if you are willing to take on more responsibilities, take charge, and stay determined you are beginning the journey of growing up. 

One of my boys LOVED My Side of the Mountain (first and trilogy), though my other son was lukewarm on it.

Ditto on what Christie suggested – Sugar Creek series very well loved here.

Here’s one I haven’t read personally, but has good reviews…I’ve been holding off because my boys are only 10 and 11 and I think this series is likely for high school due to certain content (his mother has an affair and breaks up his parents’ marriage in the beginning…his parents now split he is back and forth between them).  Very amazing adventure story that takes place in the Canadian wilderness:  Hatchet and the next three books, Brian’s Winter, The River, Brian’s Return and Brian’s Hunt.

The Tucket series by Gary Paulsen is great, also.

Door in the Wall has a superb character building theme for boys.  I love this one.  The boy goes from being a completely pitiful little crab to a truly inspiring and respectable young boy.  All this while being separated from his parents, and finding himself paralyzed from the waist down.  Awesome!

Hatchet, etc mentioned above was my oldest sons favorite books.  Little Britches was good but even my dh was a bit concerned about the language, but it’s not bad and only in the first 2 books, although do not skip them they are worth it.  Read them in order also, I know sometimes you don’t have to with series but this one is a must I believe you need to grow with him just like you did/do with Laura Ingalls.