More on Children's Books

Katharine, the Washington Post Book World this morning has their annual holiday children's issue. It may give you a few ideas. Of particular interest is Michael Dirda's evaluation of Robert Louis Stevenson, which opens like this:

There comes a time in the life of any young reader when nothing but adventure will do. It is the time when the old classics -- The Count of Monte Cristo [great call Brandie! - DC], Journey to the Center of the Earth, King Solomon's Mines -- are suddenly the best stories in all the world. Which, of course, they are -- with the possible exception of those that begin this way:

The London fog rolls in, and out of the darkness emerge two figures. One is tall, eccentric in his habits, always in search of mysteries and puzzles; the other is his brave and loyal companion, clearly a military man. In the course of their adventures together they will fearlessly penetrate the inner sanctum of The Suicide Club, confront more than one master criminal and solve the theft of the accursed Rajah's Diamond.

That's the opening paragraph of Stevenson's New Arabian Nights and it certainly grabbed my attention. I expect that paragraph would grab the attention of most 9-12 year old boys, and probably a lot of the girls.

At any rate, the links above may give you some ideas.