Are the Kingdom Keepers books any good?

[Sundancer UK]

I was thinking of buying them for my children for Christmas. I've no idea what they are like though. Will they spoil the WDW 'magic'?
Does anyone have them and are they any good?
Do I need to get them in chronological order? I probably will, but it wouldn't surprised me if my DS and DD both want to read book one at the same time.

 

[bumbershoot]

I read the first one and liked it. Since I haven't read the others I don't KNOW if it would be confusing to read them out of order, but it seems like it would be.

 

[stormer]

Depends on the ages of your kids, also. They really weren't written for kids too young. The readabilty and content is geared more for kids 12 and up. In my library they are even in the young adult section.

 

[Gracie09]

My nephew has pretty severe dyslexia. He hates reading because it is very difficult for him. He would not put these books down. He loves them and can't wait for the next one to come out.

 

[djmeredith]

I just started reading these books. I read Book 3 first because it was the only one available at my library. I felt like I was missing out because I had not read the first two so I would definitely recommend reading them in order. I agree that the reading level and content are geared for older kids.

 

[Sundancer UK]

Thanks for your thoughts people

I really should have added, my son is 12 and my daughter will be 11 by the time I get them. She's already on Harry Potter and the half blood prince so is doing ok at reading. DS read all the HP books and the hunger games etc a year or so ago. Do you think the Kingdom Keepers would be ok at this level?

While they are pretty good readers, my daughter still really *loves* the magic of Disney so I don't want anything to spoil that - do they talk about people in costume?

Maybe I should get one to read myself

 

[motherof2boys]

My Boys & I have all read them. We LOVE them!! We starting reading them in 2010 so my Boys were 6 & 10. (My youngest read at 4 so he had no problems with them) I would read them in order b/c they do reference things that happened in the previous books. We didn't feel they ruined the magic at all. We thought the opposite. We do Disney yearly (twice last year, twice this year) so it's great to actually visualize where in the park things are taking place.

 

[Fjobe]

My DS started the Kingdom Keeper series in March when he was 9. He read all the Harry Potter books last year before he read the Kingdom Keeper books, so I'd say the level is good. DS said they are easier reads than HP. He also said he would only want to read them in order, and you'd miss out on some info. if you skipped the first before reading the second.

 

[monorailmom]

My son, now 12, is a great reader, though he doesn't really love to read! These books, however, made all the difference.

I would say to read them in order. One builds upon the story of the previous book. There is no magic lost, as the villains (or Overtakers) are 'real'. In fact my son has been able numerous times to point out things in the Parks that he knew about because of the books.

I started reading the first one to keep up with him last Spring. Then I didn't read it for most of the summer because I wasn't waiting in carpool lines!!! I need to catch up on that now that school is back in session.

 

[amym2]

I started reading the first one a couple of years ago and got partway into it and decided I couldn't look at WDW the same way if I continued. But everyone else I know who has read them has loved them. DS11 is considering reading the first one, and I won't stop him.

 

[mm1971]

I was thinking of buying them for my children for Christmas. I've no idea what they are like though. Will they spoil the WDW 'magic'?
Does anyone have them and are they any good?
Do I need to get them in chronological order? I probably will, but it wouldn't surprised me if my DS and DD both want to read book one at the same time.

I read them with both my children and they are very good and well written. They may be a little difficult to follow for young kids, but age 9-10 should be fine. We have read them all and DS has gone through and read them again.

They will not spoil the magic. You may never see IASW the same though, I'll let you find out why. You definitely need to follow in chronological order. Each book leads into the next and missing one would make it confusing.

 

[pigletto]

My son started them when he was 8. He's only got one more to read now and LOVES them. He liked them at first, but got into them more and more as he read.

 

[ali in wonderland]

My son 9 just finished the first book. He is an above average reader, and found these books to be enjoyable. We had to get the second book as soon as the first was finished. He refused to read any other book while waiting for the second book to be shipped. I think it added to the magic for him. He started reading after our trip this summer to WDW, and so everything was fresh in his mind. I think your kids are at a great age for these books.

 

[Schmeck]

DD19 says they are OK - she started reading them when they first came out, 4 years ago. I think they are written for the preteen reader, 10-12 years old, IMO. She says they get worse through the series, and that the first book was the best one.