Originally Posted by
waterrockets
Man, I'm feeling much more upbeat about the reading I've been reading lately: Chronicles of Narnia read aloud to our 8-year-old. It's really fun reading these stories to him, and I think I've just about got him talked into Lord of the Rings next... stuff's not so depressing as what's going on in Africa
I'd start off with The Hobbit since it's an easy read and introduces Middle Earth, then work your way to LOTR. If he really takes to it and wants more then there's The Silmarillion though that isn't a linear story so it might be harder to read to an 8 year old.