Stories For Slow Readers

I'm looking for recommendations. A friend's child has been slow at learning to read, and now they're in a Catch-22 situation. Anything at the right reading level is too childish, but anything that's sufficiently exciting and engaging is too advanced.

Please, suggestions welcome for books and stories in which the language is simple, but the stories aren't too childish.

Thanks.

How about the Limony Snickett (sp?) series? Also NeilGaiman's Coraline. I also recommend The Railway Children.

I bet you'd also get some great ideas from the BookShelved wiki.

IsaacAsimov, or the Willard Price "Adventure" series.

Any others?