The Greatest Action hero and role model of all time, is Conan, but only of the tales written by Robert E. Howard, of which there are several, and Le spauge decamp is good, but no one writes like Howard.

Conan is everything every young boy wants to grow up to be, he is Chivarious naturally, yet wild and above all else, strong, but not so much of body, as in the mind of the character in the books.. his attitude is one of strenght and rightness, and calm wisdom.. He lacks prejudices, and always saves the ladies... vanqueshes evil left and right and usually saved the kingdom or land from a tyrant or wizard of evil intent.

I would fully recommend them to any young boy, assuming he is smart enough to know that knives hurt.. and are not toys.

The Movie of Conan.. is Not Conan.. they just bought the name, and changed the story so badly as to leave Conan as a dumb baboon with some skill.

when in the books he is, as ive said, everything I have always wanted to be...
Assuming i was 6.4 feet tall and 260 lbs of lean muscle, and lived 10,000 years ago.
-MT
Other than that.. Piers Anthonys Xanth series is very nice..
also The Chroinicles of Narnia are most excellent as i read them as an adult.

Probubly the best thing to give him is a giant.. super sized reference book, and Howards Conan Novels... Barnes and Nobles carry many.