Mrs. Jenni's book lists for the reluctant reader

I am a firm believe that everyone is a reader.  Do you have a child that doesn't like to read?  This just means that he or she hasn't found the kind of books they love yet.  DON'T GIVE UP!!!! Continue to expose your child to many different kids of books and eventually something will catch on.  (Many of these suggestions below make wonderful books to read together.)

HUMOR
Who doesn't enjoy a good laugh?  Children are no different; if a book can make them laugh they are more likely to pick it up again.  Don't worry if these books seem too simple.  The goal is to create a love for reading, and if a child doesn't have to struggle to decode the words they are more likely to love it.

• Calvin and Hobbes (Bill Waterson)
• Kids of all ages can relate to this mischievous 6 year old
• Captain Underpants (Dav Pilkey)
• Boys especially love these books, they have "flip-o-rama action" and they say the word "underpants."  Appropriate for all ages (I've even had adults pick them up and become interested!)
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Jeff Kinney)
• The "Road Weenies" books (David Lubar)
• These books are twisted and bizarre . . . exactly what some kids love.
• The Time Warp Trio (Jon Scieszka)
• Short, quick books that even manage to get a little history thrown in with all the funny adventure.
• Any of the books of poetry by Shel Silverstein
• These are wonderful to read out loud.  A fun idea is to choose one together to memorize.
• James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, and The Giraffe, the Pelly and Me  (Roald Dahl)
• Some are short, some are longer.  All are funny.  These have been kid favorites for generations.

BOOK SERIES

Book series are wonderful for so many reasons!  If a child enjoys the first book in a series they are motivated to finish the story that’s told in other books.  The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling has been a great "hook" for a lot of reluctant readers.  Here are some other action-packed, creative series that young readers may enjoy. 

• Maximum Ride (James Patterson)
• The chapters are very short (2-3 pages), but extremely gripping.
• The City of Ember (Jeanne DuPrau)
• anything by Roland Smith (Cryptid Hunters, Peak, Elephant Run)
• Fast paced, and full of action and adventure
• On the Run (Gordon Korman)
• Short chapter books, but the story is intense and keeps you on the edge of your seat
• Animorphs (KA Applegate)
• There are short chapter books with different adventures or there are longer ones with fill out the background story.  All are interesting and fun.
• Bunnicula (James Howe)
• Short, funny books written from the point of view of the dog.
• Toad Rage (Morris Gleitzman)
• The length isn't too intimidating (approximately 100 pages) and the content is funny.
• Found (Margaret Peterson Haddix)
• Extremely suspenseful!  Very hard to put down, once they finishe the first, they can't wait for the second book.
• Spiderwick Chronicles (Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black)
• Very short, but very entertaining.  These make great read aloud books.
• Lightning Theif (Rick Riordan)
• Read it and compare it with the movie -- very different and very good.
• Measle and the Wrathmonk (Ian Ogilvy)
• Deltora Quest (Emily Rodda)
• Short books, fantasy.
• Among the Hidden (Margaret Peterson Haddix)
• All are short, with a gripping story full of adventure.
• Dear America (various authors)
• Written journal style, these are historical fiction.
• The Sisters Grimm (Michael Buckley)
• Fantasy, where fairytales come to life (which is not always a good thing!)
• Twilight (Stephanie Meyer)
• This story is very gripping, and many girls enjoy this one. Parental Warning:  Book 3 is probably a "PG-13" rating, you should preview it before having your child read it.  Books 1 and 2 have very clean content.
• Boy at War (Harry Mazer)
• Short books about a boy in WWII
• Alex Rider (Anthony Horowitz)
• Books about a teenage boy spy.  Full of adventure and action.
• Young Bond Books (Silverfin) (Charles Higgson)
• James Bond as a teenager.  Full of adventure and action.

GIRL APPEAL

These are great books for girls.  They all have a girl as the main character, and deal with issues that girls typically experience or enjoy.  (But boys may enjoy these too, don't rule them out.)

• Igraine the Brave (Cornelia Funke)
• A girl who dreams of becoming a knight.  Short, and has fun pictures.
• The Princess Tales (Gail Carson Levine)
• Fractured fairytales, they are short and enjoyable.
• The Cheat (Amy Goldman Koss)
• About a group of kids who choose to chea, and the consequences that follow.  Written from 5 different points of view.  Each chapter is short.
• The Girls (Amy Goldman Koss)
• About a girl clique.  Great for girls in 5th-8th grade who deal with being "in" or "out" of the clique.

BOY APPEALAgain, nothing wrong with girls reading these books.

• The Hatchet (Gary Paulsen)

• A kid who winds up in the northern wilderness with nothing but a hatchet and his wits.  He has to figure out how to survive.
• Guys Write for Guys Read (short stories various authors)
• Great because they are short.  You can sit down and finish the story in one sitting.  They're all written by male authors.
• Stones in the Water (Donna Jo Napoli)
• WWII story based in Italy.  A few Itaqlian boys go to a movie one afternoon and are forced to go to a work camp.  Very interesting historical fiction.
• Soldier X (Don Wulffson)
• WWII story.  A German soldier finds himself behind enemy lines and ends up putting on the uniform of an enemy soldier.  Very gripping. 

NONFICTIONTraditionally boys enjoy nonfiction books more than fictional stories.  GThere are lots of GREAT ones out there that are informative and very interesting.  Don't rules these out for girls either though.  There are some books here that both will enjoy.  In general, interesting pictures and facts can draw in the most reluctant reader.

• DK or Eyewitness books
• There are now over 100 of these on nearly every imaginable topic, with real pictures and all sorts of great information

• anything by Joy Masoff
• Oh Yuck! and Oh Yikes are about gross, factual history and science
• Chicken soup books
• Popular with girls, each book is geared to a certain group (Chicken Soup for the Preteeen Soul, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, etc.) and comes with short entries on the topic 
• Usborne Internet Linked Books (the WWII one is great!)
• These books have interesting pictures and websites to visit
• "ology" books (Like Piratology, Egyptology)
• The Dangerous Book for Boys / The Daring Book for Girls
• Complete with experiements and projects to do
• The Guinness Book of World Records
• Kids really seem to enjoy these lists and are fascinated by all the crazy things people do.  This can entertain for hours.

Reagan Staff Picks -- Pirate and Orphan books!

"Aye, aye mateys!  Have ye yet got'n yer tickets fer Reagan Academy's Pirates of Penzance?"    They're on sale now, so don't miss out!

To get you in the mood for swashbuckling fun, here are a few staff recommended books on pirates and/or orphans.  Don't miss the play and don't miss these fun reads!

Mrs. Talley and Mrs.Garret both recommend:

How I Became a Pirate

(by Melinda Long and illustrated by David Shannon)

Jeremy Jacob is building a sandcastle when pirates show up on the beach. The pirates see him with his shovel and invite him to bury a treasure chest with him. Jeremy Jacob doesn’t think his parents will mind as long as he is back for soccer practice the next day. This picture book has humor and heart. The illustrations are absolutely magnificent. Mrs. Talley said, "I read it to my class every year and do a fun writing project about choosing imaginative jobs-like being a pirate."  Mrs. Jarrett said, "You won’t believe how these pirates live! This book is a fun one for all ages."

Mr. Snarr recommends:

Treasure Island
(by Robert Louis Stevenson)
Who cannot help but love this classic?  It is intrigue and adventure from start to finish.  My father read this to me as a little boy and I have read it many times since.  I also love the Muppet Movie adaptation.  I think this is a good book for 5th grade and above.

Mrs. Benson recommends
Solomon Snow and the Silver Spoon
(by Kaye Umansky and illustrated by Scott Nash)
This story is a "twist" on Oliver Twist.  A young man finds out he is an orphan, left on someone's doorstep with a silver spoon in his mouth.  He sets out on a quest to find his real parents.  It is a great story with hilarious characters.

Mrs. Myler (formerly Miss Sonne) recommends:

Anne of Green Gables

(by Lucy M. Montgomery)
Anne of Green Gables  is one of my favorite orphan books. This is a timeless book that teaches about the value of friendship, dreams, and hard work.  I love Anne's zest for life and her way of looking at the world.  I could read this book over and over and never get tired of its humor and heartwarming adventures.  I would recommend this book for anyone in fourth grade or older.

Mrs. Westerman recommends:

Tough Boris

(by Mem Fox)

Boris is a mean pirate, but when his parents die he is like anyone else. In very simple text and moving pictures we see that not only is he tough, but he can also cry and be sad.  This is a good book for reading aloud and then discussing with your kids.  The illustrations really help to tell the tale. 

Mrs. Laraway recommends:

Orphan Train Boy:  One Boy's True Story 

(by Andrea Warren)

This nonfiction book reads like fiction; I couldn't put it down.  From 1854-1930 "orphan trains" traveled across the U.S., stopping in small, rural towns with the hope that people would adopt the orphaned or homeless children on board.  Read this with your older children and you're sure to have an interesting discussion about the real-life experiences of these children.  Appropriate for ages 10 and up.

Mr. Pratt recommends:

Obadiah the Bold 

(by Brinton Turkle)

This picture book is a favorite from when I was a little kid.  It is about a young Shaker boy that wants to become a pirate when he grows up, but after playing pretend pirates with his older brothers (who make him walk the plank), he's not so sure anymore.  He learns from his father that he was actually named after an ancestor that was a brave sea captain and decides that, instead of a pirate, he wants to become a brave sea captain.  I remember liking the way the family speaks in old English.

Mrs. Jenni recommends:
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
(by Avi)
Pirates, murder, mutiny, storms at sea . . . this intense read will keep you on the edge of your seat. Charlotte embarks on her trip across the Atlantic as a prim and naive 12 year old, but arrives in the U.S. as a much different girl. A great adventure for any reader (girl or boy, despite the very feminine cover) ages 10 to 110.

Table Talk

Kids are more likely to read in homes where family members talk about books. With some teens and tweens, this takes a little encouragement.  Perhaps you've experienced a scintillating conversation like this one:

     Mom:  Hey, I noticed that you are reading [insert book title here].  How is it?
     Son:   Fine. [insert silent pause here]
     Mom:  Do you like it?
     Son:  Yes. [insert silent pause here]
     Mom:  So, what do you like about it?
     Son:  I don't know. [insert silent pause here]

If this sounds familiar to you, you're not alone.  Certainly, some questions encourage a better discussion than others.  Here are some possible dinner-table questions to start some interesting discussions (and possibly some heated debates.)

Would you rather go to Hogwarts or Camp Half-Blood?  Have you daydreamed about spending a day in Chewinswallow from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs? 



A lot of kids today read books that are part of a series and many include the classic cliffhanger ending.  Do you love this or hate this?  If you have to wait for the next book to come out does it make you enjoy it more or does the anticipation ever make the next book a disappointment?

Is the movie ever as good as the book? What makes it good or bad?  The music? The animation? Who plays the characters? Might you want to skip a movie because you love the book so much?  Are there movies that can be appreciated even if they are completely different from the book?  Is there a book that you think would make a good movie that has been overlooked? 


Again, is it he-who-must-not-be-named or Hades? Sauron? Darth Vader?  Maybe it isn't a guy afterall?  The wicked step-mother? The White Witch?  What about someone who starts off as the "bad" guy, but you change your mind by the end?  (Mr. Darcy, anyone?)


Why?  What qualities or talents or experiences do you have in common?  What differences are there?  Would you like to be their friend? 




Post a comment below and share your own family's tips, tricks, and mishaps in talking about books.

"What if your kids don't like to read?" (by Mrs. Jenni)

Reading has been a wonderful part of my life for a long time.  As a teacher, I also know how vital reading is when it comes to learning.  I have always tried to instill a love of reading in each of my students.  One of my favorite challenges is to play matchmaker with students and books.  When a student knows a book recommendation is specifically for them from someone who cares about them it goes a long way towards helping them read the book.  How exciting when they realize how awesome reading can be!

This challenge became very personal for me several years ago when I married a man with two beautiful daughters, aged 8 and 11 at the time. Neither of the girls read much.  My oldest described herself as a "big couch potato who watched lots of TV."  Reading was a struggle and certainly not something that they did at home for fun. I was hopeful that this could change.

 That was almost three years ago and I've seen big changes since then.  My oldest daughter now loves reading. She reads on her own constantly.  We read books together as a family and we are constantly talking about what we're reading.  We make recommendations to each other about good books.  Getting to this place took work, love, and patience. 

My younger daughter hasn't fallen in love with reading yet, but we haven't given up.  Even though she doesn't enjoy reading on her own she loves the family books that we read together.

Here are some ideas that made a difference for our family; hopefully they can help you too.

• We read books together as a family
• We got a big bookshelf full of books
• We gave books as gifts
• We made trips to the bookstore as a reward
• We talked about books at the dinner table and in the car
• We made a few rules to establish some balance -- equal screen time and book time
• We didn't give up!!

Overall, we find ways to make reading at home fun, meaningful, and relaxing.

(Soon I'll post a few book lists for the reluctant reader and some tips for helping your child to find books that are best for them.)