reluctant readers

There's a great little article in the Oct. 2009 issue of Kiwi magazine , called Tikes 2 Teens, written by Michelle Carlton and Stephanie Hacker, which goes through kids' health and behavior issues from birth to age 18.

Kids ages 6 thru 8 can be reluctant readers, especially boys. So the article mentions ways to get them to read, such as: let your child choose what they want to read - even if it isn't a book that you would choose for them, let them pick it out themselves; go beyond books- read them anything that can be read, including magazines and street signs to help them build reading and comprehension skills; and most importantly, make it fun! Reading shouldn't be a chore.

There are not enough books for boys! This is something that I hear over and over again. Perhaps that's because people know boys are more resistant to read so writers aren't focusing on them, or maybe it's because there are more female writers publishing who feel more comfortable writing for and about girls? I'm not really sure, but I do know that if you have a good idea for a "boy" story, you should write it!

What are some of your favorite books old or new, written for boys? I of course love anything by Roald Dahl; Jerry Spinnelli's Maniac Magee; Louis Sachar's Holes; and Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Desperaux is one of my favorites! I once saw Ms. DiCamillo do a reading at a bookshop in SF, and there were equal part boy and girl readers in attendance. She was brilliant with the audience and so easy-going and friendly! Has anyone read any of Jeff Kinney's books from the series, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid?