We’ve all heard the research that tells us to begin reading to our kids daily as newborns, as it is important for social interaction, language acquisition, and brain development. Most babies and toddlers will happily sit with Mama or Daddy and a book, pointing at pictures and turning pages together; these are fond memories for many parents during the baby and toddler years. But what happens as your child gets older and would rather do anything else than read? What do you do when your child whines, “Reading is booooorrring!”?
As a librarian I battle the “books are boring” attitude daily. Boys and girls alike are subject to this malady, but the remedy for boys tends to be a bit different than that for girls. I am definitely not a believer in the idea that books can be labeled as “boy books” or “girl books,” but my experience has taught me that boys tend to get excited about books that share certain characteristics and shun others that lack them. Adventure, action, science fiction, humor, sports, ghosts, zombies, and major dilemmas are themes that boys tend to gravitate towards in fiction; non-fiction requires lots of cool photographs with wowing facts, and a little gross-out factor doesn’t hurt. If you have a boy in your life who is a hard sell when it comes to reading, give a few of these books a try.
Page-Turning Series Books
Series are great for reluctant readers of both genders. For one thing, reading a series actually makes comprehension easier: with each new book the reader is already familiar with the characters, setting, and format of the writing. Readers are already invested in the plot and eager to find out what happens. Plus, it’s super easy to decide what to read next!
Origami Yoda Series by Tom Angleberger
Genre: Science fiction
Target age: 9+
For boys who like Star Wars and understand satirical humor. I mean, with characters like Darth Paper, the Fortune Wookie, and Jabba the Puppet, how can this not be hilarious?! The books also show readers how to use origami to create the book characters—a bonus for the creative types.
I Survived Series by Lauren Tarshis
Genre: Historical fiction
Target age: 9+
Historical fiction typically isn’t a favorite genre for boys, but when it’s written to highlight the adventure and suspense that so much of our history holds they just can’t put it down! These books put the reader in the shoes of (fictional) characters who experienced and survived disastrous events spanning history from the destruction of Pompeii in A.D. 79, the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, the attacks of September 11, and as recent as the Japanese tsunami of 2011.
Time Warp Trio Series by Jon Scieszka
Genre: Science fiction/historical fiction
Target age: 8+ (especially great for boys who are ready to graduate from the Magic Tree House Series)
This series is especially great for boys who are ready to graduate from the Magic Tree House Series, as it is funny and faster-paced. Also check out the official Time Warp Trio website.
From the publisher: Scieszka’s tongue-in-cheek humor sets the pace for his award-winning tales in this zany series. This wacky trio, Joe, Jodie, and Anna, keeps warping in and out of Brooklyn in these space-and-time travel adventures.
Geronimo Stilton Series by Geronimo Stilton
Genre: Fantasy, adventure
Target age: 8+
Geronimo Stilton is a mouse who is always on the lookout for an adventure. Boys love these books not only for the fast-paced story and quick-witted humor, but also for the format that integrates unique texts and illustrations.
You Wouldn’t Want to Be… Series by various authors
Genre: Nonfiction
Target age: 10+
From the publisher: This delightful series brings something unusual to the study of history: humor. You Wouldn’t Want to Be… revels in the darker side of life in ancient times. The reader is on center stage as he or she tours life as a slave, warrior, explorer, even a mummy! Hilarious illustrations, captions, and sidebars leave no doubt that you simply wouldn’t want to be there.
These are some of my very favorite nonfiction books for kids. They are short, entertaining, and gross—and boys flock to them. My personal favorites are about Ancient Egypt, particularly You Wouldn’t Want to Be an Egyptian Mummy!: Disgusting Things You’d Rather Not Know.
Who Was… Series by various authors
Genre: Biography
Target age: 9+
From Horn Book: The fast-paced biographies in this series do a good job of revealing the personalities and significant achievements of their subjects. Plentiful black-and-white illustrations and simple prose make the books particularly appealing to reluctant readers, and the brief sidebars never overwhelm the main texts. Each volume has two timelines—one for the subject’s life, the other listing concurrent world events. (Fall 2002)
This series includes over 100 biographies about influential people from ancient times and modern, from America and across the globe, from political leaders to inventors to authors to artists to civil rights activists. These books are perfect for boys (and girls!) who are fascinated by the people who have shaped our society in the past and present.
Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Leisel Shurtliff
Genre: Fantasy/fractured fairy tale
Target age: 9+
Fairy tales for boys? You betcha! This isn’t your typical dancing princesses, “happily ever after” fairy tale. Ever wonder how Rumpelstiltskin got his crazy name, how he could spin straw into gold, or how in the world he ended up in a locked castle tower with a princess and a baby? Just wait until you see how it all went down. (Watch the trailer here!) When you’re finished reading Rump, look for Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk, and coming soon, Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood.
Graphic Novels
I’ve seen many adults shy away from these books and even try to encourage kids to choose something different, as though these aren’t “real books.” Understandably so, since graphic novels are a relatively new genre, especially for the teen and pre-teen age group. However, graphic novels are more than the comic books we remember as kids and actually excellent choices for struggling or reluctant readers! Because they have so many illustrations, they tend to be less intimidating than chapter books with page after page of black-and-white text. Graphic novels produce a different type of reading experience in which the reader must use context clues and inferencing—valuable reading comprehension skills—to understand the plot. And graphic novels contain all the same features as regular chapter books, like dynamic characters who work to solve problems throughout the story. Many classics, such as Moby Dick, Dracula, Black Beauty, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, have been adapted into graphic novels, bringing the stories to life in a whole new way to a new generation. So please, don’t dismiss graphic novels until you’ve given them a try for yourself! It may not be your favorite genre, but it just might do the trick to get a hesitant boy hooked on reading.
Bone Series by Jeff Smith
Genre: Graphic novel/fantasy
Target age: 10+
From Publishers Weekly: The nine-volume Bone graphic novel series was the toast of the comics world when it was published by Smith’s own Cartoon Books beginning in the early 1990s; in this first volume of Scholastic’s new edition, the original b&w art has been beautifully converted into color. Smith’s epic concerns three blobby creatures who have stumbled into a valley full of monsters, magic, farmers, an exiled princess, and a huge, cynical dragon. The story is something like a Chuck Jones version of The Lord of the Rings: hilarious and action-packed, but rarely losing track of its darker subtext about power and evil. This volume is the most lighthearted of the bunch, though, featuring some of the wittiest writing of any children’s literature in recent memory—a few of Smith’s gags are so delicious that he repeated them for the rest of the series. It also introduces the Bone cast’s unforgettable supporting characters: the leathery, tough-as-nails, racing-cow-breeding Gran’ma Ben; the carnivorous but quiche-loving “rat creatures”; a spunky trio of baby opossums; and Ted the Bug, whose minimalist appearance (a tiny semicircle) exemplifies Smith’s gift for less-is-more cartooning. The way his clear-lined, exaggerated characters contrast with their subtle, detailed backgrounds is a product of his background in animation, and so is his mastery of camera angles and choreography. This is first-class kid lit: exciting, funny, scary and resonant enough that it will stick with readers for a long time. (February 7, 2005)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Robert Venditti (based on the novels by Rick Riordan)
Genre: Graphic novel/fantasy
Target age: 10+
Books One (The Lightning Thief), Two (The Sea of Monsters), Three (The Titan’s Curse), and Four (The Battle of the Labyrinth) have been adapted as graphic novels; hopefully more are on the way!
From the publisher: You’ve read the book. You’ve seen the movie. Now submerge yourself in the thrilling, stunning, and action-packed graphic novel.
Mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking out of the pages of 12-year-old Percy Jackson’s textbooks and into his life. And worse, he’s angered a few of them. Zeus’s master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now, he and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus’s stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus.
Series creator Rick Riordan joins forces with some of the biggest names in the comic book industry to tell the story of a boy who must unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.
Graphic Planet Graphic History by various authors
Genre: Graphic novel/nonfiction
Target age: 9+
From the publisher: These graphic novels bring historic events into vivid detail with high-quality illustrations and factual narration. Reluctant readers will gain knowledge in a format they enjoy and introduce them to the world of nonfiction.
Bonus novel: I couldn’t leave this one out because it’s just fabulous. It’s great to read together with your child; I promise you’ll love it, too!
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Genre: Realistic fiction
Target age: 10+
From the publisher: Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunting and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student. (Watch the trailer here!)
I could go on and on about marvelous books that are sure to excite even the most reluctant of boy readers, but I’ll leave you with a few tips about engaging both boys and girls in reading:
- Set an example. If they see you value reading for pleasure (in both action and word), they are more likely to believe you when you tell them reading is important.
- Read together. This can be novels or picture books; kids of all ages love to be read to, even if they make it seem like the most uncool thing in the world to read with their mom.
- Ask for help. Maybe you have a friend whose children love reading, or a special librarian friend who loves to talk about books. Use them.
- Be positive. Make reading FUN, not a nagging daily battle.
- Don’t give up. Most of the time, all it takes is finding the right book. Remember, it’s okay if your child doesn’t fall in love with your all-time favorite children’s book. Go ahead and cry in secret (as I will if my daughter doesn’t love Anne of Green Gables), but then keep looking for the book that will become his or her favorite.[hr]
What are some books that your boys have been hooked on?
This is awesome, Katie. As a mom of twin boys (11) who don’t love reading (gasp!) I am forever searching for books that will become page turners to them. My one son said he especially thinks he likes the historical fiction genre … maybe something with explorations – he even mentioned Vikings. I googled a few ideas but I love hearing first hand picks. So if you have another other ideas for this genre … or if one about exploration pops into mind, please add it! Thank You!
Erin, the You Wouldn’t Want to Be series that I discussed sounds right up his alley! Also, one of the Time Warp Trio books is called Viking it and Liking it. There is another series called Guys Read where several authors come together to write short stories about different topics, like sports, mysteries, and history. One last suggestion: if he likes graphic novels, check out Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales. He really makes history come alive by telling stories of little-known heroes who were in the middle of it all. His first book, One Dead Spy, is about a Revolutionary War spy; he also wrote about the Underground Railroad and WWI trenches. Hope these inspire your young readers!
My son loved Goosebumps! I have no idea if they are still popular, or if they re considered dated, but it was the only thing he would read when he was young…
Goosebumps are definitely still in! They are a hot commodity in my library. R.L. Stine has created a new series called My Rotten School for younger readers. Still a little spooky but more humor and much less creepy & gory.
At Timberwilde E.S I worked with our librarian to put together a binder of “Books for Boys”. The kids love it and my son uses it frequently to try new books. We even encourage the kids to give us ideas of what needs to be added.
That’s great, Jaime! I’ve been wanting to make something like that for my own library. I know the librarian at Timberwilde and she’s pretty great. I also have to give you major props for helping out in the library….we need all the help we can get! 🙂