Reluctant Reader Rescue

I am always, always looking for my next book fix.  This is why there are stacks and stacks of books stashed all over my house just waiting for me to get to them.  I love buying new books.  I love the way they feel.  They way the smell.  I sleep better in a room filled with books.  I admit it, I am an addict.  A book addict. I cannot function without my books.  I simply need to find myself immersed in the life of a new character, a new world, a new story. 

Sadly, this just isn't the case for many struggling readers.  I am sure that we all have at least one reluctant reader in our life.  It may be our son or daughter.  Perhaps it's a grandchild, niece, nephew or a student.  It may even be an adult.  Someone we know is struggling to read or to find things that they want to read. Nearly every day I am presented with a reluctant reader.  The parents are usually supportive but lost and unsure of how to help them.  The kids themselves are often embarrassed and frustrated.  Many are ready to give up on finding anything that they can or are willing to read. It is really and truly heartbreaking.  While I myself never struggled to master my reading skills - I did (& some would say, still do) struggle with math.  It was terrible, just terrible to sit in a classroom stare at a chalk board and have absolutely no idea what my teacher was talking about.  I was especially confused, scratch that, betrayed when all of the sudden letters, my wonderful friends the letters started turning up in math problems.

I take helping these kiddos very personally.  I love to find books for reluctant readers.  Finding that perfect story, that perfect book is pretty powerful.  In fact, sometimes it kind of feels like a super power.  Or the closest thing I have to one anyway.  So today I thought touch on a few of my favorite Rules for Reluctant Reader Rescues.  Maybe one or two will work for your own reluctant reader.

• Your Favorites Are Not Necessarily Their Favorites.  While the most natural place to start with recommendations is with what you know it is also likely to be the most firmly resisted.  I believe that books have a way of finding you when you are ready for them or you need them.  Present your favorites but don't insist upon them.  Give kids the room to say no.  Truly, if a child is not interested in a book when you walk out of the shop then what are the chances they'll crack it open at home on their own.  Give them the time and the space they need to make a selection.  There will be plenty of time to reintroduce that title once they are a little more comfortable or their skills are a bit stronger. 
• Look Beyond The Usual Suspects. Award winning titles win awards for a reason.  Super smart bookworms have selected them for these honors because they stand alone in their genre.  That is important, however it can be really intimidating.  Especially for a kiddo who is really struggling.  These kids don't need to be reading weighty tomes.  They just need to be reading.  If they are drawn to items that aren't exactly what you want for then them pay attention and see how you can translate that into something else.  A boy who spends hours playing with baseball cards might really love a trivia book like Sports Illustrated Kids Full Count: Top 10 Lists of Everything Baseball.  Then they might be drawn to read a sports biography like Legends in Sports: Babe Ruth by Matt Christopher.  Before you know it they'll be asking for All Stars: Wild Pitch by Cal Ripkin.  Sports is only one example.  If your kiddo is into science and nature there are great beginning science books to get them started.  Don't turn your nose up at trivia books, joke books or even magazines.  There are many ways to be well read.  Your kids will find their own way if you keep an open mind and let them lead the way.
• Books are Books, Right? So many new, young readers are overwhelmed by the books we offer them.  Their peers are carrying around Harry Potter (not to knock Harry Potter - I love, love, love Harry Potter!) while they are still plowing though beginning readers or early chapter books. Imagine pulling the latest Magic Tree House book (again, not to knock Magic Tree House, it is a positively superb early chapter series) out of your back pack and looking over at the next desk to see your classmate is reading an 800 page book.  You'd probably put your book right back and not take it out again.  Digital readers like the nook (my personal preference) or the kindle or an ipad offer kids enormous anonymity.  No one needs to know what they are reading.  They just pop it out, turn it on and read away.  Now I love an honest to goodness book as much as anyone.  Nothing, I mean nothing, beats a real book.  But for a reluctant reader privacy is priceless.  As an added bonus many of these digital readers have dictionary features.  This is fantastic feature for anyone and everyone trying to build up their vocabulary.
• Get Serious About A Series.  I think the absolute best way to motivate a reluctant reader is to get them hooked on a series.  There is a series for almost anything you can imagine: Baseball, fairies, teeny tiny people living in walls, or even flat kids.  There are mysteries, magical adventures, historical fiction or horror.  Find yourself an awesome librarian or kids specialist in a book store and let them help you.  Find the right series of 4, 10 or even 50 titles and that will lead to another series and another series and even another series.  The best things about most of these series from The Magic Tree House to Harry Potter is that they get harder.  They will start at an easier level and get gradually more difficult.  Lulled by familiar characters and storylines your kids won't even know that they are reading harder material. 

I am by absolutely no means an expert in education.  Far wiser and more educated folks than me may surely disagree with my opinions and suggestions.   I am simply a mom with a passion for kids lit,  a lifelong bookworm, a professional book pusher and a would-be writer.  I love kids and I love kids books.  I love to help kids find their gateway book. Just don't give up. It only takes one, the right one to hook a kid.

Read Your Broccoli

One of the concerns I hear most from parents is about the quality of the material their kids are reading.  Just like in the adult section there are a lot of children's books that are more silly than serious, more ridiculous than realistic and more entertaining than educational.  Many of the most popular titles are fun and frivolous but their content is a source of contention.  In order to put these books into perspective I like to compare them to food.  For example, you've got your meat and potatoes books like Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume that are filling staples.  Funny, smart and well written it has been a favorite with kids, parents and teachers since it's publication in 1972.  The books in question (insert any of the diary genre books here) are more along the lines of a cupcake.  Obviously it's not terribly good for them and it won't fill them up but it sure tastes good.  And lets face it, everyone loves a cupcake every now and then. 

Now you don't want them to eat only cupcakes.  You want them to eat their grilled salmon or leafy green veggies.  I get that, I do.  As much as I personally love cupcakes I wouldn't let my kids have one for dinner (ok, maybe for breakfast but then only on their birthdays).  So you say, sure you can have a cupcake - after you eat your salmon.  Your salmon is full of protein and all those good omega-3 fatty acids.  It has great nutritional building blocks that will help your kids grow up healthy and strong. As a concerned parent you are looking for something that is educationally equivalent for your kids to read.  You want them to read thoughtful, well written books like The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. 

The Mysterious Benedict Society is an incredible series about ludicrous smart kids who can solve puzzles that would stump even the smartest adult.  It consists of three fantastic novels, a prequel and a companion book of puzzles.  They are heavy books and I don't mean just in size.  The writing is densely descriptive and it will take your kiddos a little time to make their way through it.  They probably won't devour it like a cupcake (most kiddos whip through those diary or manga books in no time).  They'll have to chew on it and think it over and maybe even go back and reread a part here in there. 

You'll also want your kids to eat their broccoli too.  Newbery Award Winners make great broccoli.  Just wander through the Newbery shelves in your local book shop and you'll see what I mean.  They can choose between Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell which won it's gold medal in 1961 or Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary which won it's gold medal in 1984 or the most recent winner for 2013 My One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.  Since 1922 the Newbery Award has been given to one book - and one book only - for excellence in children's literature.  It was the first award in the world to ever single out children's books.  Now, how do you like them veggies? 

The important thing to remember is that kids need to read.  No matter what they are reading they are still developing important skills in proficiency, accuracy and comprehension all the while building their vocabulary.  Anytime they spend reading is helping them acquire the important skills they need for their academic future.   Lastly, I'll say if the only thing your child will read is the equivalent of a cupcake then give them the cupcake.  If they get nothing but pleasure from reading these books you've won a major battle.  Someday, somewhere that joy they got from that silly book just may translate into a real life long love of reading.  Just don't give up and keep offering that salmon and those fresh veggies.