Last month I shared tips on how I help my reluctant readers. One of my suggestions was to pick books, characters, or authors they love. I know that is easier said than done, so I have made a list of some that my boys (7 and 5) have taken a liking to.
Here are a few of my favorite books for reluctant (and non-reluctant) early and young readers:
Pigs Make Me Sneeze! and all other Elephant & Piggie books by Mo Willems. They’re cute, funny, and my boys read them over and over and over again. (Great for fluency and expression!)
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. This is the best story to read aloud to your kids. Everyone has a rule-following, life-is-unfair, my-little-brother-is-ruining-my-life type person in their family. As well as an embarrassing, unpredictable, silly little person. Trust me, you will laugh out loud and your kids will want to keep reading about Peter and Fudge.
Diary
of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. Truth be told, I was not an original fan of these books. I was the snooty teacher who argued, “It’s not real literature.” But here’s what I realized: kids (boys especially) who would never finish a book, read, finished, and enjoyed these books. So now I consider them magic, and funny. If your child has read and reread every single Wimpy book, try Big Nate by Lincoln Pierce. A girl version would be Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell.
Graphic Novels, aka comic books. There are so many to choose from now. I like them because my five-year-old “reads” them in the car. He reads the story through the pictures, and he feels so proud of himself because it’s a “big boy book.” Some graphic novels we like are Dragons Beware by Jorge Aguirre, The Lunch Lady series by Jarrett Krosoczka, and of course, anything with a super hero.
Picture books. No one is ever too old for a good picture book. No one! We love Children Make Terrible Pets and other books by Peter Brown, I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen, and Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett.
Here are a few books on our must-read list. These were recommended by my friend Carrie, a teacher librarian.
The Unwanteds series by Lisa McMann. I may need to wait til my boys are a bit older, but I am a sucker for character versus society plots mixed with fantasy!
Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty. I have a little inventor at home, so this is intriguing. Plus, who doesn’t love a little girl power?!
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. I mean, just watch the video!
*Also check out this book list that Jennifer made for us. She has suggestions for babies to teens.
