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Self-read books for a reluctant 6 year-old boy please....

20 replies

Legacy · 20/01/2009 14:24

He CAN read (level 8/9 ORT, and is an August-born Year 2 child, so I reckon that's OK...) but I seem to be struggling to find books that he will voluntarily pick up and read for himself.

We have LOADS of books (older DS1 is a complete bookworm) but so far the only things DS2 has shown any interest in are:

  • Star wars DK readers
  • A boxed set of 'Silly Stories'


Flat Stanley - nope
Astrosaurs - not really
Jack Stalwart - probably still a bit hard
Roald Dahl - likes us to read to him, but won't read himself....

Am I trying too hard? Or has anyone any ideas?
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Yurtgirl · 20/01/2009 14:27

My ds will read factual books but not fiction books - It doesnt bother me!

I read a fiction chapter book to him every night - The Indian in the cupboard atm

Why not get him a set of books from The book people, they are fab

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WWUD · 20/01/2009 14:30

Horrid Henry is usually a winner.

Mr Gumm books by Andy Stanton (I think) - very well laid out for reluctant readers, as they look like solid paperbacks but have only a few lines of large text on each page with plenty of illustrations. Also whacky stories.

Ds loves information books (as well as the above), the sort that have masses of colourful illustrations and diagrams, with lots of captions and individual paragraphs of text, rather than solid pages of text. At the moment we have from the library a book about gadgets, another about satellite photographs, and another about transport.

Dh and I find them interesting, too!

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seeker · 20/01/2009 14:30

Roald Dahl is much harder than it looks - much harder than the others you listed.

I think Beast Quest is THE best series for boys - lots of them, fast moving, lots of cliff hangers and fab monsters.

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Legacy · 20/01/2009 14:31

Thanks YG

Yes, I could try all the non-fiction stuff again. we have loads of sets of the 'I wonder why'/ Usborne books/ DK Eyewitness etc

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Yurtgirl · 20/01/2009 14:36

Why not take him to the library and let him seek out what he might enjoy reading?

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Legacy · 20/01/2009 14:45

We go to the library and he tends to go for anything to do with Star Wars, including books which are too hard, and he then wants us to read (which I don't mind in moderation, but I need a bit of relief too!)

Thing is, he just doesn't seem 'grabbed' by anything else....

I think he still associates reading with school, and I just seem to be struggling to find things which will convince him that reading can be fun too....

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christywhisty · 20/01/2009 14:53

What about comics or factual magazines, I think at that age my DS loved his Jackie Chan magazines. Captain Underpants also went down well as it is more in a comic format.

My DS is 13 and apart from Harry Potter has only just started reading fiction last August.
He also listened to a lot of story tapes from the library.

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christywhisty · 20/01/2009 14:53

What about comics or factual magazines, I think at that age my DS loved his Jackie Chan magazines. Captain Underpants also went down well as it is more in a comic format.

My DS is 13 and apart from Harry Potter has only just started reading fiction last August.
He also listened to a lot of story tapes from the library.

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doiwant3 · 20/01/2009 16:26

I recommend Jonny Zucker's Max Flash series, boys love them. And read this timesonline.typepad.com/schoolgate/2009/01/the-books-which.htmllist, as it gives loads of suggestions

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Yurtgirl · 20/01/2009 16:52

What about the national geographic magazine available much cheaper with Tesco vouchers?

My ds loves reading but never chooses to read stories - I wouldnt worry

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singersgirl · 20/01/2009 20:10

Comics are great - my boys like The Beano and NG Kids here, as well as Dr Who Battles in Time and Match. I also always recommend Tintin for this kind of age and stage - quite challenging vocab, but cartoon format. Asterix too, though mine haven't really liked that as much. Tintin is still reread by my 10 year old.

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choosyfloosy · 20/01/2009 20:13

was going to suggest the Beano too, or maybe the DFC? (we get bits of it in the Saturday Guardian kids' bit - ds always mad keen to read this - presumably most papers have a comicky bit each week). Or joke books? Quick reward each time?

Tintin and Asterix are great, but IMO you will end up reading them - I would leave it for another year if he's not into them yet.

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Legacy · 20/01/2009 22:04

Thanks for these suggestions. We already get National Geographic, but DS1 (9) tends to monopolise it .

I think part of the problem is that DS2 is a bit lazy because his older brother loves reading, and will happily read stuff to DS2....

Maybe I will just leave it for a while - not push too hard.
I think with DS1 being such an avid reader perhaps I have a rather 'high' benchmark?

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vickyconfused · 21/01/2009 11:35

Top trumps games?! From the reviews on amazon ppl say that their boys learnt to read from them

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Seeline · 21/01/2009 11:45

Would definitely try Horrid Henry. On a similar route, although I think slightly easier to read are the Dirty Bertie books. My Y2 son is reading those at the moment. He is an able reader, but is put off if he has to try too hard - I think he just wants to get the story quickly rather than having to stop all the time to try and work out difficult words. I think that if he is reading something and enjoying it, he may be encouraged to stretch himself in teh future.

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PrettyCandles · 21/01/2009 14:07

You could also try toys that require you to follow step by step instructions, eg Meccano-type stuff, electronics kits to build gadgets, make your own volcano kit, etc. Then let him monopolise an undisturbed space to get on with it at his own pace.

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seeker · 21/01/2009 21:40

Match Attack cards got my ds reading painful though it is to admit it.

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seeker · 21/01/2009 21:41

Has anyone mentioned Beast Quest?

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LaundryFairy · 21/01/2009 21:54

Another great comic that you could try is The DFC. Fantastic stories (they had Philip Pullman recently), beautiful graphics and no ads! There are several different strips / storylines in each issue and DS really looks forward to it.

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smugmumofboys · 21/01/2009 21:58

DS1 is also an August Year 2 pupil. He loves non-fiction but has recently been wowed by the Mr Gumm boks and Beast Quest. Mr Gumm is very funny and the Beast Quest seem to be pitched at the right level.

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