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Original poster

BOYS READING: How to move them on from 5-8s books to more demanding novels?

108 replies

roisin · 29/08/2007 23:06

OK, as many of you know I'm passionate about children's literature, and children reading.

Both boys became very fluent readers at a very early age. DS1 was precocious and read very advanced literature at a very young age (not necessarily an approach I would advocate.)

DS2 has equally precocious reading age scores, but is very reluctant to read novels full stop (reads endless non-fiction).

I am aware that he has not yet become a lifelong reader and IME if he doesn't get there soon society/culture will take over and he will not become one.

Atm he will not read anything more demanding than the likes of:
Horrid Henry
Astrosaurs
The Grk books
Cressida Cowell
Beast Quest
Ghosthunters

Nothing wrong with any of this I know, but how do we bridge the gap to Horowitz, Charlie Higson, Michelle Paver, Georgia Byng, Jenny Nimmo, etc?

OP posts:
ScummyMummy · 29/08/2007 23:52

Hmm. I'd be a bit reluctant to give incentives to read for pleasure, tbh.

KerryMumbledore · 29/08/2007 23:50

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ScummyMummy · 29/08/2007 23:49

Great idea, slowreader!

Original poster
roisin · 29/08/2007 23:49

I'm thinking maybe what I need to do is some sort of incentive-scheme with him to get him to agree to tackle some of these books, to make him realise that they are not so demanding as he thinks, and that he will really enjoy them once he gets into them.

Bink - from earlier - I don't know Larklight. Off to look at it on Amazon now.

We have got the first of the Edge Chronicles, but for some reason it's one of the few ds1 has never gone for.

OP posts:
ScummyMummy · 29/08/2007 23:48

I'm not sure that preferences at 8 necessarily predict lifelong reading, either, thinking about it. I was much more willing to push myself at 8 than I am these days!

slowreader · 29/08/2007 23:47

Perhaps you should make a big pile of all the books you would like him to read and say very firmly 'You are not quite old enough for these yet' and see what happens.

KerryMumbledore · 29/08/2007 23:45

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Original poster
roisin · 29/08/2007 23:44

Ha ha! Bink, yes. I bought him the Doctor Who books for his birthday - sure fire thing I thought. DS1 read them all pretty much instantly, and ds2 hasn't touched them

Maybe he is just being stubborn!

Ds1 at an earlier age but similar stage iyswim also read lots of pink sparkly girly books (his choice). But ds2 is far too aware of gender stereotypes to have ever looked at such things.

OP posts:
ScummyMummy · 29/08/2007 23:43

Sorry- my spelling and punctuation are terrible tonight.

frogs · 29/08/2007 23:42

Have you tried the Caroline Lawrence Roman Mysteries books? They're fattish, but the print is big -- maybe you could point out to him that the fatness of a book doesn't always relate to the amount of writing in it. Again they do get more adult as the series progresses.

How is he on films of books? Might he be motivated to read the book of a film he'd enjoyed?

Clary · 29/08/2007 23:41

Thanks for this thread, I need the ideas for DS as well...

ScummyMummy · 29/08/2007 23:41

Sorry- am way behaind. I think if he's estatic about finding a book at 8 you really have a very good chance of having a lifelong reader.

Original poster
roisin · 29/08/2007 23:41

Kerrymumbledore - I love Spud Murphy - one of the best books ever. Ds2 actually read it ages ago - at least 3 years ago. That's what I mean about the fact that he hasn't really moved on and made much progress.

We haven't got Worst boy in the world - is it any good? (Found Captain Crow's teeth rather disappointing).

OP posts:
Bink · 29/08/2007 23:40

Last suggestion, and I feel supported in this one by knowing that Marina thinks they are genuinely good - the Dr. Who novelisations you can get in bargain batches from The Book People. I imagine that is exactly up ds2's street.

ScummyMummy · 29/08/2007 23:40

It's a shame he isn't keen on the boy Potter, then. Roisin! The relative thinness of the first couple of books has been a draw for my boys and has hooked them in to attempting the longer ones.

slowreader · 29/08/2007 23:39

I know what you mean about size. I have had little boys come in holding their fingers 2mm apart saying "I want a book that thick." Hence good old EB proving it is possible. They don't tend to get stuck afterwards to anything like the extent the girls do on those dismal fairy books.

Original poster
roisin · 29/08/2007 23:39

ScummyMummy - O yes, he loves the books he reads. He was ecstatic in the bookshop today to find the new Cressida Cowell book when we thought it wasn't out yet.

OP posts:
Original poster
roisin · 29/08/2007 23:38

Clary - yes, Wedgiesmum told be about the PGCE. I was looking forward to grilling you about it at the Spa, so will have to look forward to it in 2008 instead!

OP posts:
Bink · 29/08/2007 23:37

ds chose of his own accord to stop on the Horowitz books (at the end of book 4 I think?) - he decided they were getting too grown-up.

Philip Reeve (eg Larklight) - would ds2 read that?

slowreader · 29/08/2007 23:37

When I read to kids I give them something to doodle on at the same time. It helps a lot.

Original poster
roisin · 29/08/2007 23:37

I think it is partly too about his perception, particularly about the size of books, which is maybe why EB would be a good idea.

e.g. someone mentioned Harry and the Wrinklies - that is a huge thick book, that he simply wouldn't tackle.

Yes, loves graphic novels, cartoons, Asterix, the Beano and so on. Also loves reading First News (children's newspaper)

OP posts:
ScummyMummy · 29/08/2007 23:36

Does he really enjoy the books he does read? I reckon that is one the of the keys to lifelong reading.

frogs · 29/08/2007 23:35

Oh yes, the Edge Chronicles. By Paul Something and Chris Riddell iirc. Ds really took to those. And I do find that he switches between Famous Five and Anthony Horowitz, actually. The garish colours on the Alex Rider books are a big draw. But I confess I did only discover that the content wasn't really suitable when ds was halfway through the 2nd book, by which time it was a bit late.

ahundredtimes · 29/08/2007 23:34

The Edge Chronicles - that's it.

Also read lots of Jacqueline Wilson, he isn't fussed by the pink covers, but they might not be every boys cup of tea.

KerryMumbledore · 29/08/2007 23:33

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