Wow! ds2 is reading for pleasure at last ...!

[roisin]

ds1 (11) is a real bookworm and has been since he was about 5. On paper school have always told us that ds2 (9) is even more advanced as a reader, but he's never been keen to read fiction.

dh and I are keen booklovers and we've kept plodding away with ds2:
Taking him to the library
Taking him to see/hear authors at the Hay Festival
Buying him the latest copies of new titles by authors he's enjoyed in the past
Taking him to the library
Allowing him extra time with lights on to read in bed
Buying him books as presents and rewards
Encouraging him to read widely - magazines, newspapers and non-fiction
etc. etc.

Anyway, it seems like it's finally clicked! His school set up a new reading club and a reading challenge, and for the past month or so he has been hooked with a book all the time. Finally he is reading decent, lengthy books. I have to wrestle books off him in the evenings to get him to go to sleep. He's been waiting for a particular book and we finally found a copy today. When he came home he spurned the computer and TV and went upstairs and started reading.

I'm so happy!

that is so exciting! My ds is not yet 2 but I wanted to post. as an avid reader myself I so hope my ds will love books too. my mum and SIL are also avid readers but my dad, DH and brother barely read anything other than the newspapers. makes me think that ds is destined to not want to read and your post is extremely heartening and encouraging even if I'm being a bit premature in my excitement!

what books are really engaging your ds? I would love to start building up a library for my ds.

and just to say a big (hopefully not patronising) WELL DONE on your approach to this and on your success!

Ah, roisin, that's so lovely.

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great roisin! we are plodding on with ds (7) but no great achievements yet. he did spend his money on books from the puffin club which was a good step we thought. but the wretched things haven't arrived yet....

My DS is 6 and although he can read, he does it reluctantly.
I look forward to the day he reads because he wants to rather than because I have told him to!

Not surprised you are happy.

That is great! Like BocciBalls my ds is only little but I do hope he likes reading. It has given me so much in my life.

Sounds like a Mr Gum book (by Andy Stanton) would be a good reward for your new keen reader. I can personally recommend Mr Gum And The Power Crystals which I finished late last night. Superb. Only four years to go before my toddler twins can read them!!!

our boys are v similar kid!

Yes they are. lol

It is wonderful when it happens, isn't it. Charlie Bone did it for us, and we now have to keep a firm eye out that lights stay off

Roisin, it took my DS until he was nearly 13.

Thanks all!
Minaloy - interestingly Mr Gum and The Power Crystals is one of the books on his Challenge List. He was particularly keen on that because he's read the first two and met Andy Stanton at Hay last year.

In the past he has latched onto and enjoyed particular authors/series: eg Cressida Cowell Dragon/Hiccup books and Joshua Doder: Grk books. But this is the first time he's got really engaged with a whole variety, and seems to be just loving reading for the sake of it.

The book he was desperate to get hold of has just won the Blue Peter Book Award Prize. Shadow Forest by Matt Haig. I can't comment on it, as I haven't read it personally. But ds2 read it today from 3.30 - 5.30 and 6.30 - 9.30*, so I guess it's gripping.

*I told him he could read til 8pm, then I fell asleep and forgot to check on him!

Also on the list were The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd and Born to Run by Michael Morpurgo.

But there are loads of fantastic books out there for children, and I don't think these are particularly special; it was just a combination of things coming together.

I hope it lasts!

I used to be a bookseller and discussions like this make me want to be one again!