Getting boys reading

[UnquietDad]

This sounds like a good scheme, although phrases spring to mind about horses, water and drinking.

I used to love reading. It never even entered my head that anyone might think it was a poncy, poofy, girly, fairy, gay thing to do. Why do boys today think that it is?

I used to read, among others, the Willard Price "Adventure" stories, The Three Investigators, Anthony Buckeridge's "Jennings" series, Richmal Crompton's "William" books, all the "Doctor Who" novelisations by Terrance Dicks and others, Ivan Southall's "kid disaster movie" novels, Rosemary Sutcliff, Alan Garner, and some series about scouts called Nobby and Snowy whose name I've totally forgotten. I think they all stand up well today.

Yup. Both DSs big readers, even surely weirdly outdated stuff like Jennings in this house. Also Asterix and Tintin too. And all the usuals- Horowitz, Jacqueline Wilson . Thought now I think of it, given love for Tracy Beaker in this house, they're clearly so unafraid of being thought girly and poofy that actually go in for these pink and purple covers so perhaps not best examples of boyish readers. . .

If anyone can remind me what those Scout books were called and who wrote them I'd be really grateful. (Don't bother googling nobby+snowy+scout - I've tried that.)

There is also some books called the Complete History of the Universe which are cartoon like books.

Agree boys can be a bit reluctant but I say let them read anything - sports pages, backs of cereal packets and with gentle encouragement will come to books.

Reading is often seen as "girly" because most of the reading decisions for young boys are made by girls.
Nearly infants teachers are women, and mothers buy the majority of books for kids.
This combines with some PC idea of not encouraging violence" to make them get "books for boys" which don't include paint drying in case it gave them ideas about chemical warfare.

I'm actually surprised the problem isn't bigger.
Boys also in my experience get into "fact" books, often taking a deep dislike to any form of fiction. DS has been demaning the "Book of how people die", which at first sounded quite scary but turned out to be some sort of medical text. Hell I might even write that, it would be a best seller.
But it won't.
Few kids get to choose books, they are mostly bought on their behalf. I liked Jennings, and in the darker corners of our library they are to be found. But I won't give them to DCs because they are quaint.
But it would be an easy mistake to make.

I'm a great fan of comics for boys.
They have direct connections between words and what's going on, and unlike many of the books bought for boys something actually happens.
It doesn't have to be violence, although stupidly out of date, Thunderbirds seems to be loved by almost all boys.

Batman is certainly not girly, nor indeed is Spiderman. Film tie ins are there to be exploited, be they comics or books.
Carlie and the Chocolate factory is a great read, and my kids worship Johnny Depp as a God.
Pirates of the Caribbean which my 3 and 6 yo DSs love, a lot, not only has the book of the film, but a sequence of novels about Jack Sparrows early life.

I think there are worse sins than being quaint. DD is reading and enjoying the Chalet School books, after all....

Does anyone know of any football themed books suitable for an 8yr old boy - a series would be great. DS is only interested in reading shoot/match football comics at the moment.
Thanks

Well DC I sometimes regret buying my 6yo a 70% off Match of the Day annual for his birthday. Because as his mother I also have to ensure he gets dressed of a morning and with all the clothes on in the right order which is all more likely to happen if he does not have his nose in the annual.

And yes I do buy a lot of DS's books. DH has recently contributed a Liverpool v Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final programme (he was passing Anfield for work one day). DS has read it cover to cover, even the adverts.

Unquiet... how old is your DS? The trick is to get them reading early and to do everything to keep them reading between 7 and 11 (age people not times lol). Do you have a decent children's bookshop near you. I'm lucky and they have never let me down.

Roisin (a MNer) has done a lot of reading and is very interested (and knowledgeable) about boys reading.

My DS (now 14) didn't go down a lot of the obvious lines for reading. I do know that I had to hunt for "boy" books. I accept that comics are good... but boys should still read books.

UQD, what about those adventure books where you choose what happens next. Is it Ian Livingstone that did some of them?

Agree about teh 'comic' type ones - dh reads those even now!!

I managed to get one DS reading but he stopped at around 13 "No one reads books nowadays" etc. DS2 was never interested and only reads set books. So the question should be "How do you get boys reading and keep them reading?"

what age are your boys
have a fab list of authors for reluctant boy readers
bad sentence but you know what i mean lol

there are lots of good short books by jennings (phillip? paul? I forget.....) and someone else

oh crikey
sorry my sister is in labour and my brain is freid

Post the list Popsy....... mwah!!!!!!!!

My DS is only 4. We're still in Gruffalo and Hungry Caterpillar territory! His sister will read anything and everything now.

Ian Livingstone & Steve Jackson - Fighting Fantasy gamebooks! I used to "read" those too.

just making dinner....
be back later

Ahhhh, he's only 4!!! Er, maybe hold off on the fighting fantasy books then!! Hehe!

No need to be fretting about the 11+ yet UQD

What do you mean? We're already saving university fees up in the ISA! (This is true, btw.)

Most important thing Unquiet is that you continue to read to him and that he sees you reading. Not just the paper!

Don't make reading a punishment (eg... go to your room and read). Find your closest children's bookshop and talk to them about your DS (and DD) and get great book selections.

I wasn't worrying about my DS, to be honest. I just posted this for general interest.

As an aside, one of my best friends hates reading fiction and read very little as a child. He is very intelligent, has a first class honours degree in chemistry as well as a PhD. Similarly my DH. He hardly read any fiction as child preferring instead to read magazines about aircraft, tanks and guns. He too has a PhD in chemistry.

Whilst I agree that reading is someting to be encouraged (my 3yo DTS love reading), I think the key is to find something that they are interested in, especially when they are older, and they will read about that to their hearts content.

always good to have these things bustling around in the back of your mind though.

Hey speedy.....long time no see babe!

Another thing I do is to take the DTS to the library and let them choose the books. They even do that at their nursery where they have a book corner and the children choose a book to take home for the weekened.

stop waving and come spend some time on the d'ya ever threads. Dreadful woman!!!!!!!!!!!