First of all, I give myself bonus points for use of the word “conundrum”.
Because I can.
While I haven’t been as consistent as I wanted to be, I have been trying to read with the kids for 30 minutes every day this summer. Our reading choices have been all over the board….Tom Sawyer, short stories, bug books, anatomy…
The problem that I’m having with Jacob is that he doesn’t know what he likes to read.
We went to Barnes and Noble this week and I let the kids pick one book each. Jacob always wants to pick ABC books or counting books. He reads at about a 3rd or 4th grade level and he chooses what I consider to be pre-K books.
When I asked him what his favorite books are, he said “funny ones with pictures like Captain Underpants and joke books”. Since he’s read all of the Captain Underpants books and I don’t know of comparable books, I tried to dig a little deeper…
Do you like books about solving mysteries? No.
Do you like books about animals? No.
Do you like books about traveling? No.
Do you like books about science? No.
Do you like books about pirates, dinosaurs, choose your own ending, school, adventure? No, no, no, no, no.
I have no idea where to start. He claims he loves reading, but he just doesn’t know what to pick.
Anybody have any suggestions? I’m at a loss!
Jacob may have already read these, but here are some of Grace’s favorites: The Magic Treehouse series, Dinosaur Cove series, A-Z Mysteries.
Grace is telling me to say Pokemon books.
Alex recommends Star Wars.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, maybe? My son’s not quite reading on his own yet, so I’m not too much help. Mouse and the Motorcycle? Henry and Ribsy books?
I’d pick something (maybe one of the ones suggested by others) and read it to him. Try and get him hooked on a story. Did you have a favorite book as a kid? Read him that one.
Some of the younger Judy Blume (Freckle Juice, Superfudge). Maybe Beverly Cleary? I’m going totally old school here. He might be a little young, but I loved Island of the Blue Dolphins, Tuck Everlasting, Bridge to Terabithia.
If your not against comics, I just found this post and it looked good. http://www.dinneralovestory.com/2010/07/22/put-down-the-book-or-no-dessert-tonight/
What about those Star Wars novels. The Secrets of Droon are good easy chapter books. Also there is a series called Andrew Lost about a boy who shrinks himself and goes on adventures, then I just remembered Flat Stanley.
I have girls, so I’m not sure what the boys like as much. Good luck!
Pippi Longstocking books are laugh-out-loud funny. And I second the Beverly Cleary suggestion- Colin loved Henry Huggins, Socks, Ramona, Ribsy, etc.
Another great series is the Time Warp Trio series- very funny and boyish. Also books by Roald Dahl.
And I usually read the first book of a series to him and he took off from there. Also, did the Tintin books work?