There are many reasons why some kids don't love to read. Perhaps they've had too many reading assignments forced on them and as a result think books are boring. Some struggling readers have trouble sitting still and prefer to be doing something physical! Perhaps check lists and reading logs have turned reading into a chore.
But, as J.K. Rowling once said, "If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book." This is so true!
There's no easy answer for how to get reluctant readers to read, but there are great books and other types of reading materials that can tempt them. We also need to remember that all reading is good reading! Kids don't have to read traditional novels to become readers!
Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.
Maya Angelou
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Comic Strips
Comic strips are short, funny and often offer wry commentary on life. What's not to love? If you don't subscribe to a newspaper, online hubs like GoComics can supply your child with a new comic strip to read every day, giving them daily reading material to look forward to!
In addition, Comic strip treasuries are a valuable resource and a terrific way to transition from short strips to books. Think of how much fun it is to read a book filled with Calvin and Hobbes adventures.
My son adores the Cat News, and Wallace the Brave collections. It doesn't matter if he's already read all the Cat News strips online, he still looks forward to reading them in book form.
MORE: See our list of the best comic strip books for kids.
Books about or Inspired by Video Games
Got a child who'd rather spend hours playing video games than reading? Tap into that interest! There are tons of game-specific books on popular video games like Minecraft. And yes, they count as reading! Some publishers have recognized the power of gaming to encourage kids to read with easy reader books based on games like Plants vs. Zombies. Librarians, being the smarties that they are, stock their shelves with these books so they are easily found at libraries.
MORE: Try some of the titles on our list of books for kids who rather play video games.
Fact Books
Fact books are good books for reluctant readers because they contain fascinating information that makes kids say, "Wow! I didn't know that!" Usually, kids can't help but tell others about these facts, which aids reading comprehension, and gets them to start a conversation about what they've read.
Fact books come in all shapes, sizes, reading levels and topics so it's easy to match the right book to the right child. Here are some of our favorites:
Joke Books
A joke book was one of the catalysts that got my younger son reading! How can you put down a book that makes you and the people around you laugh out loud, or groan at cheesy jokes and riddles?
Moreover, joke books don't require a huge time investment, so readers who may be reluctant to tackle a novel, or even a short story will have no problem with a few one liners. And who knows, maybe they'll graduate to funny stories!
Here are a few of our favorite joke books:
- Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids
- National Geographic Kids Just Joking: 300 Hilarious Jokes, Tricky Tongue Twisters, and Ridiculous Riddles
- Get the Giggles: A First Joke Book . An excellent choice for emergent readers.
Puzzle, Project and Activity Books
Yes, puzzle and activity books count as reading! Readers may be not-so-reluctant if reading is part of actually doing something rather than just looking at words on a page. For kids who like to build, books with instructions for projects will encourage them to read and put their critical thinking skills to work! Logic puzzle books like Mindware Perplexors are another good choice.
Graphic Novels
Filled with illustrations, graphic novels are an excellent choice for so-called reluctant readers. They are an alternative to traditional novels as well as a next step up from comic strip books. Some classic books like The Giver, Little Women, and even Hamlet have been adapted into excellent graphic novels.
The following lists contain some of our favorite choices:
Page-A-Day Calendars
Get the right page-a-day calendar and your reluctant reader will look forward to reading first thing in the morning! Our kids have each gotten one of these calendars for years. There are tons of page-a-day calendar themes to choose from like cats, history, cartoons, even the Stupidest Things Ever Said , so you're sure to find the right fit for your child.
Some favorites:
Magazines
Magazines have short articles about high interest topics. Fact based magazines focused on topics like science or history appeal to a child's natural interests and often contain a WOW! factor when it comes to new information. They are loaded with photographs and illustrations, and often include fun items like puzzles, quizzes and comic strips.
Our favorite source for high-quality, no-advertising children's magazines is the Cricket family of magazines. They have subscriptions for different ages and interests. For example Click focuses on science, Faces teaches kids about global cultures and Spider is filled with interesting short stories.
MORE: See my list of the best magazine subscriptions for kids.
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