Boys and Books

Jon Scieszka, author of The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, has created a site called Guys Read.  It's not new.  Actually it's been around for several years now.

It was set up as way to help encourage guys of all ages to read.  Statistics have shown that year after year guys are scoring lower in reading and reading less than girls.

At guys read they've got a page devoted to the possible causes of this and things people can do to help guys read more.  See Guys & Reading.

Two points really stood out to me:

1.  Boys need examples.

Not just any examples, but to see other guys reading.  So if you're a guy and you like to read, do it in public.  Let other boys see that there are guys out there who enjoy reading and do it even when they don't have to.  That reading is cool.  You may never know how much of an influence you could be.

2.  Boys need people to be supportive of their reading tastes.

Not many people will read just anything.  We all have different interests and we want to read the things that appeal to us.  We need to realize that we can't hand most 10-year old kids the book we love 20 years ago, just because we loved it.  We need to help them find the books that fit their needs. Those which will catch their interest and make them want more.

At work I see parents do this all the time.  They take their kids to the books they loved when they were young, tell them what a good book it is, stick it in their hands and are ready to check-out and go home.  The parents are usually ecstatic that their child is going to read the same story that swept them away all those years ago, but the kids rarely look interested in or happy about the book that's being thrust upon them.

It probably is a wonderful book, but it may not be the right thing for that reader.  Maybe just not for that reader at that particular time.  Besides, who likes to do what they're told all the time.

Let the reader have a choice.  The reading is about them, not anyone else.  If you're taking someone to a library or bookstore to choose a book, plan enough time for them to look and be excited with them when something starts to sound interesting.  Once they start to read it, if they don't like a book after a few chapters, why not let them try another one instead.  Let them find their reading niche.

And lastly, let them talk to you about their reading.  Many people like to share what they're reading - so take the time to listen, really listen. 

At Guys Read they have a section devoted to books suggested for guys by other guys.  You can search by title, author or they have really cool subject headings like:  'Robots'; 'Scary'; 'War'; 'Funny'; 'Outer Space, but without aliens'; and, my personal favorite, 'At least one explosion'.  (Many more on the website.)

Here's a video they also have on the site through the YouTube channel for Harper Kids.  I love it, because it's so true.  I can't even count how many times I've taken elementary school age boys to the joke books.  And it's cute and funny too. Enjoy!