Books for boys learning to read

[goofy's friends]

My DS just got diagnosed on the Autistic spectrum, which explains alot around our house, but one thing it explains is his difficulty with the written language. He is 9, going into 3rd grade and I'd say he is probably reading on a late 1st/ early 2nd grade level. He said the other day that "Books are boring" which about ripped my teacher-heart in half!!! So, I'm now on a mission to not only make him a better reader, but someone who loves to read. What easy-reading books would you recommend?

 

[jme829]

My son is 9 and heading to grade 4, but he was a really reluctant reader. He did Title 1 reading in 2nd grade and it made a world of difference! Now he loves to read but is picky about what he likes.

One thing that my son will devour is graphic novels. Star Wars/Clone Wars are his favorites but he likes Spider man, Iron Man, etc...too. He even found some at the school library that are history based. They are like comic books, so easier to read than a "chapter book" but they are still pretty detailed and hold his interest. Both major bookstores have "kid" versions so they are more age appropriate.

From our experience, I would just let him read anything that catches his eye though about any subject, fiction or nonfiction. Don't worry if its grade level or not yet...just get him reading!


Both Barnes and Noble ,and Borders have a summer reading program that if they read so many books, they get to choose a free book (B & N seems to have a better selection of the free titles) maybe that would motivate him a little!

 

[LuvOrlando]

My son's all time favorite book series in 1st grade were Reddy Freddy. I wouldn't call him a reluctant reader exactly, but he was picky about what he read because he wanted to read what everyone else was reading and this series was extremely popular.

 

[skuttle]

Is your son into sports? My DS just finished the 1st grade. He loves to read and towards the end he started reading Jake Maddox books. They are all sports related books and are fairly easy to read. I think there are different authors that write the books, but they are all published as Jake Maddox books.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

What are his interests?

DS was reluctant reader even when he could read because books were so boring- "jog frog,jog,jog around the log"

Then he found a stars wars book above his reading level about Star Wars and he puzzled it out just because he loved Star Wars.

DD9 hates to read, probably severely Dyslexic or whatever the newer term is.

Her first book to willingly read and reread were the Elephant and Piggy books because they are so silly. First title in series is "There is a bird on your Head"

Then she read all the Junie B. Jonea and again loved the humor.

I am selling a bunch of early readers, Step 3 &4,on eBay-including Dinosaur,sports,shark etc.
eBay is wonderful for buying books if the seller gives multiple shipping discounts.

I loved Encylopedia Brown and now there are a bunch of easy reader mystery series.
If he is great at detail the mysteries might allow him to excel by figuring it out himself.

 

[minniebeth]

As long as you are ok with them, Captain Underpants books?
I swore I would never let my kids read them but once I read through some of them, they are pretty funny and just up boy humor alley!

 

[mom2boys]

Hank Zipzer books are great. They are written by Henry Winkler. "Hank" tries really hard but things just never turn out for him.

Hank the Cow Dog

 

[Rachie0507]

My son was a reluctant reader and in Title 1 in first grade. His second grade teacher introduced him to the Crazy School series by Dan Gutman and he was hooked! At first they were a bit challenging for him, but after the first couple, he was flying through them. My daughter, who was in fourth grade at the time and an advanced reader, read them for fun and thought they were hilarious. It seemed to get him past his aversion to reading and finding more enjoyable books was easier. Good luck!

 

[DISdreamin']

Totally potty humor, but my DS adored the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Those were the first books he actually wanted to read - which was a REALLY big deal! He actually finished those books on his own...he'd take them to school and read them on the bus and at his after school program by choice.

He also got a kick out of Captain Underpants, but not nearly to the extent as the Wimpy Kid books.

 

[stm61]

there are several series of books that are paperback, designed to look like a "normal" book, but they're written on a lower reading level. They're designed for kids that are older, but reading at a low level. They're usually referred to as high/low readers and I get most of mine from High Noon Publishers. You should be able to google them. I teach a self-contained EMD room, which includes OHI, low-level LD, and a few ED's thrown in just to keep it interesting lol. I've used these books with great success. They have some at every maturity level. Just for ex: Tom & Ricky series is aimed at elem. boys, there's another series aimed at elem. girls, more that are aimed at jr hs/hs where the characters are dating. They also have the classics written at lower levels, but these are typically not lower then 4th grade since they're designed for upper grades. The books start at a 1st grade reading level and go up for there. I can't say enough about these books! My kids loved reading "real" books, that looked just like what the regular ed kids were reading. I even loaned some out to regular ed teachers who had reluctant/low level readers, and the other kids never knew there was a difference!

 

[Liberty Belle]

Fly guy series? My son is going into 2nd grade and still likes them. There's also a series called The Time Soldiers that is really cool. My son loves them, but we have to read them together. There are some really difficult words.

 

[asta]

Sideway Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar is a good book for early readers who are ready to move into chapter books. I think that there are three books writen about this strange school and its funny students. The chapters are short enough to encourage a new reader but the books look like older kid's books.

 

[piglet too]

Dragon Slayers Academy is a series my son loved.

 

[goofy's friends]

wow, some great suggestions!! I'm going to google and check Amazon on some of these. He still loves to be read to, so even if they are hard for him right now, they could work as a read-aloud!! Keep the suggestions coming!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

DS really liked Nate the Great when he was still struggling to pick up some reading fluency. Once those become easy try moving into Raold Dahl books (many are very short and fun reads).
Also graphic novels and comics are a good way to practice skills in a less overwhelming format. DS liked the old Peanuts and Clavin and Hobbes books as well as lots of series and individual graphic novels we had on the shelves at the library. I am sorry but I cannot think of any specific titles off the top of my head.
I also recommend you keep reading TO him. It is hard to enjoy something that is really hard work, so make sure he gets to enjoy the books without the work on a regular basis so that he remembers they are fun once reading finally becomes less work for him.

 

[belle&beast]

My DS just got diagnosed on the Autistic spectrum, which explains alot around our house, but one thing it explains is his difficulty with the written language. He is 9, going into 3rd grade and I'd say he is probably reading on a late 1st/ early 2nd grade level. He said the other day that "Books are boring" which about ripped my teacher-heart in half!!! So, I'm now on a mission to not only make him a better reader, but someone who loves to read. What easy-reading books would you recommend?

"Boring" is a term used around my house when something is difficult and my DD (almost 9) doesn't want to make the effort or doesn't want to fail.

My DS is going into 1st grade and tells us he can't read. His teacher tells us differently, so I am making not of some of the great suggestions- thanks!!!

 

[PollyannaMom]

...He said the other day that "Books are boring" which about ripped my teacher-heart in half!!!...

I feel the same way! Not only am I a substitute teacher, but DH is an absolutely voracious reader as well. We have no idea how DS got the idea that "books are boring". (He does still like to be read to, so I suspect that as belle&beast said, it simply takes more effort than he wants it to, and he'd rather be outside running around.)

Anyway, I second Fly Guy. DS did like those, and I'm going to try the Lunch Lady series, which another reluctant reader in the family liked. (They have a comic-like style in a regular book size/shape.) My other advice is to provide him with lots of non-fiction, rather than just chapter books. Mine has always been more likely to read to get information than just for fun. - Plus, they are generally shorter, so boost the "Hey, I finished it" factor.

DS improved a lot last year, but is still a few months behind grade level (and has some friends who are way above, so it feels farther to him) so I will definitely look into the High Noon Publishers. Thank you for sharing that, stm61!

 

[mjkacmom]

Ds7 has been tearing through Captain Underpants (that we had from ds12). Certainly not great literature, but he loves them.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

I am also having my daughter listen to Audiobooks at a higher level than she can read. That way she learns vocabulary, visualizing, comprehension etc.

She listened to the first Harry Potter book on CD while following along in a book.

 

[goofy's friends]

Oooooh, great idea!!!!!!! Thanks!