There's no denying that girls usually like to read more than boys, and there are more books geared toward girls. Most girls will read a book that is traditionally considered a "boy's topic" like sports, superheros, and comics, but not vice-versa. Boys typically don't want to read about fashion, princesses, and emotions. Sometimes, it feels like pulling teeth to get an elementary student, a pre-teen or even a high schooler to read required school reading. You can just about forget having the same kid read something just for fun. "Whereas boys used to lag behind girls in reading in the early grades, statistics show, they soon caught up. Not anymore," according to an article in The New York Times, Boys and Reading: Is There any Hope?, by Robert Lipsyte.** So my hope is to find topics that ALL kids enjoy and think about, especially boys. By hooking kids on books at a young age, the objective is to make them lifelong readers.
Reluctant boy readers need "books about their fears, choices, possibilities and relationships — the kind of reading that will prick their dormant empathy, involve them with fictional characters and lead them into deeper engagement with their own lives. This is what turns boys into readers," as further stated by Robert Lipsyte.** I agree with Mr. Lipsyte, but I also think the same thing can be said about girls. They too need books about their fears, choices, possibilities, and relationships. Again, ALL kids can be readers. Sometimes they just need to find something that interests them, but don't we all? With the variety of books available, there's something out there for everyone. So keep reading!!
**The New York Times, Boys and Reading: Is There any Hope?, by Robert Lipsyte, Aug. 19, 2011