It's coming up on that time of year. . .
Summer Vacation Time,
when kids get bored!
Summer Vacation Time,
when kids get bored!
Boys especially fall into S.V.T. pit of boredom.
Many BOYS
don't think reading will offer what THEY crave . . .
GRAND ADVENTURE
CRAZY FUN AND HUMOR
ESCAPE FROM CHORES
BECOMING A WINNER!
Of course Moms and Dads will be glad to hear that the books I recommend below DO NOT teach their sons to be rebellious, crazy, or anything bad. The books are written by writers who understand what it takes to HOOK a BOY (or a girl) into enjoying a good read. Understanding cause and effect, coming to grips with the idea of making good choices, and developing self-esteem, is what GREAT books offer.
A great author knows ways to weave in what parents want their sons and daughters to "get" from a book. A liberal sprinkling of action, humor and adventure "makes the medicine go down" - to paraphrase Mary Poppins.
I have been off-line for a few months, due to knee replacement surgery that threw me a few nasty curves. So, I thought the time was about right to pop in and offer a few" boy friendly" book titles.
These titles are guaranteed to take your
reluctant reader by the scruff of the neck,
and catapult him into the wonders
of reading great books.
reluctant reader by the scruff of the neck,
and catapult him into the wonders
of reading great books.
Hopefully, reading something that was written with boys ( and their gross humor and other weird macho traits in mind) will also give moms and dads some breathing space.
HERE WE GO!
Any of Daniel Pinkwater's many novels.
Steve Young's books:
Winchell Mink: The Misadventure Begins + his 15 Minutes.
Dotti Enderle recently wrote an adaptation of Huckleberry Finn for Magic Wagon Press. It is made simplier, without dumbing it down.
Toad Rage and You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum - both funny books.
Granny (Granny dies at the end--but she is mean and horrible. As a reader you are happy to have her out of the picture.)
Al Capone Does My Shirts, by Gennifer Choldenk - hilarious,
Jimmy Spoon and the Pony Express
Martin's Mice
Anything by Dick King-Smith
The Time Warp Trio - books by Jon Scieszka
Boys often like the Redwall series (although again, not lighthearted).
The Wayside School Series by Sachar - way funny.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
Any book by Gordon Korman - especially Born To Rock.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney is a riot!
Jerry Spinelli also writes books that tickle the young male funny-bone.
Jim Krieg's Griff Carver: Hallway Patrol.
The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger.
Artemis Fowle by Eoin Colfer, offers fun that is dysfunctional: Dad's missing, mom's in shock.
The Diamond Brothers books by Anthony Horowitz are funny.
The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex is really funny, - join aliens taking over the world.
Terry Pratchett's books for kids are funny too.
M.T. Anderson wrote Whales On Stilts, the Mystery of the Linoleum Lederhosen, and Pals in Peril - all are goofy in a good way.
The Bone series, by Jeff Smith, is a graphic novel series that zooms out of school libraries!
"Chicken Trek: the Third Strange Thing that Happened to Oscar Noodleman" by Stephen Manes.
Anything by Andrew Clements, Richard Peck, Louis Sachar.
HOLES by Lewis Sachar is very interesting and the character has definite boy appeal.
Steve Young's books:
Winchell Mink: The Misadventure Begins + his 15 Minutes.
Dotti Enderle recently wrote an adaptation of Huckleberry Finn for Magic Wagon Press. It is made simplier, without dumbing it down.
Toad Rage and You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum - both funny books.
Granny (Granny dies at the end--but she is mean and horrible. As a reader you are happy to have her out of the picture.)
Al Capone Does My Shirts, by Gennifer Choldenk - hilarious,
Jimmy Spoon and the Pony Express
Martin's Mice
Anything by Dick King-Smith
The Time Warp Trio - books by Jon Scieszka
Boys often like the Redwall series (although again, not lighthearted).
The Wayside School Series by Sachar - way funny.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
Any book by Gordon Korman - especially Born To Rock.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney is a riot!
Jerry Spinelli also writes books that tickle the young male funny-bone.
Jim Krieg's Griff Carver: Hallway Patrol.
The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger.
Artemis Fowle by Eoin Colfer, offers fun that is dysfunctional: Dad's missing, mom's in shock.
The Diamond Brothers books by Anthony Horowitz are funny.
The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex is really funny, - join aliens taking over the world.
Terry Pratchett's books for kids are funny too.
M.T. Anderson wrote Whales On Stilts, the Mystery of the Linoleum Lederhosen, and Pals in Peril - all are goofy in a good way.
The Bone series, by Jeff Smith, is a graphic novel series that zooms out of school libraries!
"Chicken Trek: the Third Strange Thing that Happened to Oscar Noodleman" by Stephen Manes.
Anything by Andrew Clements, Richard Peck, Louis Sachar.
HOLES by Lewis Sachar is very interesting and the character has definite boy appeal.
Just type the titles or author's names into GOOGLE or AMAZON to find book information or other books the authors have written. These day,s they also have websites or blogs for you and your kids to check out.
This list is a mere beginning: something to get you started, and your kids interested in summer reading. NOTE: I stole some of the titles from members of my favorite online writing list - Children's Writers and Illustrators. The remainder were ones I knew about myself.
My son was a reluctant reader, so I know all about searching for just the right story to peak a boy's interest - they had to be BOREDOM PROOF!!
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This list is a mere beginning: something to get you started, and your kids interested in summer reading. NOTE: I stole some of the titles from members of my favorite online writing list - Children's Writers and Illustrators. The remainder were ones I knew about myself.
My son was a reluctant reader, so I know all about searching for just the right story to peak a boy's interest - they had to be BOREDOM PROOF!!
GO TO IT PARENTS!!
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COMING SOON:
My new mid-grade adventure for boys.
"Taconi and Claude- Double Trouble"
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COMING SOON:
My new mid-grade adventure for boys.
"Taconi and Claude- Double Trouble"
Set in the Aussie Outback territory, where survival, a crazed emu, and sneaky Dreamtime spirits, keep Taconi and his talkative cockatoo pal Claude, hopping. His dad needs help, and he is sure the magic blue kingfisher feather, if he could find it, would solve everything. Not to mention adventure, fun, plus all the rattlesnake and witchetty grubs a boy could eat!
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