Best Books for Reluctant Readers

Oh, the reluctant reader. How we, as parents, worry and fret over getting these kids to read a book!  

I get it, not all books speak to all kids. Some books can be intimidating when they start out with long-winded chapters and verbose descriptions. But here is the problem, kids only get better at reading by .... well, reading. So even if they read Diary of a Wimpy Kid ten times, or have memorized Captain Underpants it helps them to read these stories over and over. Eventually they will move on, I promise —no, I really do! 

So if your kids are stuck with the same stories, or if they haven't quite found the right story, don't give up! I have some fun selections this week that may inspire them. I have even focused one of the books on girls, because let's face it, it is not only boys that sometimes have trouble catching the reading bug!

Title:        Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit

Author:     Tommy Greenwald

Target:      Grades 4-8 

Series:       Yes 

What this book is about:

We met Charlie Joe Jackson in his first book, Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading, where he made it his mission to never read a single book. In this adventure, his bad grades could earn him a trip to an academic summer camp.  When he promises to get them up in an effort to avoid camp, he finds that extra credit is the only way to improve his performance enough to get straight A’s. So now Charlie finds himself posing for portraits, participating in student government and auditioning for the school musical. Could avoiding summer camp be worth all this? 

Why I love this book:

First off, I actually found the sequel better than the original, and the first book was pretty fun.  For all his faults, Charlie Joe is an endearing character, who really does want to do the right thing (as long as that right thing doesn’t involve reading a book!)  And parents, do not worry that the book sends the wrong message. As always, the reader can easily see that reading a book, or just working harder in the first place would have made Charlie’s life a whole lot easier!

This book has some serious chuckle-out-loud moments, and I really like the voice Greenwald has given Charlie. As in the first book, Charlie speaks directly to the reader and includes tips, in this case, on extra credit, which are full of wit and wisdom! 

Who this book is for:

While reluctant readers will enjoy this book, my son was so excited when I brought it home he sat on the couch and read it in one afternoon!  If your kids like Diary of a Wimpy Kid this book will appeal to them, but I am happy to say that parents will also like it better. 

Final thoughts:

Greenwald has three sons, so he knows how to write to boys who like funny books, and boys who may not be as inclined to read. No extra credit needed to get your kids excited about this story!

To see my full selection of books for the reluctant reader, visit my website at www.onegreatbook.com