Our Summer Of Reading - Books For The Reluctant Readers

My husband and I love to read. My kids were never readers and it literally broke my heart how much they thought of it as a chore. I prayed for the day I would see them reading just to read not because they had homework or mom was making them get that hour of reading in. It could have back fired but fortunately it didn't! This year they have read their little eyes out thanks to a plethora of perfect books for the reluctant reader.

What I Learned Up To This Point:

1. Don't give up. Yes, kids doing things they are being forced to do but if you give gentle nudges they will eventually become comfortable being in unplugged and learn to enjoy a good book.

2. Make sure you find books THEY like. Think about what their passions are and research until you find those books. My son really has a hard time understanding what he is really reading. He is a great reader and can read the newspaper since the age of 5 but don't ask him to explain what he reads. His disability means he is very literal so he finds it hard to dig in and really understand what a book or even a word may be about.

3. Read with them. The past three summers I found books that all three of us will like. We read it as a family, taking turns with paragraphs. It was one of my favorite time of the summer and we were really able to discuss the book in detail helping them understand, go over vocabulary, discuss personalities and outcomes and spend time together.

4. Provide an incentive. This year my kids started asking about spending money. They are 12 and 14 and wanted to be able to buy what they want by saving their own money. I don't believe in paying for chores because those are things you need to do in this house. Laundry, taking out the garbage, dusting, moping, putting away groceries and more are MUSTS. So I figured I would pay them to read. For every book over 100 pages they get $5.00, 200 pages they get $10.00 and 300 pages $25.00. They also need to write me at least 3 paragraphs about the book. It is a win/win. I get to see what they are reading, they get to practice their writing and they read without me saying, have you read today?

My son so far has made $75.00 since school ended the end of June. My daughter because she reads slower and harder books hasn't made anything but if she finishes this book she will get $25.00.

The Books They Love and 1 I Loved This Summer:

A BABYSITTER'S GUIDE TO MONSTER HUNTING (Ad) by Joe Ballarini by far my absolute favorite.  READ THIS BOOK.

It’s not every day you learn that monsters are real…

In A BABYSITTER’S GUIDE TO MONSTER HUNTING (Katherine Tegen Books; on-sale June 20^th, 2017; ages 8+), the first in a thrilling and hilarious new series by professional screenwriter Joe Ballarini, they are not only real, they are planning to populate the world with monsters from little kids’ nightmares. The Montecito Picture Company and Walden Films are producing the film adaptation, written by Ballarini and starring Keegan Michael Key.

When middle schooler Kelly Ferguson’s Halloween plans switch from party-going to babysitting, she thinks the scariest part of her night will be the death of her social life. She’s not babysitter material—doesn’t like little kids and thinks it’s a job for nerds—but she needs cash if she wants to go to summer camp; and she wants to go to summer camp, bad.  But when her first charge, four-year-old Baby Jacob, gets carried off by monsters—who really do live under his bed!—to the Grand Guignol (also known as the Boogeyman), she learns there’s a whole lot more to fear than temper-tantrums. Like chasing shadow monsters, drop-kicking Toadies, and mastering monster-fighting moves like the Naptime Headlock and Playground Punch.

Now, with the help of an ancient handbook and a secret society of butt-kicking babysitters, Kelly sets out to destroy the Boogeyman before he brings Jacob’s nightmares to life. But when the monsters’ trail leads to her school’s big Halloween bash, Kelly will have to prove she can save the world—without totally embarrassing herself in front of her friends. 

Packed with black-and-white illustrations and insider secrets from the world of monster hunting, A BABYSITTER’S GUIDE TO MONSTER HUNTING is full of tricks, treats, and terrifying twists!

Kelly gets sucked into a babysitting job for her mom's boss. She would much rather go to a party but when Jacob the 4 year old little boy in her care gets sucked under his bed by some smelly monsters, Luckily Jacob had mention to call his other babysitter who shows up and with a baby strapped to her. Kelly learns there is a whole lot she didn't know about babysitting and that their is a secret society of sitters who protect the world from these nasty underground Toadies and more. Monster's do exist but when a babysitter is on the job, their is nothing they won't do to get their kid back!

I love reading this out loud. It is so fun and my daughter and I took turns and did voices. It is a fun book with lots of humor. It is entertaining and fast paced. Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer without the vamps. I felt like I was watching a movie as I read it so I am so happy to hear that this is going to be a movie one day.

My son loves Football so I did some research and this reluctant reader sped his way through NFL Players Tiki and Ronde Barber's Books.

The football players crafted the perfect story for boys who love Football but not reading. The books are quick, entertaining, provide a good message and take the boys through middle school and into high school as football players on their schools team.  It is about perseverance, teamwork, never giving up and being the best person you can be. My son loves them and so far has read.

Red Zone 

My son's review: 
Tiki and Ronde and the team are ready for the playoffs. They have 3 or 4 games until they make the State Championship. The guys are nervous that chicken pox will affect the team as it has been going around the school. The twins end up contracting chicken pox which side lines Tiki for a game. Fortunately both brothers play the State Championship and if they win this will be their second win!

This book was great because the boys played proud and they never gave up.

Kids will love this book because Tiki and Ronde make reading interesting, fun, and entertaining. I have been reading this series nonstop. I love Football and as the twin's mom says, "Play proud and never give up".

Go Long

My son's review:
  
The boys enter their second year of Junior High ready for their second season playing for football team, Hidden Valley Eagles.

When their beloved coach needs to leave school the team is reluctant to accept the new coach, Sam Wheeler. Tiki, knowing Mr. Wheeler because he had him as a science teacher the prior year is ready to give him a chance. Coach Wheeler would do video sessions with the team which enabled them to see how other teams played which eventually helped them win and gain team acceptance.

I think kids would like this book because it teaches them that you can still win even if you have a few loses.

Wildcard 

My son's review:
 
I loved this book.
 
Wild Card is about the Tiki and Ronde Barber having 5 games remaining in their second year of Junior High.
 
The team is having trouble after their kicker (Adam) ends up on probation for bad grades.
 
The Twins help Adam bring up his grades and get back on the team.
 
The book is great. I loved how the team showed determination to do great without their star kicker (Adam). This is their chance to make it to the playoffs and they will do whatever they can to prove they are the champions.
 
Wild Card will make you want to read the whole series.

He just handed me the reviews on  Jump Shot, Extra Innings, By My Brother's Side, Game Day and Goal Line but I am too lazy to retype right now. We have a ton more to order.

Who Am I? (Ad) by Steve Simpson

Runaway (Ad) by Steve Simpson

The World Is Wrong (Ad) by Steve Simpson

 

 

 

Child Island (Ad) by Steve Simpson 

 

I thought the books were OK but more importantly my son loved them. I tried reading them out loud with my kids at first starting with Child's Island and probably never laughed so hard. The dialogue was dumbed down with nothing left to the reader. It was all written there so you didn't have to make any assumptions it is perfect for my literal kid and that is really all that matters. He is the one who is reading it. I want him to read and he is.  

My daughter LOVES a series of books called Warrior Cats.  She has read the first series and is onto the next.  She reads and talks to me about them. I have no interest but these are the first books she has loved on her own. 

I love that she has found books she likes and they have really helped her. Since reading them, her reading score has skyrocketed.

SO, the moral of this story. Get books your kids NOT you like. They will read. It happened for me.