Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Picky reader suggestions...5-year-old boy

DS5 has been reading for years, but his trajectory from decoding to independent reading is so far different than his sister's and I am trying to figure him out. When he was 2-3 years-old, we read every Dr. Seuss book (including the short stories) we could get our hands on. He LOVES them!!! We read most of them repeatedly. We also read most of the Cat in the Hat "Learning Library" books we could find. Once we exhausted these, we moved on to another character series, but again, we ran out of books.

DS can decode (he scored over a 190 as a 4-year-old on the WJ III Ach. for Letter-Word ID), and comprehend (over 160 on the WJ Ach.). Unlike his sister, though, he seems INCREDIBLY picky about his reading material. He certainly reads when he wants to (lately, books about video game characters - ARGH! But it is reading, I guess), but he doesn't read as voraciously as his sister (who has read CONSTANTLY, since she could).

I still read to him every day and he seems to like being read to, but I'd love for him to take the next step and read on his own more often (by now, his sister had become latched onto those danged Rainbow Fairy books and she has been reading like crazy ever since!).

I would like to get him hooked on another series, but I am really struggling. He really seems to latch onto characters (edited), but they have to "click" with him.

It doesn't help that he seldom gets a chance to read in kindergarten. They are aware of his reading abilities (at the beginning of the year, he was assessed as a Fountas Level R reader), but I don't think they really know what to do with him at school.

He seems somewhat "utilitarian" in most of his reading (if that makes any sense). If he wants to know something - he reads it. But unlike his sister, I will much less often see him just pouring over a book for long periods of time.

I am worried that he will not be as fluid of a reader if I cannot find more books he likes - HELP!!!

my 6 year old is the same way. He was already reading fluently when he started K and I'm not sure how, because he hardly ever read at home in preschool. Every once in a while I tried to bribe him to read something to me, but didn't make a big deal out of it. There just isn't a lot of motivation there.

My experience working as a reading tutor is that boys like non-fiction. Either that or super stupid fiction, like Captain Underpants or Diary of the Wimpy Kid. They don't really relate to fiction chapter-type books the way girls seem to. Maybe this changes as they get older, but for now, I am just happy to have DS read whatever. Right now in bed he is reading a book of turkey riddles from Thanksgiving. I bought him science books w/ lots of pictures for Christmas--he asked for books about other galaxies. He likes Captain Underpants. So the science books have a lot of pictures, but even though they are picture books, the content is advanced. It's actually good to get kids reading non-fiction because that is the focus on the school standardized assessments later on. Something like 75 percent of the passages on the reading assessments will be non-fiction. I also think with 5-6 year olds the attention span is lacking and that's another reason why they aren't big into books without pictures. DS doesn't like chapter books, saying they are "too long", although he will spend a lot of time reading books with pictures. I think all the print with no pictures is just intimidating. I would take your DS to a library or bookstore and let him pick. Show him the non-fiction books especially and see if any of those strike his fancy. I wouldn't worry about a "series" or chapter books. Good luck!

Really untrue for my 5yo boy (6 in spring). He loves fiction chapter books and has been reading them for a good long while now. He likes nonfiction, too, but fiction is a huge interest, and definitely not just bathroom humor (not sure he has read any of those). Just wanted to point this out because I think these generalizations about "boys only..." can be a bit unhelpful.

Your librarian can be a great guide, but for now, I'd try him on a whole lot of different stuff, including slightly harder read-alouds that might catch his interest. Some books my DS has liked include the Narnia series, Dahl, some Blume, Cleary, the Indian in the Cupboard, the Secrets of Droon series, Half Magic, Catwings, Kate DiCamillo's books, Franny K Stein Mad Scientist, Toys Go Out, and the Stink series by McDonald.

But don't rule out great, harder picture books, either. They are out there.

I suspect that it is true of the reluctant readers that are likely to end up with a reading tutor. I think that in some cases, the only reason a "tutor" is needed is because the parents are trying to dictate the child's tastes.

That said, I endorse your list of books to try. But I'd also try nonfiction, and picture books, and see what sticks. My son enjoyed The Boy Who Loved Math, a picture book about the life of Paul Erdös.

I worked in a school with kids who were just below grade level and it is what i was told in training (by people who have been teaching reading for years)...that the boys tend to like non-fiction better than fiction. And it was my experience with the 10 or so boys I worked with. Of course it is going to vary depending on individual kids and "gifted" kids might show a different pattern. I see it with my DS though.

Thanks to those you have responded so far. Here's the thing: I'd almost call DS a "gifted, but reluctant reader." Ann Gadzikowski discusses this a bit in one of her books, but I haven't found a strategy to really get us going just yet! I am hoping to "save" him from being reluctant, though - he wasn't always this way (and with the right books, he DOES love books). I think he actually decodes better than DD, now 8, did at this age (but she has caught the reading bug and is quite advanced at this point).

He actually DOES like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Stink Moody books, but prefers to LISTEN - not read himself. I have to admit - my goal with my DC is to get them to LOVE reading and WHAT they read is less important to me than THAT they DO read (I'd certainly prefer high-quality literature, but I'd like them to first and foremost, love to read).

DS does like some nonfiction, but again - he's very utilitarian, IMO. He quickly reads something and moves onto something else.

DH, BTW, is rather mathy and is very bright (a technology whiz). Other than some rather quirky books he likes - he's not a huge reader, either. I do think DS takes after DH a bit.

I still appreciate any ideas to get DS into some more books! TIA!

I think my family is a clone of yours! Dh is a technology geek. He reads the same sci fi/fantasy books over and over. He is a computer systems analyst. I have the older DD like yours who wasn't quite as good at decoding but is much more interested in reading. And the younger, reluctant DS.
Don't know if this makes you feel better but I have noticed a big improvement in DS in the last year or so. I don't know if he will ever like chapter books, but he does seem to truly enjoy nonfiction or certain picture books. Gernonimo Stilton is another series you could try. DS hasn't gotten into it but other parents have recommended it. It is hard with such little kids finding reading that is advanced enough but with appropriate content for their maturity level.

Perhaps don't overthink it? I'm not sure you can "get" someone to love anything. Maybe he just won't *love* reading and maybe trying to force the issue will backfire on you. Surely he's not going to ever struggle with reading based on what you say.
How would you feel if he likes reading but loves something else? Maybe he'd like it if you got that about him, and you could encourage his actual love whatever it is. Nothing wrong with having plenty of reading material available to him that'll appeal however

Thanks, blackcat - yes, similarities in our families, for sure! Hmmm...does your DH like "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," too?

We tried Geronimo Stilton, and DS lost interest.

Thank you, AvoCado - actually, yes. I am trying hard to "encourage without pushing." Since I love to read, though, honestly - this is HARD! Especially since this is my DS that BEGGED for a "bookshelf" (PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE) for his beloved books when he was ready for a big boy bed. (Sigh).

Yes, and many of the "informational book" suggestions are as if this list has read my mind! Santa is actually already bringing many of these books...just in case...

Here are techniques I used not any particular title...

Short stories...guys read is a series of tons of short stories my 8 year old loves...then at the end of the story it lists books the author wrote.

One thing I did when reading aloud is get a frog in my throat and needed my son to read the next page while I drank a glass of water..

Another thing when I wanted to read a book he wasn't sure of by the cover or title but I knew he would love was read a bit and then at a really exciting point just when he was good and into it, start yawning and put the bookmark in. Invariably he would ask if he could keep reading and I would agree. The next day he was either done with the book or he would tell me everything I missed (good for summarizing) so we could finish.

Strewing....strategically placing new books around the house (coffee table, end table, bedside table, etc.) or rearranging books...we have several bookcases, if I reorganize the den's bookcases and move books to his he will ask why and I say because mine are too full and I need more room. Feel free to read or look through these and tell me what you think.