25 Books to Entice Reluctant Readers
The beginning of the school year can be a tough time to encourage reluctant readers. Many kids fall behind in their reading skills over the summer and it makes it that much more difficult to get them to pick up the pace again when the homework starts to pile up again.
Here are some great books to get your reluctant reader ready to pick up a book again:
A GREAT way to get your kids interested in books is to find books based on movies they like. Many do not know this (or at least I didn't until I found them on my Kindle) but there are junior novels that are based entirely on popular movies. This is an awesome method to keep your kids interested and help them feel confident as they read.
Pop Culture Books and Movie Novels for Kids to Capture Reluctant Readers
A few of our current favorites are...
Frozen - The Junior Novelization of the popular Disney movie.
The LEGO Movie - Junior Novel by Kate Howard is perfect for reluctant readers.
High School Musical: The Junior Novel by N. B. Grace is geared for ages 9-12.
Super Buddies Junior Novelization by Disney - Who doesn't love adorable dogs, right?
Despicable Me 2: by Annie Auerbach. This is the Junior Novel of the popular movie.
Kids Books - Classics and New Must-Reads for Reluctant Readers
And then there are fun, easy reads like...
Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems - Fun character books available in a series of delightful titles so kids can read as many as they like!
Little Critter series by Mercer Mayer - Classic children's books for preschool through grade 3.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinney - Perfect for boys who are reluctant readers, these are easy-to-read chapter books that will hold the attention of ages 8-12.
Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey - A hilarious series of stories perfect for new readers ages 7 and up.
Non-Fiction, Fun-Fact-Filled Books for Reluctant Readers
Fact-finding books are great too. They break up reading into smaller chunks so it's less overwhelming and are great reads for kids that like fun facts.
Guinness Book of World Records 2014 Edition - Kids love to read these interesting, gross, and hilarious record-breaking adventures.
National Geographic Kids Almanac 2015 by National Geographic Kids - Brilliant facts and photographs hold kids' imaginations.
The Information Please Kids Almanac by Alice Siegel and Margo McLoone - Brilliantly illustrated informative book keeps kids turning pages!
5,000 Awesome Facts (About Everything) by National Geographic Kids - It's not an accident National Geographic ended up on this list twice. The awesome photos and quick facts hold your reader's attention.
Practical and Unusual Books for Reluctant Readers
Try sneaking in the reading with everyday books like cookbooks, yearbooks, how to and joke books. Here are a few we love...
Yum-O! The Family Cookbook by Rachel Ray - Classically funny Rachel Ray makes it easy to use the everyday to encourage reading.
How to Make Bubbles (Hands-On Science Fun) by Erica Shores - Practical, hands-on fun encourages reading.
Laugh Out Loud Jokes for Kids by Rob Elliott - This is a book that's so much fun, your kids won't even realize they are reading.
Jokelopedia - The Biggest, Best, Silliest, Dumbest Joke Book Ever by Rosanne Green, Mike Wright, Alison Benjamin, Ilana Weitzman, and Eva Blank
Encourage Reluctant Readers With Interactive and Game Books
Interactive books will help keep your kids' interest as they forget how much they're actually reading. Try a few of these...
Mad-Libs by Roger Price - A classic and brilliant way to encourage reading (and writing) skills in reluctant readers.
Choose Your Own Adventure: Your Very Own Robot by R. A. Montgomery - Choose your own adventures have kept reluctant readers happy for years now.
The Dinosaur Museum: An Unforgettable, Interactive Virtual Tour through Dinosaur History by National Geographic -
Top Must-Read Books for Teens
And then there's just the all-around great reads that your teen readers won't be able to put down.
The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth - A popular series for young adults is sure to keep your kid interested.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio - Geared for ages 8-12, the main character is an unusual, if typical, fifth grader that kids will easily relate to.
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green - A young adult novel with a main character who is 16 and battling cancer.
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowel - Another young adult novel that you can read alongside your teen.
What are your favorite books for young readers?
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