From: Beth Wright Redford <bethreader_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:06:53 -0700 (PDT)

I'm a librarian at a K-4 school, and I find that my boys will read books with girl protagonists if 1) the book is in a genre they already like and 2) the cover art is not too girly (i.e. pastels, sparkles). Adventure fiction, fantasy, and graphic novels are popular with boys regardless of the gender of the protagonists, except for Babymouse, who is too pink.

Very few of my students seem like reluctant readers once I convince them that in the library, at least, magazines are reading and comic books are reading and picture books are reading even if you're in fourth grade. Some students who truly struggle with reading because of a disability still see reading as a chore, but they enjoy Playaways with companion books.

I just paged through the checkout lists for each class at my school, and at every grade level nonfiction is more popular than fiction with boys. Anything related to Greek mythology is hot right now (thank you, Rick Riordan). Scary animals are big with the youngest boys.

I agree with an earlier comment on this list about the power of reading aloud in getting boys to try books outside their comfort zones. Third grade girls and boys alike spontaneously clapped when I read the final page of ELIZABETH LEADS THE WAY, Tanya Stone's picture book biography of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. A little promotion with a focus on the exiting bits of a story goes a long way.

Beth Wright Redford Librarian Richmond Elementary School Richmond, Vermont
Received on Wed 21 Apr 2010 04:06:53 PM CDT