Unsecure chicken perches

[Chucky Mama]

My nephew is almost 12 and I am looking for a birthday present for him. He is a 'reluctant reader' He will read The Beano and Asterisx but give him a book and he goes pale. I gave him a great book for Christmas and he opened it and said 'oh no look at how small the words are' - I know he hasn't read it. Any tips on good cartoon style books ? - he doesn't like Tintin and has read all of the Captain Underpants.

Edited March 3, 2010 by Guest

[Lewis]

What about the Horrible Histories style books?

 

I think they do them for most subjects - and are cartoony style

[pipistrelle]

Not comic style but would these interest him?

 

http://www.specialdirect.com/Product.aspx?cref=TTSPR830222&rid=162&cid=17

 

P x

[Angels4]

My nephew is 12 and he wasn't a big reader, he loved the book "The Thief Lord" which has also been made into a movie.

[Helly Welly]

Some books come as graphic novels now, such as Artemis Fowl, maybe he'd prefer that format.

[Tutti Frutti]

What about the Guinness Book of World Records? He can dip in and out and read short or long articles.

[Chickvic]

Harry Potter? If he's seen the films it may encourage him to read the books (worked with my DS 9) Percy Jackson? Anything in particular he is interested in? My DS would not read big books but liked fact books - what about something like The Guiness World Records? He can read a bit and put it down when he's had enough.

[Willow]

There's a graphic novel (comic) form for at least the first two Alex Rider novels also the Book people did te full set of Alex Rider on Cd for a good price, they may still do it. Thats a good way of encouraging a reluctant reader.

 

One of my godsons was a reluctant reader and I gave my friend a list of books they my boys (who are readers) thought he'd like even if he wasn't into books and they proved very successful. I'll find that list.

[bluekarin]

I agree with Lewis about the Horrible History books - educational and fun. My kids love them, and I have to say I do too. I also like the tv programme they've made. Or maybe take him to a bookshop, or library, and see what he picks out for himself? Or if you live too far away for that, you could get him a book token so he can buy a book for himself?

 

My YD (10) has just started reading Harry Potter. Up till now she's only been interested in books with some writing and mainly pictures, mainly about horses or unicorns She's quite pleased she's managed to start reading the HP books.

[Chucky Mama]

Some books come as graphic novels now, such as Artemis Fowl, maybe he'd prefer that format.

 

I'll have to investigate that one. There is no way in the World that he would read Harry Potter or any of the great boys books like the Alex Rider novels. He is totally phased by a page of words. He doesn't have reading difficulties he just 'doesn't read'. I could buy him something else but having 3 children including 2 boys who are avid readers I can't bear the thought of him not reading something. I will check out some of the Terry Deary books too. He may have some but there are a few that are newer that would be a safer option. Still open to other suggestions though

[chickenNutter]

Try the Mr Gum series - it starts off with 'You're a bad man Mr Gum' and are absolutely hysterically funny and very irreverant and anarchic, so if he enjoyed Captain Underpants he should enjoy these, and not too much text per page, with lots of cartoons and odd, sort of chopping about a bit with the pages. I have just looked at both these and the Captain Underpants books and they have similar amounts of text, and are a similar level. My daughter and I love them.

[chickenNutter]

My daughter is also 12 by the way.

[bluekarin]

I've just been racking my brain (and Google) to find this author! Allan Ahlberg has written some really good books.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Who-Wore-All-Clothes/dp/0744589959/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_11

and

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1406301345/ref=sib_rdr_dp

 

You can click on the look inside and see how they do the pages with pictures replacing some words. Not sure if it's what you are looking for, but just in case . . . .

[Chicken Licken]

Barrington Stoke do loads of books for reluctant readers. GR8 reads for reading ages 8+ have some really good boy friendly titles - not too long, some pics etc. The groups I teach get on well with them. Hmm favourites - probably Blade, Respect, The Beast.

 

They are a bit pricey for quite small books, but they do engage boys who don't read

 

Here is the link thingy

 

http://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/search.asp?cid=9444

[patsylabrador]

How about the adventure books by Willard Price? I recommend these because they inspire boys to have their own great adventures. They're not great works of literature, but they drag boys out of their bedrooms and see the world. If you read reviews on Amazon, for example you will see many that say they led young boys to yearn for adventure. One of my boys read these and now has an amazing life.

[Seagazer]

My 12 year old used to love Captain Underpant books, he likes Cherub books and Spooks Apprentice books but they are full pages of text. Horrible Histories are also good as they are pictures as well and full of gory facts that boys seem to really like.

[Busybird]

Have you looked at books aimed at younger readers (so that he finds them easy and quick to read)? My boys enjoyed the 'Cows in Action' series, 'Astrosaurs' and 'Beast Quest' books. All have a few pictures and not too many words per page.

[Helly Welly]

Try just going to the library regularly and getting him to pick whatever book he likes, no matter what age it is for. My local library has a section, admittedly small, of graphic novels such as Spiderman and Batman. It doesn't matter what he reads, so long as he reads something. Make the trip something fun, maybe g for a milkshake afterwards so that he really looks forward to his weekly trip to the library.

[Chicktastic]

My son loved the Ripley's believe it or not annual!! Also liked Fantasic Mr Fox!!

[patsylabrador]

Dorling Kindersley books were very good for one when he was younger who is dyslexic. Lots of informative pictures and the text is in manageable chunks. He absorbed lots of facts that they were trying to teach him at school without much success. Since then he read more and more text and now as an adult reads some very challenging books that I wouldn't tackle.

I think some boys like reading facts rather than fiction - just my opinion based on my own experience.

[Margalot]

For me it has to be Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series. this was passed on to me by my Sister in Law who has read them (she is 36 )

 

But they are brilliant and right on track for a 12 year old lots of pictures short chapters and bang up to date with the problems of a typical twelve year old boy.

 

I bought my 12 year old son the dog days one and read it after him, in fact I couldnt put it down its so funny and if he liked Captain Underpants it has similar humour but for an older age range.

 

One of the chapters is about how insteda of him receiving the mobile phone of his dreams he gets a ladybug one which lets him call his parents or the police.

 

Really can recommend these

[Tina C]

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell?

 

Quite a bit of text but also pics on most pages. Film opens soon, which could be an incentive. There are 8 books in the series so if he gets into it he could need more as presents. My daughter loves them.

[chickencam]

We read the first Alex Ryder to our DS and the first Cherub book and he then read the rest, although he has read very little since. He does however read his Steam magazine every month and somtimes a newspaper at school. Has he got any hobbies that you could buy him a magazine subscription for?

[Willow]

I checked and the major hits were Lemony Snicket books and books by Malorie Blackman. If you haven't come across her Malorie Blackman writes for a range of ages and her books are not too thick. It is worth starting with those for younger readers ie. larger text and more white space to start. (Her books don't read like they are for younger readers).

[Seagazer]

For me it has to be Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series. this was passed on to me by my Sister in Law who has read them (she is 36 )

 

But they are brilliant and right on track for a 12 year old lots of pictures short chapters and bang up to date with the problems of a typical twelve year old boy.

 

Really can recommend these

 

How could I have forgotten these books - YS adores them!