Unsecure chicken perches

[jjmack]

Hello,

I am starting to consider xmas pressies and am contemplating a Kindle for my 9 year old. He is a very reluctant reader but you can't drag him away from his DS or the computor. I am really keen for him to enjoy a good story and wondered if this might be the way to go. I have tried comics, puzzles, non fiction (he will flick through these).

 

Interestingly my 12 year old Dtr who has 6 books on the go at once, and reads at every opportunity, is adament she doesn't want one as she loves going to the library and choosing them

 

I am a book person and don't particularly want a kindle myself, but i don't want to skew my thoughts on one for him if it might engage him more.

 

Any thoughts gratefully received.

Thanks

[Mrs Webmuppet]

Your daughter comments intrigued me as I have an 11 years old daughter whose nose is rarely out of a book, she is desperate for a Kindle.

 

She has access to two libraries ( one at school and one just a few minutes walk from home) and is on first name terms with the library assistants at our local one she's in the place so often......plus she has two cardboard boxes and a bookcase, full of books in her bedroom.

 

I asked her why she wanted a Kindle so much.............the answer - I don't have to carry piles of books around and I can get all the latest books without having to wait for them to come in at the library or going to the shops. I would point out that she can't go on a short car journey without a book

 

I don't know about boys though, the technology might appeal to him.

[Cinnamon]

Hmmm, I can't help but think that he might just not be that into books,as some people seem to be.

Reading isn't for everyone - I am sure he will find an interest elsewhere.

Would be a shame for you to waste your money.

 

My youngest isn't a reader at all,& as I am a huge book fan,reading at least a book a week,it was painful for me watching her show no interst at all,but she has blossomed in other areas & is a keen photographer now

 

How about,as a compromise,getting him a mobile phone on to which you can load the Kindle app,for free

[Chucky Mama]

Hmm, I don't personally think that a Kindle will help. I am about to buy one for an avid reader. If your son is not keen on books in general but is a little more keen on comic style books, try buying him graphic novels. Some boys much prefer non fiction and will never really be inspired by fiction however much you try.

[Seagazer]

We're a family of 5, three of us are avid readers and the other two - OH and ES don't really spend much time reading. In fact OH can have a book on the go for about 3 years DD and I both have a Kindle and we've got one for our YS for Christmas. It will be so much easier for him to download books as he reads at such a rapid rate.

 

I tend to agree with the others though that you tend to be a reader or not although I do think you have to try and encourage boys especially to read, no matter what they read. Have you tried a wide genre of books? My ES only likes to read sci fi fantasy type literature.

[squiffs]

I agree with other comments that buying a Kindle will not encourage someone who is not interested in books to start reading. It would be one of those gifts that would rarely get used, and end up getting given away or sold on

 

Graphic novels are a good idea, although I would highly recommend discworld for boys, anything like that is cheaper and a better crack than something like a Kindle.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I agree with all the above. If he's not a reader, a Kindle won't make him suddenly become one! I have one boy (19) who reads a lot (although whether he still does now he's at Uni, I don't know!) and another (17) who has hardly read a novel in his life .

 

Have you tried the Tintin comic books? YS did enjoy them when he was younger.

[squiffs]

I have one boy (19) who reads a lot (although whether he still does now he's at Uni, I don't know!)

 

 

For leisure? No way. University reading sucks all the fun out of reading! I'm going to wait until I've graduated for a couple of years before I next pick up a book! (although a Kindle is brilliant for all my course books and journal and periodical articles in .pdf form )

[jjmack]

Thanks for all the ideas. i might try the tin tin books especially as its out at the cinema at the moment and is very "now". i would just love him to enjoy a book as much as the rest of us do. He is very scientific and mathematical and an fantastic sportsman so he has loads of talents that we nurture. i think its really hard when you so love reading and can't put a book down to see some one who really doesn't want to. he does love his audio books on his mp3 player, so I may have to accept thats the way he likes to take on board literature.

 

Thank you

J

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I do tend to buy my YS factual books so he doesn't forget how to read . You could try The Guinness Book of Records and/or Ripley's Believe It or Not.

[Seagazer]

Good idea ANH - my YS has had the Guiness book of records every Christmas for about the last 7 years. Last year we bought him Ripley's for a change and he really enjoyed it. I think little boys especially like anything a bit yucky

[Cinnamon]

Horrible Histories are good too

[Goosey Lucy]

ES also isn't much of a reader, OH downloaded some books onto his Kindle and loaned it to ES, once the novelty wore off he hardly looked at it. And I used to read to and with him every night *sob*

[jjmack]

Just been to parents evening and the teacher has mentioned a graphic novel by Hugo B...... didn't get the surname.

 

He does love the G book of records and I have asked someone to get him horrible histories for Xmas. I will just have to perservere (sp?)

[AJuff]

It's taken years to get my DS 12 reading until he discovered The Hunger Games. When he had to return one to the library and he hadn't finished it he downloaded it onto his dad's kindle. That was it . . . . he's hooked.

[Angie]

My grandson bought his own kindle with his xmas money last year he was 11 yrs (birthday xmas week.)

He is an avid reader and the kindle goes everywhere with him.

He loves all my Terry Pratchett and i have just given him the latest Snuff to read , his must have books are by Darren Shan, he has been reading these for three years .He has read all the twilight series loves anything with vampires ghouls and monsters ...typical boy likes war and spy thrillers.

The thing is if you can't get a child interested in actually reading , the kindle won't get used.

It will sit on the shelf as a trophy " must have" icon .

The library is a fabulous place to find the authors and books that can spark the interest in reading. i will admit i have never understood anyone who can't settle down and open a good book for an hour or two of wonderous reading being transported into another reality and away from the present life and worries.

[Happy-Mama]

I agree Terry Pratchett's discworld novels are great and could be worth a go to get him interested in books. The library should have them to save you spending money if he doesn't like them.

[chuckmum6]

Have a look at this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flips-Artemis-Fowl-Nintendo-DS/dp/B002RWJMIK/ref=sr_1_2?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1322250556&sr=1-2 They are book for the ds, some interactivity too.