Classroom hamsters Max & Mo are the perfect early readers for "crafty" kids

Series:  Max & Mo
Author:  Patricia Lakin
Age range: 4 to 7 
Overall rating: 5 out of 5 hamster wheels*

Max and Mo are two hamsters that are classroom pets.  In each book, when the kids are working on an activity, the hamsters are eager to try it too.

What kids will love:

• the cute illustrations
• the theme of friendship 
• the short sentences help build confidence for early readers
• the tie-in craft activity in the back of each book

Personal favourite:  Max & Mo's Halloween Surprise (Ready-to-Reads)


 

*In the books the two hamsters share a cage, which is the only thing I didn't like.  Many breeds of hamsters (e.g. Syrian) are territorial and will fight if put in the same cage together.

It's no Mystery why Young Cam Jansen Series Appeals to Reluctant Readers

Series: Young Cam Jansen
Author: David A. Adler
Ages:  6 - 8

Rating:  5 out of 5 camera clicks

Cam Jansen has a photographic memory that she uses to solve everyday mysteries, such locating a classmate's missing tooth.

What kids will love:

• Trying to see if they can solve the mystery.
• Familiar settings and situations (e.g. classroom, school trip, outing with friends).
• Testing their own memory skills with the quiz in each book.  
• The colourful illustrations featuring Cam and her friends, family and teachers.   

Parents will love:

• The stories appeal to both genders.   
• Trying to solve the mystery too!

Favourite tile: Young Cam Jansen and the Dinosaur Game

Reluctant Readers Won't Be Reluctant to See the Minions Movie

Your child may be reluctant to read, but are probably eager to see the Minions, the new Despicable Me movie.

So if you're looking for summer reading for your child, a Minions books might be a hit.

Often I find that novelizations of movies aren't that high of quality (but if your child enjoyed the Minions Junior Novel, please leave a comment).

Movie tie-ins that look promising are and  Minions Volume 1: Banana!, a comic, and the Level Book Minions: Who's the Boss? (Passport to Reading Level 2).




To search for other great Minion products, click on the image below:

Searching high and low for a hi-lo book for a child in grades 1 to 3?

A hi-lo book has a "high interest" subject matter, but a is at "low reading level."

In other words, it is the perfect type of book for a reluctant reader, who doesn't want to read "baby books" but struggles with reading books aimed at their age level.

Hi-low books typically have shorter sentences, a smaller page count, more illustrations and more action than other books aimed at the same age range.

Some hi-lo books my son enjoys:

Fly Guy series 

I admit there are times "Fly Guy" grosses me out a bit, but my son loves Tedd Arnold's books and no doubt wishes he had his own pet fly who knew how to say his name. His favourite is Fly Guy and Frankenfly.



Fox at School (Penguin Young Readers, L3)

There is a whole series of Fox stories by Edward Marshall to enjoy.  Each book has three separate stories in it, which helps your child feel a sense of accomplishment after reading each one.



The Notebook of Doom #1: Rise of the Balloon Goons

This series by Troy Cummings is about a boy and his friends who solve monster mysteries using the Notebook of Doom (top-secret monster info) to help them. 





Please share your hi-lo book recommendations.

Can Minecraft help your reluctant reader?

Do you think gaming can improve your child's reading skills?

It's debatable, but I will say that I was surprised a few years ago after my son started playing Minecraft and started using words like "granite" and "obsidian" in casual conversation.

Also, the Minecraft Essential Handbook still remains the longest book that he has read by himself.  

Has Minecraft or any other video game helped your reluctant reader?  Add your comments

Desmond Pucket Makes Reading Magic for Reluctant Readers

Title: Desmond Pucket Makes Monster Magic
Author:  Mark Tatulli
Age range: 8 to 12
Overall rating:  4.5 out of 5 slimes

Desmond Pucket is an imaginative boy who loves scaring people with special effects.  He can't wait for his class trip to the Mountain Full of Monsters amusement park, but when he takes his pranks too far, he gets in hot water and might be banned from the trip.  Can he clean up his act without giving up his dreams of one day designing his own spooky amusement park?

What kids will love:

•  the hilarious cartoon illustrations (especially the ones showing the pranks)
• quirky characters they can relate to
• fast-paced story-line with a satisfying conclusion

Click on the image for more info or click here:

 

Kids Join in the Mystery with Choose your own adventure Scooby-Doo Books

Series:  Scooby-Doo You Choose Stories
Age range: 8 to 12
Overall rating:  4 out of 5 Scooby Snacks

With titles like "The Secret of the Sea Creature" and "The Fright at Zombie Farm," you know this series is sure to appeal to reluctant readers.   My child enjoyed choosing to follow Scooby and Shaggy as they look for clues (usually somewhere they can find food!).

What kids will love:

• being able to "choose-your-own-adventure"
• trying to solve the mystery
• the monsters

What I didn't love:

• sometimes the action didn't move quickly enough
• needed a few more illustrations

What parents will love:

• the books bridge the gap between early readers and middle grade novels

Click on the images for more info or click here:

Fact or Fiction: Are These Reluctant Reader Myths?

Are these reluctant reader myths or truths?  Leave your comments below:

1.  Reluctant readers don't like to read.

2.  Boys are more reluctant to read than girls.

3.  Reluctant readers will "grow out of it."

4.  Even if a book isn't very good, it is better if a kid reads something, rather than nothing.