If you find that getting your son to read is a struggle, you can take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone. Many parents, as well as teachers and librarians, have long noticed that, generally speaking, girls seem more apt to take to reading than boys do. Some children’s book authors are keenly aware of the problem, too, and are seeking ways to help boys get hooked on reading.

For example, Jon Scieszka, a former New York elementary school teacher and author of many “offbeat” titles, such as The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, Math Curse, and the Time Warp Trio, has recently begun Guys Read, a literary initiative which zeroes in on the needs of young male readers. It proposes a way to buck the trend: encourage boys to read the books they want to read rather than the ones we want them to read.

According to Scieszka, the books that boys like are humorous and have short chapters with cliff-hanger endings. In addition, the subject matter may be slightly gross for adult taste, thereby making the boys feel that what they’re reading is a little subversive.

Guys Read offers parents other suggestions to get boys to read:

  • Fathers, especially, must read with their boys, talk to them about books, and let them see reading for fun and information is something that men do.
  • Start a parent-son book club.
  • Ask teachers to rethink their required reading lists with an eye to including books that appeal to boys.
  • Be sure your boys understand that reading isn’t limited to fiction only.
  • At your local bookstore or library,  acquaint yourself with some of the recent books on the growth and development of boys. 

Because most teachers and librarians are women, especially in the lower grades, many boys see reading as something that is not masculine. Being a positive, literate role model is the single most important thing fathers can do to help boys become interested in reading.
Meet in the gym, and follow book-talk with physical activity.

Magazines, newspapers, websites, and comic books all countas reading material.
“Guys Read is one more source of information on how to reach struggling readers,” says Scieszka. “I hope it will help guys see the joys in reading.” 



Isobel L. Livingstone is a teacher with thirty-one years' experience in elementary education. She has contributed to many parenting publications and teacher magazines.