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Looking for ways to get your reluctant child reading? Get them started with these fun, engaging titles.
By Felicia Chua
Every parent knows that reading boasts many benefits, from developing crucial literacy skills and training memory to sparking imagination and reducing stress. But a common question asked is, “I know this, but how do I get my child who isn’t interested in reading to pick up a book?”
We find that the easiest way to get children reading is to let them choose what they want to read. When children get to pick their own books, they choose based on what interests them. This, in turn, motivates them to commit to reading from start to end.
To get started, here are our four recommended titles — from spooky tales to adventure stories and world facts — to encourage reluctant readers to pick up a book.
Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2
By Jeff Kinney
Recommended for: fans of all things spooky and goosebumps-inducing
Spooky stories can be a fun way for children to explore the macabre in a safe setting. If your child is a fan of horror but you want to keep the content mild, Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2 is a good choice for children aged 7 to 11. Sidesplittingly funny and delightfully frightful at the same time, Rowley Jefferson takes his spooky storytelling to the next level in this spine-tingling collection of hilariously terrifying tales, where readers will encounter monstrous insects, the Grim Reaper as a boy, and a lost pinkie that’s searching for its owner.
By Enid Blyton
Recommended for: kids looking forward to the end-of-year holidays
Enid Blyton remains one of the world’s bestselling children's authors, and for good reason. Her short, whimsical stories are written with clear prose, simplistic style, and imaginative storylines, making her books very accessible to beginners. In this bumper holiday collection, readers will get to meet a mermaid by the sea, catch the thief who stole a bicycle, and go on other sunny adventures, ahead of the end-of-year holidays!
By Rachel Buchholz
Recommended for: fact-loving buffs deep-diving into world topics
For children who prefer nonfiction, the TIME for Kids: 2027 Almanac is a reference book that provides fact-based answers to their burning questions about the world and encourages self-led discovery. With an abundance of facts, this almanac includes wide-ranging topics such as animals, technology, the environment, entertainment, space, sports, and more. Perfect for fact-loving kids, it will teach readers everything, from how to detect Artificial Intelligence (AI) images to the capitals of the world.
Minecraft Ironsword Academy #5: When the Warden Calls
By Caleb Zane Huett
Recommended for: young Minecraft players fending off mobs in Survival Mode
Books based on popular movies and video games are perhaps one of the easiest ways to get children reading for fun. Leaping from game to book, young Minecraft fans will love encountering familiar in-game locations, characters, and features in this official Minecraft adventure. Theo and his friends are on a mission through Minecraft to get their digital friend Eek to safety, but will they be able to sneak past the Ancient City’s terrifying wardens? Dive in to find out how the gang saves the day!
The joy of reading can be kindled, one good story at a time. To get children reading, be sure to choose books that are engaging, age-appropriate, and matched to their level of reading proficiency. Given the right books, even the most reluctant readers can be persuaded to flip through and read a line or two.
