August 6, 2013

How I Bribed My Kids into Reading: 7 Great Books for Reluctant Readers

Have a child who hates to read? I had two. Both have learning disabilities that made sticking to the curriculum impossible. Both of them absolutely detested having to read daily. So, I tossed out the "recommended reading" and went straight for the ones below. It worked. Want to know what one of my favorite sounds are? Laughter from my kids. And I heard A LOT of it.




When Mrs. Rogers leaves Amelia Bedelia alone in the house on her first day of work, anything can happen. And it does! With a list of what is to be done before her, Amelia Bedelia sets about her duties. And no one could possibly accuse her of not following directions—for that is precisely what she does. But when Amelia Bedelia draws the drapes or dresses a chicken, the results are hilariously different than might be expected!









Fans young and old will laugh out loud at the irrepressible wit of Peter Hatcher, the hilarious antics of mischievous Fudge, and the unbreakable confidence of know-it-all Sheila Tubman in Judy Blume’s five Fudge books, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, Superfudge, Fudge-a-Mania, and Double Fudge. Now all packaged together for the very first time, this collection of Fudge books will please lifelong fans and entice a whole new generation of Blume readers.








When Nate gets an urgent call from Annie about a lost picture, he immediately plunges into his new and baffling case with the cool detachment of a Sam Spade. Nate, the boy detective who “likes to work alone,” solves the mystery and tracks down the culprit. In the process, he also discovers the whereabouts of Super Hex, the missing cat.

Riding the school bus alone isn't the only new experience making third grade exciting for Ramona Quimby. From befriending a boy called Yard Ape to delivering her book report in the style of a television commercial, Ramona's enthusiasm for life is infectious and irresistible. That's not to say all is perfect. Having to go to the Kemps' house after school is Ramona's own particular burden—especially the chore of being nice to pesky little Willa Jean. When Ramona gets sick and throws up in class, she feels as though things can't get worse!







Follow young explorer Alexander Nash,as he travels his way through the various stories of the Bible, meeting Biblical heroes. Will the stories of the Bible affect him, or will he affect them? Kids will be so caught up in the adventure, they won’t realize they are learning.

An ongoing chapter book series for 1st-4th Graders, Book 1 starts at the creation of the world!










The entire book, with its unconventional page arrangement and eclectic, frenetic mix of text and picures, is a spoof on the art of book design and the art of the fairy tale. The individual tales, such as he Really Ugly Ducklingand ittle Red Running Shorts,can be extracted for telling aloud, with great success. Another masterpiece from the team that created The True Story of the Three Little Pigs!
-Horn Book





Chronicles the adventures and misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III as he tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan, the Tribe of the Hairy Hooligans, by catching and training a dragon.












What books would you add?

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