Keeping your child’s interest in reading is important but can be difficult if you have a child who is struggling to read. Step up — high interest low readability books. These books will keep a child’s interest while being easier to read for them. There are a variety of publishers that cater to this genre of books
Hooking Your Child on Reading
Is your child frustrated and uninterested in reading? If they are reading books that are too difficult to read or not of interest, they may not want to keep on going. Giving your child a choice of books that are interesting to them will help greatly to keeping them engaged with the learning process. There are a variety of books that are interesting but have a lower reading level to keep frustration to a minimum.
What to Look For in the Books
Look for books that have interesting graphics and photographs but still have some text alongside. Pages full of text might be daunting for some children. Choose books that have some white space and are not filled with text.
Books that are in this segment have carefully chosen vocabulary, shorter sentences but are compelling stories to engage your child.
Read both fiction and non-fiction selections. This offers a variety to choose from and for some children they may be more interested in non-fiction topics than fiction.
Non fiction books
Non fiction focuses on the world around us and this will appeal to most children. Try to find topics that your child loves – nature, sports, books about historical figures and the list goes on. Here are some examples to get you started:
- Amazing Animals Magic Tree House Fact Tracker Boxed Set – For those of you who know of the fiction books from the Magic Tree House, you might like their non-fiction companion books. These are written for Grade 2 level (mid) but are of high interest topic.
- National Geographic Kids Almanac – Magazines are great for lower readers as they have lots of interesting photos but also easy to read print.
- Electrical Wizard : Candlewick Biographies by Elizabeth Rusch – Learn about Nikola Tesla or others in colourful picture book biographies
Fiction books
Graphic novels provide lots of illustrations but also a story line. Here are a few to try
- El Deafo by Cece Bell – bestseller and 2015 Newberry Honor Book, this superhero is really just trying to fit in and find her own place in school life.
- Lunch Lady and the Cybourg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka – this one that starts off a series of fun filled books.
- Babymouse Queen of the World by Jennifer L. Holm – winner of children’s choice awards, this series will be a sure hit.
- Big Box of Big Nate Boxed Set by Lincoln Pierce – Soon to be a series on Nickelodeon, this will be a hit with middle graders.
Chapter book series keep kids asking for more. By following familiar characters, these series maintain interest level but also make it easier to follow along with the same characters.
- Cam Jenson and the Summer Camp Mysteries by David Adler – help Cam and her friends solve mysteries, even at summer camp
- Judy Moody and Stink In the School’s Out Collection by Megan McDonald – Follow the sibling antics in these holiday tales
Don’t forget poetry- this can be engaging and humourous as well
- Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein- bestselling author once again delights with his verse
- Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant by Jack Prelutsky – A Poet Laureate creates entertaining poems along with collage illustrations from Carin Berger
- Alligator Pie and Other Poems by Dennis Lee – A Canadian treasure
Follow Your Child’s Interests
If your child has started to read but is still struggling, there are plenty of options of books to choose from that will be at their level. The best will be books that follow their interests whether it be sports or animals or strange humour!
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