Whenever I think about reluctant readers, I always come back to a quote from my school library: “Everyone is a reader, some just haven’t found their favorite book yet.” For so many kids like that, reading feels like a chore because the books they’ve been given don’t connect with them in any real way. Sometimes the language feels too difficult, or maybe the subject doesn’t capture their interest, or they’ve simply never seen themselves reflected in the characters or stories. Whatever the reason, it’s easy for them to decide early on that books just “aren’t for them.”
But that’s not always the end of the story. Believe it or not, I used to be a very reluctant reader. In school, when we had to choose a book from our class library in order to be excused to go to recess, I would just pick the shortest book I could find with no intentions of actually reading it. It wasn’t until the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books by Jeff Kinney started gaining popularity at my school. Wanting to fit in with my classmates, I started reading them as well. Through these books, I fell in love with reading. These books didn’t feel like the heavy nonfiction topics that we were forced to read in class, and at the time I was surprised to learn that books that simulate a journal were considered books. The writing style of a journal made the story feel relatable and like I was being reflected on the pages. I was soon inspired to read similar books like “Dork Diaries” by Nikki Russell and “Dear Dumb Diary” by Jim Benton. Not long after, I was blazing through Harry Potter, sneaking in a few chapters before bed, and exhausting all the options at my school library. That first favorite book can completely reshape the way a reluctant reader sees reading itself.
The challenge, of course, is helping someone get to that point. One of the best ways to do it is to open the doors as wide as possible. Let them explore everything from graphic novels, comics, audiobooks, joke books, short stories, even magazines. Too often, reluctant readers are told that certain books don’t “really” matter, when in reality those are often the very books that pull them in. It doesn’t matter what the subject is, as long as it makes them want to keep turning the page.
It’s also important to remember that not every book will be a hit, and that’s okay. In fact, giving kids permission to put down a book they aren’t enjoying is one of the best gifts you can give them. When we force a child to finish a book they dislike, we risk making reading feel like punishment. But when we let them move on, we send the message that it’s okay to keep searching until they find something that excites them.
Helping a reluctant reader isn’t about convincing them that reading is “good for them,” but it’s about showing them that reading can be enjoyable and fun. When they finally find that first favorite book, the one that makes them forget they’re even reading, it often opens the door to many more. It’s the beginning of a new relationship with stories, one that can last them a lifetime.
-Anna Lee