Books to Read to Boys
By: Keith
One of the great pleasures I have as a parent is reading to my kids. My boys are getting a little older now, and their book tastes have started to change. No longer do they want to read Dr. Seuss and PD Eastman. They’ve started to become interested in some real classics. Of course, most of this list they can’t read themselves; but, that doesn’t mean that I can’t read to them. I’ve made a list of books that I think make good reading, good reading by parents to kids. There is a gap between the time that kids grow out of picture books and the time when they can truly read themselves. That is the time to jump in and introduce them to great story-telling. Not only do the kids learn to appreciate literature, but parents get reintroduced to some classics that might have become lost. These are some books that parents can read out-loud and enjoy as much as kids will enjoy hearing them read.
There were so many good books to chose from, but I’ve stuck with the classics (apart from Harry Potter). I’d be curious what other people would put in their list. I only picked books that I’ve read, which means there are many more that are, no doubt, worthy but neglected due to my ignorance. A couple of these I’ve already read to the boys. I’ve read (with Neil’s help) The Wizard of Oz and The Call of the Wild. Both the boys were as engrossed in them as I remember being when I was a kid. I’m not going to attempt justifying any of these books because each of them stands as a classic and doesn’t need explanation. Suffice it to say that some, like A Christmas Carol and Jonathan Livingston Seagull, teach valuable life lessons. Others, like Drums Along the Mohawk and Robinson Crusoe are action oriented historical novels, books based on events that could have really happen. I also think it’s important to introduce kids to the fantastical and mythical. The Harry Potter Series, and the Arthurian myths and it’s modern equivalent ,The Lord of the Rings, are great places to start. Finally there is my favorite genre, Science Fiction. Ender’s Game, the Time Machine, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea are to name but a few. Enjoy the list, and feel free to add to it in the comments section.
1. Treasure Island
2. Robinson Crusoe
3. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
4. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
6. Drums Along the Mohawk
7. Harry Potter Series
8. A Christmas Carol
9. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
10. The Call of the Wild
11. Ender’s Game
12. The Hobbit
13. Lassie Come-Home
14. 20,000 leagues under the sea
15. The Old Man and the Sea
16. Journey to the Center of the Earth
17. Jonathan Livingston Seagull
18. The Time Machine
19. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
20. The Once and Future King
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Great list. I had forgotton about Jonathan Livingston Seagull. What about Lord of the Flies? It remains one that I wish I could un-read.
We’re big readers too. The girls are reading at a level 2 grades above their level & the boys can’t pass a bookstore without begging to go in. I send my boys books once a month. When my oldest had his tonsils out a few months back, I read to him in the recovery room. It was a great bonding experience. Old Man and The Sea is a selection I never thought of till you mentioned it. This is a bit off topic, and I’m sure you’ve seen it, but “The Dangerous Book for Boys” is a big favorite.
It’s so important to draw attention to reading, and attract reluctant readers to it,especially boys.
I grew up as a reluctant reader, in spite of the fact that my father published over 70 books. Now I write action-adventures & mysteries, especially for tween boys, that avid boy readers and girls enjoy just as much.
My blog, Books for Boys http://booksandboys.blogspot.com is dedicated to drawing attention to the importance of reading.
Keep up your good work.
Max Elliot Anderson
The important part here is that these are books probably best read by parents. The Once and Future King is a difficult book, and my middle schoolers really struggle to read it by themselves. There are also a look of great new titles for boys, which is important, because styles of literature do change over time.