Inspiring reluctant readers

For those of you who live nearby, I wrote a brief story for Thursday's Ledger-Enquirer about a “Heroes Read” event on Saturday (May 2) targeted especially at reluctant readers in fourth through sixth grade, but open to children of all ages. (The link to the story's coming soon). At the Columbus Public Library, local real-life heroes will be on hand to show off their fire trucks and police cars and the like and to talk about why reading’s important to them. Each child will also get a free comic book – and organizers hope to give parents the message that children should be given access to whatever it is that inspires them to read – whether it’s comic books or cereal boxes (assuming it doesn’t contain inappropriate content) or books about whatever fascinates them.

Here are the details for Saturday’s event:

If you go:
What: Columbus Heroes Read
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (May 2)
Where: Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road
Who: The event is targeted toward boys in grades 4 through 6, but children of all ages and gender are welcome.
Cost: Free. All children will receive a free comic book and lunch.

And a few links for finding high-interest and/or award-winning books

Go to the American Library Association for lists of award-winning books. Click on Caldecott Medal, Children’s Notables Lists, Newberry Medal and more…

Go to boysreading.com for help, including high-interest fiction book recommendations, inspiring reluctant male readers to start reading. The target age group here is 7th to 12 grade.

Go to this Reading is Fundamental web site for a “Top 25” list of books for infants through 9-year-olds. Go to this Reading is Fundamental web site for a “Top 25” list of books for kids ages 10 and up.