Boys Reading Group

Are you wanting to start a book club for boys in your area? There a several well done resources available online to start a boys reading group. Here’s what I’ve gleaned so far…

• When you approach the kids about the group, ask them what they like to read, keep a record of what they mention and read those books or books similar if you can’t get the ones they want.
• Let them name the group. It gives them a sense of ownership and involvement that you will listen to them and incorporate their ideas when appropriate. You can’t promise you’ll do everything, but that you will listen.
• Establish group rules at the beginning. This lets you maintain control, and a chance for everyone to be heard and their opinions expressed freely without criticism.
• It’s okay if you don’t have enough copies for everyone, they can share. It’s a good idea to plan several weeks/months ahead so the boys can read the books available while they are waiting.
• Don’t worry about good/bad literature; the last thing you want to be is like school, and they will branch out to other topics when they’re ready.
• Have activities that can go along with the books. Example: a book on Ford Mustang cars could lead to a showing or library display of either their drawings of their favorite Mustang or their own collection.
• Consider getting parents, especially dad, involved in the book group. Boys are more likely to read if they see other men reading. Encourage the parents, mom/dad, to read aloud. Reading aloud isn’t just for little kids, older kids still like it.
• Don’t be too discouraged if turnout waxes and wanes. The kids are busy with everything else in the world competing for their attention and even the big libraries have trouble getting kids to come to every meeting.

Websites to help you get started:

Getting Boys to Read, http://www.gettingboystoread.com – if you Twitter, you can follow the author: @MrMLibrarian – he has a lot of good advice and ideas for boys and reading. A few highlights: never underestimate the  joke books, boys can tend to read for information (think non-fiction books), they like any world records books and, if your teens are into them, graphic novels/comics rule.

Guys Read, http://www.guysread.com – Jon Scieska is the Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. He has an antholgy, Guys Write for Guys Read. That book can help get your group off the ground or unstuck if you run out of ideas.

Book Club 4 Boys, http://bookclub4boysinfo.blogspot.com – a mother of four boys, she has tips on starting a book club for boys of all ages.

Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award winners and masterlists. They are all available for download online: http://www.oklibs.org/sequoyah/masterlists.htm

YALSA’s site on award winning/best books for teens. Especially: Best Books for Young Adults, Great Graphic Novels for Teens, Popular Paperbacks, and Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklistsbook.cfm.

Riveting Reads Plus: Boys into Books 5 -11, http://www.boysintobooks.co.uk/primary/pdf.php by School Library Journal.

Oh! And, food! Food in important. Have snacks for them. Kids love, love, love food. And, are more likely to show up.