Boys in USA Likely to report they spent no time reading for pleasure

Below is information about an excellent research-based report from Canada.  I found it interesting that boys in USA were most likely to report they spent no time reading for pleasure.

Key findings of the report include:

➢ Reading is associated with cultivating the disposition for civic participation at large;
➢ “Foreign-born Canadians engage somewhat more in reading newspapers and election coverage in newspapers than non-foreign-born Canadians” (p.10);
➢ Later-life avid readers were likely read to at an earlier age than non-avid readers, demonstrating the importance of instilling a joy of reading in school-age children;
➢ Engagement with literature enhances professional efforts (“good readers make good doctors”);
➢ Our definitions of “pleasure reading” and “reading” need to be more broad; there are many deep and comprehensive reading experiences beyond engagement with fiction;
➢ Readers see Internet use as quite different than engaging with a book, even when the online activity involves extended periods of reading;
➢ “Even though reading is typically thought of as a solitary activity, reading and being a member of a group that reads a particular author or collection of books has direct social benefits through social interaction”; (p.17)
➢ Teens in particular identify the importance of working in groups as a key component to fostering literacy;
➢ Evidence supports the idea that giving students control over choosing what they read encourages them to read more;
➢ Because of academic obligation, even students who report that they enjoy reading frequently don’t read texts other than those assigned to them.


Click here to access full report.

Wild Boy

“One day in 1798, woodsmen in southern France returned from the forest having captured a naked boy. He had been running wild, digging for food, and was covered with scars. In the village square, people gathered around, gaping and jabbering in words the boy didn’t understand. And so began the curious public life of the boy known as the Savage of Aveyron, whose journey took him all the way to Paris. Though the wild boy’s world was forever changed, some things stayed the same: sometimes, when the mountain winds blew, “he looked up at the sky, made sounds deep in his throat, and gave great bursts of laughter.” In a moving work of narrative nonfiction that reads like a novel, Mary Losure invests another compelling story from history with vivid and arresting new life.”

Wild Boy: The Real Life of the Savage of Aveyron is the story of a boy found living wild in the forests of France. He is known in history as Victor of Aveyron, and was sighted and (after his final capture) studied, by many eyewitnesses who were keenly interested in a real, wild boy. Mary Losure wanted to tell the story as the BOY, not the scientists, experienced it. So she went to France and retraced the route of his long-ago journeys.

This is a spellbinding story and is fun to read out loud with boys and girls.

To learn more about Wild Boy, click here.

To buy Wild Boy, click here.

Tumtum and Nutmeg

Hidden in the broom cupboard of Rose Cottage are two grand gates that lead to the loveliest little house you’ve ever seen. Nutmouse Hall.
Shh, don’t tell anyone, this is the home of Tumtum and Nutmeg…

Thanks to a teacher tip, I discovered Tumtum and Nutmeg.  These are awesome and charming stories for boys and girls.  You are never too old or too young for stories like these.  I bought an Apple App. version of the first book in the series.  Currently reading aloud to my twelve-year-old daughter; what a great way to stay connected.


About the author: Emily Bearn grew up in London, and started out in journalism at the age of 20 when she joined Harpers & Queen magazine. She has since worked for The Times and The Sunday Telegraph, where she spent eight years as a feature writer. She and her daughter live in Hammersmith, and share their house with two (very helpful) mice.


To learn more about Tumtum and Nutmeg, click here.

Judy Blume; Not Just For Girls

From Chicagoland, a mother recommends, the Fudge series by Judy Blume. She says, "My 4th grader LOVED them. He is dyslexic but, like most dyslexics, loves good narrative.  And Judy Blume…not just for girls.  Peter Hatcher – in the Fudge books – is a 5th grade boy. Themes are sophisticated, real, funny.  My son laughed his head off."

Click here for more on Judy Blume.

The Brothers Plad

Once there were two brothers.
They loved life and they loved adventure.
They needed rugged shirts for their adventures.
They chose flannel plad.

As featured on the television show, The Generations Project, Vermont dyslexic carpenter Sean Plasse (Watermelon Tourmaline) and brother banker Matt Plasse (Hignus Harkaway), have written the best book for boys...The Brothers Plad and The Mystery Trout. Beautifully illustrated by Vermont illustrator Kevin Ruelle (Legrand Poisson), published locally by First Rise, LLC, it is a homestitched pladventure of daring, danger and determination. It is NOT for wizards or wimps. Purchase today. Plad up!

The Brothers Plad comes highly recommended by one of our New England Boys Read Advocates.  Below is her best-practice story:

"It was about this time last year that I contacted you with a heavy heart regarding my 7, now 8 year old son and his lack of interest in reading.  I am happy to report with we are back on track!  After being inspired by your site to be a better advocate for my boys education, I began working with the school and local library using lists found on your website.

While perusing your website an add for a local author(Vermont) popped up.  The advertisement was for a book for boys who like hunting and fishing.  I contacted the authors and convinced the primary grades to read the book in their classrooms as well as offer the book in the library.   The authors agreed to come to the school and do an inspirational presentation which was the most awe-inspiring giggly event of the year.  If you do not have The Mystery Trout by the Plad Brothers. 


At the time we did not employ one male in the entire K-8 school other than the 1/2 time janitor.   I had to point out to the school board that we have really let our kids down by not employing a male teacher.  We have a new male gym teacher, principal, and a kindergarten teacher.  There is a nice balance in the school and everyone, men, women boys and girls are happy!  

I just wanted to thank you for sparking my advocacy."

Click here to learn more

Therapy Dogs in Every School

Boys Read opposes the NRA's proposal to put armed officers in every school.  We strongly support having therapy dogs in every school.  A School-Resource Officer (SRO) can be helpful for curbing violence in schools.  However, they are simply cost prohibitive and a reactive and defensive approach.  In 2007, the Department of Justice estimated the annual cost of employing a law-enforcement officer averaged $116,500.

Boys Read believes that schools need more counselors; especially male counselors that can identify boys that are at-risk of dropping out of school and of being incarcerated or violent to themselves or others.  Boys need men and women to connect with.  Every school needs at least one male and female counselor.  Every child must be accounted for.  Every child deserves our best effort to connect them to our society as a whole.  There is a place for each unique individual.

One best-practice that can be accomplished is to bring therapy dogs into schools.  A creative university in Canada recently had success with using therapy dogs as stress-relievers.  For the full best-practice story, click here.

Also, click here for a doggone good way to get reluctant readers to read.

In summary, as educators, we must stand up and fight for creative, proactive ways to help our kids.  If we don't speak up now, we will all be the victims of big business, political driven mandates. 

Rampage: The Social Roots of School Shootings

What is your school doing to get men reading with boys?  We have to find more ways to connect with boys in their early school years and stay connected with them until they are well-established literate men.

Educators, please read this book: "Rampage: The Social Roots of School Shootings" (Basic Books, 2004).  It is by Katherine S. Newman.  She is the James B. Knapp Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins University.  Click here for Rampage.

Below are key take aways from an excellent article published on CNN:

• Bucolic country towns are locus for most school shootings in U.S.
• She says her research shows patterns in such shootings; they are often planned far in advance
• She says attackers often hint at plans; they long to fit in, gain peers' attention acceptance
• We must provide settings for children to confide in adults

"One reason shooters tip their hands is that they are trying to solve a problem. Though they are often intelligent, high-performing boys, their peers tend to see them as unattractive losers, weak and unmanly. In a school culture that values sports prowess over academic accomplishment, they face rejection. The shooters are rarely loners, but tend instead to be failed joiners, and their daily social experience is full of friction. Since they are almost always mentally or emotionally ill, those rejections -- so common in adolescence -- take on greater importance and become a fixation. Rebuffed after trying to join friendship groups, they look for ways to gain attention, to reverse their damaged."

For the full article, click here.

What is your school doing to get men reading with boys?