Books for Kids Who Don't Love Reading
Not every kid loves reading.
Some kids devour books. They will finish a series and immediately want to jump into another one. They will go home with a stack of 10 books and finish them before their next trip to the library. Others would rather do almost anything else.
A child who does not enjoy sitting down with a traditional chapter book is not necessarily uninterested in stories, information, or learning. They may just not have connected with the right books yet.
Luckily, the library has a variety of books, formats, and topics that can help kids discover that reading can be enjoyable.
Nonfiction for Curious Kids
The nonfiction section is an excellent place to explore with kids who say they don't like reading.
What is your child interested in? What fascinates them? Whether it is dinosaurs, sports, space, animals, Minecraft, gross facts, world records, or drawing, chances are there is a book about it.
A child who may never voluntarily pick up a novel or chapter book might happily spend an hour poring over a book about sharks, learning weird facts, or flipping through the Guinness World Records.
Sometimes the path to enjoying reading starts with something a child already loves.
Try These!
Perfect for kids who love amazing facts, records, and browsing.
For the kid who wants to learn all about shark; both the fearful and the fascinating.
Minecraft : guide to exploration
Reading about something they already love can be a great place to start.
Books You Don't Have to Read From Beginning to End
Continuing in the nonfiction section, there are tons of books that you don't have to read from beginning to end. Think about:
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Joke books
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World record books
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Fact books
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Trivia books
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Almanacs
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Cookbooks
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Craft books
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Puzzle books
There is no rule saying a child needs to start on page 1 and finish on page 200 for their reading experience to count.
For some kids, sitting down with a chapter book can feel overwhelming. Reading a few jokes, discovering some interesting trivia, trying a recipe, or learning how to make something offers a completely different experience. Reading in shorter bursts can help kids engage with books and discover that reading can be enjoyable without the expectation of finishing an entire book from cover to cover.
Try These!
Laugh-out-loud puns, jokes, and riddles for kids
With a one-two punch of laugh-out-loud jokes and brain-twisting riddles, this pocket-sized book will have boys and girls giggling along with family and friends.
The Smithsonian book of air & space trivia
Who was the first person to dine in space? How long was the Wright brothers's first successful flight? What famous aircraft was named after a grape-flavored soft drink? What toy based on an animated film accompanied astronauts on a shuttle mission in 2000? These questions and many more are answered in The Smithsonian Book of Air & Space Trivia.
My Pokémon cookbook : delicious recipes inspired by Pikachu and friends
Learn to make delicious foods inspired by the amazing world of Pokémon!Explore culinary delights from across the Pokémon universe in this official cookbook.Featuring favorite flavors from every region, dive into dishes that celebrate the world of Pokémon and fuel up for your next battle!
Graphic Novels and Comics
Sometimes adults hear "graphic novels" or "comics" and assume they don't count as real reading because there are fewer words on the page and more pictures. Graphic novels, however, offer an interesting combination of visual and traditional literacy.
Kids are reading dialogue, following sequences, interpreting facial expressions and illustrations, making inferences, and building comprehension as they connect the words and images to understand the story.
Most importantly, graphic novels count as reading. They don't need to be treated merely as stepping stones toward chapter books. While a classroom assignment may have specific requirements about what students are expected to read, leisure reading is different. Graphic novels can be a great format for kids to explore and enjoy.
And don't let the word "graphic" fool you! In "graphic novel," graphic refers to the use of illustrations and other visual elements to tell the story. Graphic novels are available for all different ages and interests.
Try These!
Magic tree house, the graphic novel. 1, Dinosaurs before dark
Magic. Mystery. Time-travel. Get whisked away to an ancient time zone where you can see live dinosaurs with brother-and-sister team Jack and Annie in the #1 bestselling chapter book series, now available as graphic novels!
Narwhal and Jelly. 1, Narwhal : unicorn of the sea
The funny and adorable New York Times bestselling kids graphic novel series starring happy-go-lucky, waffle-loving Narwhal and somewhat cynical sidekick, Jelly. In this hilarious 1st book, Narwhal gets lost but finds a new best friend in Jelly. Includes bonus fun facts!
After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids' mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals. Eventually, they enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit. Together with Miskit, they face the most terrifying monster of all, and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves.
Audiobooks and Read Along Books
Reading doesn't always have to mean looking at words printed on a page.
The library has multiple audiobook options, including read along formats such as VOX Books and Wonderbooks, where kids can hold a physical book while listening to an attached audio player. We also offer audiobooks on CD and digital audiobooks that families can enjoy on the go.
Listening and reading print involve different skills, but audiobooks still give children valuable opportunities to experience vocabulary, storytelling, characterization, information, and language. They can also allow children to enjoy stories when decoding the printed words might otherwise be a barrier.
Try These!
Pizza and Taco. 1, Who's the best
Best friends Pizza and Taco agree on nearly everything until Pizza declares himself the best of all, leading to debating, voting, competing, and finally defining what being the best really means. In graphic novel format.
A fly was flying. He was looking for something to eat. Something tasty. Something slimy. A boy was walking. He was looking for something to catch. Something smart. Something for The Amazing Pet Show." The boy and fly meet and so begins a beautiful friendship. Er, and so begins a very funny friendship.
What bird has a large body and a long neck, but cannot fly? It is an emu! Or is it an ostrich? These birds may seem similar, but they are unique in many ways. Lively images, simple text, and a side-by-side comparison feature help young readers learn how emus and ostriches have different appearances and behaviors. Readers will soon identify these flightless birds with ease!
Let Kids Choose
Adults naturally want children to read books that are at their level, educational, challenging, or otherwise "good for them." But pleasure reading can be different.
A child might choose something that seems too easy. They might reread the same book 15 times. They might spend six months reading nothing but graphic novels about cats.
That's okay.
Choice and enjoyment matter when we are trying to help children develop a positive relationship with books and reading. Sometimes the book a child chooses for themselves is more valuable than the book we think they should be reading.
Visit the Library and Browse
We invite you and your family to come to the library and explore. Browse the graphic novels. Wander through nonfiction. Check out the audiobooks, picture books, magazines, and whatever else catches your child's attention.
And if you aren't sure where to start, ask us! Librarians are happy to help you find books based on your child's interests, whether they already love reading or haven't found the right fit yet.
You don't need to know which book will turn your child into a reader. Come explore. We'll help.
There Is More Than One Way to Be a Reader
The goal doesn't have to be turning every child into someone who curls up with a 300 page novel.
Being a reader can also look like laughing over a joke book, learning every imaginable fact about snakes, listening to an audiobook in the car, rereading a favorite graphic novel, following a recipe, or searching a picture for Waldo.
Sometimes helping kids love reading starts with expanding our idea of what reading really looks like.