Books Boys Love

Cover of Everyone Poops (My Body Science)

Parents often wonder how they can engage their boys in enjoying reading.  They are looking for books that aren’t too girly and that their sons will enjoy.  Therefore, it is no surprise that one of the biggest questions that I get is, “What books do you suggest for a __year old boy?”  This question has inspired me to make a list of books from my favorite book publishing company, Usborne Books and More.  Below you will find a list of books that tend to be boys favorites along with the age that they are appropriate for.

Boys tend to like books that fit into 6 different categories. Of course this is just a brief list of the most popular and not all inclusive.

• humor
• non-fiction
• Suspense
• Hands on
• Sports
• How to

Baby Boys 0-4

Animal Board Books

Noisy Touch Feely

That’s Not my Monster

Glug, Glug, Glug Bath Book

Lift and Look Board books – Books include topics about construction sites, tractors, trains, and dinosaurs

Boys Ages 4-6

Everyone Poops

Engaging phonics Readers

How Big is a Million

The Gingerbread Man

There’s a Mouse About the House

Very First Reading Program

Boys 7-10

Beginning Non-fiction Readers

Illustrated Stories for Boys – includes the following

The Masked Pirate
Robot Racers
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Jon and the Green Troll
The Tale of the Haunted TV
The Band of Robbers
Sinbad the Sailor
Victor Saves the Village
The Terrible Tidybot
The Story of Shiverham Hall
The Pesky Parrot
Sam and the Giants
The Tale of the Kitchen Knight
Attack of the Swamp Monster
Robot Robbery
Treasure Island

Jack Russell Dog Detective

The Team Series

Boys 10-15

Moby Dick

Tom Sawyer

David Copperfield

Conspiracy 365

These are some suggestions for boys to engage them and get them excited about reading.  Usborne Books has many many titles that boys love.  You can check them all out at www.popularbooksforkids.com.

This topic was discussed tonight as well on the Totoal Education Network, where I was a guest.  Check it out and learn what some of Neil’s favorite books for boys are as well.

Total Education Network Radio 08/18 by Total Tutor | Blog Talk Radio.

Skyping Reading Tutor Learned about Handball and Legos in Denmark

Image by Mundoo via Flickr

It was 4:10 am when my alarm woke me up this morning and I enthusiastically rushed out of bed for a special group of students.  After taking a shower and having a fresh pot of coffee, I went down to my office and skyped with some students in Ms. Lisbeth Hansen’s class in Baekke, Denmark.  It was 11:30 am their time and 4:30 am  my time.

At first our skype session was looking like it might not happen.  Ms. Hansen’s voice was going in and out and it was difficult to understand what she was saying.  Then she switched computers and we had a better connection.  She had her students practice their English speaking skills by preparing information about Denmark.  It was a wonderful experience.

These students are very proud of where they are from and it definitely shone in their presentation.  They told me that handball originated in Denmark and asked if the U.S.A had a handball team.  I told that I had actually not known a lot about the sport and was not sure if we did.  I was interested to find out if we did and as soon as we were done with our session I found out that the U.S.A does have an Olympic team.

It looks like an amazing sport.  It is very fast paced and has a lot of rules.  Some of the students in Ms. Hansen’s class have made some videos about the rules of handball.  I am including one of those videos at the bottom for everyone to take a look at.

I also learned that Legos were invented in Denmark.  Ole Kirk Christansen invented them in 1932 in his toy shop.  Fifteen years later he discovered that plastic made this toy even better and he began making and manufacturing them.

Learning things about other countries was never this much fun when I was in school.  Maybe it was because the things that I learned seemed like useless facts.  However, learning about Legos and Handball from these sixth graders gave meaning to the experience.  The students were excited to share details about their country and teach others.  Usually students in other countries are shy to speak a different language to native language speakers, but these students did an amazing job.  When you get a chance you have to check out the Handball video.

Danish Handball #2 from SNskole on Vimeo.