{"id":825,"date":"2013-07-29T16:06:01","date_gmt":"2013-07-29T20:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eddiejones.org\/?p=825"},"modified":"2014-11-27T12:00:22","modified_gmt":"2014-11-27T17:00:22","slug":"7-ways-to-get-your-boy-to-read-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eddiejones.org\/7-ways-to-get-your-boy-to-read-books\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Ways to Get your Boy to Read Books"},"content":{"rendered":"

Skull Creek Stakeout<\/strong><\/em><\/a>\u00a0– Zonderkidz, on sale August 6, 2013 – preorder now!<\/h2>\n

The Internet, smart phones, online gaming and videos have changed the reading habits of young males. Can we keep books in \u201ctheir\u201d social network? Yes, says Eddie Jones, award-winning author of Caden Chronicles. Here are seven ways you can turn a reluctant reader into a bookworm.<\/p>\n

\"Select<\/a><\/b>Select a \u201cboy book\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

Boys enjoy books about boys, so pick a story that includes a male lead with a unique skill who is overmatched but becomes the hero through conquering challenges. The book should include a specific goal (treasure), consequences for failure (death of someone or thing) and show the value of moral choice (book\u2019s theme). Boys like action, physical confrontation and really do<\/i> want to storm the castle and save the princess so books with a reluctant female partner is okay. (Think Hermione and Harry Potter.)<\/p>\n

\"Turn<\/a>Turn your boy into a super sleuth<\/b> <\/b><\/p>\n

Once your son is into the story casually ask him to name the lead character. If he can\u2019t, that\u2019s okay. Suggest he pick a physical feature that will help him remember. If it\u2019s a murder mystery, ask who dies, why and how? This gives you an opportunity to talk with your son about the consequence of violence in a non-threatening way. Create a white board with the names of suspects, possible motives and clues. Adventure and coming-of-age novels lend themselves to different questions but the idea is to get your son talking about the book.<\/p>\n

Create a reading hut<\/b><\/p>\n

Boys of all ages like man caves. Even if space is limited suggest your son create a special reading place. A closet can double as his hide out and a bed sheet draped over chairs makes a great tent. Your aim is to give your son a secret reading spot, a make-believe fort all his own.<\/p>\n

\"Establish<\/a>Establish a reading time <\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Encourage your son to pick a special reading time. Start with a half hour and shoot for a time of day when he is alert. Establish a page limit, a chapter, for example. He may finish early and that\u2019s fine. Encourage him to use the extra time make note of any weapons, motives, and characters introduced in that chapter(s).<\/p>\n

Read aloud to your child<\/b><\/p>\n

Even older kids enjoy it when others read to them. Reading aloud can be a great way to encourage a reluctant reader. Read a chapter aloud, then allow your son to read the same passage silently. Watch for clues to see if he is struggling with words. With a highlighter, mark the word and offer to add it to his special word collection. Later when he sees the word (which you planted for him to find) and correctly identifies it as a secret word, reward him.<\/p>\n

\"Collect<\/a><\/p>\n

Collect bookmarks<\/b><\/p>\n

Collect cool bookmarks from famous authors and use them as trading cards. Children authors love hearing from kids. This is why we write \u2013 to encourage young readers to become bookworms and maybe someday, writers! Visit a children\u2019s author\u2019s web site and request a bookmark. Start today! E-mail eddie@eddiejones.org<\/a> for a free autographed bookmark.<\/p>\n

Form a book club<\/b><\/p>\n

Encourage your son to create his own book club. Since it\u2019s his club, he can be president. Allow him to pick his favorite books. Suggest he write reviews (with your supervision) on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com. Help him brainstorm for ways he can add other boys to his book club. Offer to help the \u201cboys only\u201d book club plan a trip as a reward for finishing a book.<\/p>\n

Readers are Leaders – Buy a Boy a Book<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Skull<\/a>

Skull Creek Stakeout<\/p><\/div>\n

Skull Creek Stakeout<\/strong><\/em><\/a> – Zonderkidz, on sale August 6, 2013<\/p>\n

The good news is, vampires aren’t real. The bad news is…you can’t believe the news.<\/p>\n

Nick Caden is a normal\u00a0fourteen-year-old kid with\u00a0a “supernatural” knack for finding trouble, ghosts, vampires, and all sorts of undead–or so it seems.<\/p>\n

After solving the ghost story murder at Deadwood Canyon, Nick lands a job as a roving reporter for\u00a0The Cool Ghoul Gazette<\/i>, a website on paranormal or supernatural disturbances. When the editor sends Nick to investigate a murder in Transylvania, North Carolina, the\u00a0young super sleuth\u00a0finds a corpse with fangs, bite marks and a stake driven through the heart. If Nick proves vampires are real, his job as an investigative journalist is set for life! But once he begins to peel back the clues surrounding the\u00a0mystery\u00a0of Skull Creek Nick finds his new job is not only scary and dangerous but about to suck the life out of him.<\/p>\n

The Skull Creek Stakeout\u00a0<\/a><\/i>– a story middle-readers and adults can sink their teeth into.
\nhttp:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0310723906\/<\/a><\/p>\n

The Caden Chronicles<\/b>: Dead Man\u2019s Hand<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n