Great for my Reluctant Reader
593605
It's like pulling teeth to get my fourth grader to read anything, but he read this book slowly because he didn't want it to end. This has never happened before with any reading material. When he finished, he sat down, told me all about it and then turned around to start it all over again. For the first time, I had to go into his room at night to tell him to STOP reading and turn the light off. I can't tell you how much this thrills me.

Eleanor Davis has created a book that has made both of us happy and I can't wait to rush out and buy whatever she does next.
4586223
Bathroom humor, crazy antics and a comic strip included...he loves it!!

My son has been the so-called 'reluctant reader'-- mostly because he is extremely stubborn and likes to be 'opposite-boy'.  On the one hand he wants to have everything and do everything like his big brother does.  BUT, he needs it on his own terms, or has to do it with his own twist.  (No Mama, I won't do Kung Fu, I want to do Karate).

So, I was faced with an 8 year old who would like to reject reading.  Mom does it, Pop does it, and Brother does it.  For fun.  Even just a few months ago my youngest did not WANT to read.  However, for homework (I love his teacher) he has to keep a reading log AND read EVERY NIGHT.  With both home and school influences he really did read, but didn't enjoy himself.

Trying to find books that engage him has been tough.  So much for the entire Magic Tree House series.  Of course we own the whole series (well through about 2008 anyway), but that was his brother's thing to read, and my little one just won't pick them up unless forced, sigh.

I found the answer when I stumbled across a Harry the Horrible.  This child of mine loves the rambunctious and  smart types, even rebels,  and Captain Underpants is right up his alley.

Has my child become disobedient, disrespectful, or does he get in trouble at school now?  Of course not!

I've read some of the critical comments about Captain Underpants in terms of modeling behavior and level of humor, and well, get real.  Oddly enough, the lad likes 8-year-old-boy humor.  He enjoys the funny aspects of the stories and knows the difference between real life and story life.  (Of course parental input and awareness are useful--'you would't REALLY do that right???').

In any case, on my son's report card there is a category for 'reading for fun and information' and on his most recent card he got the highest mark!  My previously reluctant read is now doing very well!  Is it really Captain Underpants?  Surely not entirely, but allowing him to read what he likes seems to be just the ticket and Captain Underpants has been a tremendously popular series at my house!

5 star rating here!

JTG
1188357
My reluctant reader really enjoys these The Dragon Master books.  We are plowing through the series.  Thank you Tracey West!  Our kids enjoy all your books.
4259743
Great for young readers - don't have to start in sequence but helps.
3893455
This is a fun series of books that should appeal to many reluctant readers. With its mixed style of cartoon comments and longer written passages, the text is not too daunting, and the characters come to life. You will soon love Jed and Spark (the dragon), and will laugh as you read about their antics.
48969
Love this book series! My son is a reluctant reader, but he couldn't put this series down! He got his whole class into reading the series as well!
747319
This series has a naughty kitty and a clueless puppy as main characters and appeals broadly to kids. It is in the comic book style that they love was well and that style also appeals to reluctant readers.

After we read the first one, we were on the search for others and ended up reading the whole series. As a former teacher of 15 years I highly recommend it.
3214083
My thirteen year old loves these books and looks at them for hours. It's good for readers and to rope in reluctant readers. It has a lot of interesting and unusual facts with plenty of pictures.
3365381
My 6 year old's favorite set of books. He is a beginner reader, and he can read these on his own with minimal help. Yes, they are small and have very few pages - gives kids a great feeling of accomplishment. Each book in the series is a little more difficult. My son is comfortable with the first 3-4 books. I love that each book has a page that introduces new works and sounds. We go over them before reading the book, so that the story flows more smoothly. Very simple story lines, but enough to keep my kid involved.
4023236
A great read for miss HannAh who loves all thing animal!!! The pictures are super and the content was entertaining enough to entice my reluctant reader!
2473144
This book is a great book for reluctant readers, particularly boys. It has all gross items that kids love. It invites interaction through the questioning, rhyming text is good for vocabulary and it is actually a great starting point for kids to write about things they know. Gross can be fun. Books can be nonsensical and fun. They don't always have to be sensible. This is a fun book.
4174082
This set of books has allowed my 4 year old to begin to read.  The books are short enough to keep his attention and the repetition of the same word throughout the book helps him to learn words by sight.  I was afraid my son was just memorizing the books and not really learning to read initially so I took our magnetic letters and spelled the key words from each book - he knew them right off.  So I am quite please with the progress we are making.
3514310
My daughter loves this series.  She is 6 and an advanced reader for her age.  We began with me reading these to her a year and a half ago.  The books have pictures on EVERY page, so that helped keep her attention.  Now she reads these books to me, and can sit through a book with no pictures.  Great stepping stone to building a reader for life!
4218098
Great "we read" book.  Lots of facts and a good way to get reluctant readers, reading.

They have to follow along with the parent reading parts so they can hear how to pronounce the harder words that are bonded and repeated in their side of the page...

I really like this form and the content of their science related early reader books
724799
These are fun books for kids who love the Bone series by Jeff Smith and other comic-style stories. They are surprisingly full of voice and provide an appealing detective story format for middle readers. Despite being in black and white, the graphics (by Tyler Page) are very well done. I love the characters! Megan and Raf are funny and totally likable, and Bradley is too cute for words.

My 3rd grade son and surprisingly, my 6-year-old daughter, enjoyed both books. I recommend both this one and The Drained Brains Caper, especially for reluctant readers and comic fans.
3131666
I am always trying to find books for my reluctant reader 9 year old.  I found this book (actually the first in the series) on a list of "best books" created by kids.  It is a winner! The level is good for 2nd to 4th grade.
2099415
I have a 12 yr. old daughter who hates to read.  I had a terrible time getting her to pick up a book.  She recieved this series of books for Christmas, and has read books 1-6 and it's only the first of March!  She says that they are great, and when she finishes one she can't wait to start the next book.