DS 9 will ONLY read Weird School books

[Anonymous]

I started reading books aloud with DS. In conjunction with a rule that I don’t read those kinds of books aloud, it helped at least balance his literary diet so to speak.

[Anonymous]

Don't worry, if he loves reading, he will eventually discover more types of books he enjoys. I used to read Sweet Valley High until about 8th grade, and now I'm quite well-read.

[Anonymous]

The author who created the series was a hesitant reader. He developed something silly to appeal to his former self to foster a love of reading.

For a kid who struggles with reading, these are motivating and go a long way in engaging an otherwise resistant kid.

I have 3 kids who varied greatly in their reading journeys, ranging from precocious/intuitive to needing more support (my oldest). My oldest actually became confident when she started nighttime read alouds to the younger two which led to bonding and genuine giddy laughter.

I’m pretty strict with manners and my kids have not become indoctrinated in delinquent behavior by way of these books. We discuss what appropriate behavior looks like and put boundaries on any inappropriate repeating of content.

And the good news is that a few tears later, everyone is reading for pleasure and read a variety of texts. I will say, the books are occasionally revisited and lead to a lot of fun connections between the kids.

[Anonymous]

I do not agree that all kids will find their way to better books. Some need help. I told my son, when he was stuck in endless rereading of dog man and Wimpy kid, that he needed to read 20 minutes every weekday of a grade- level book. Yours might like the Andrew Clements books, which are realistic and set in school but lore clever with better prose and the occasional moral. My son also got into audiobooks—all the rick riordans are his lifeblood now.
Anyway, once he had done his 20 minutes, he was free to read other stuff. Yes, the English teacher in me doesn’t like it that a book is something that has to be forced, but , in the end, it bothers me less than the idea that he’s only reading the same weak stuff.

[Anonymous]

I mean, I love to read books about women who kill their husbands or are stalked by gross men and make awful choices. And I'm ok.

Reading is reading, so if he binges them, that's good! He's learning to read fast which will be beneficial in MS and HS.

I experienced this exact same thing actually and introduced my kid to the Wayside School series, which I loved as a kid in the late 80s and early 90s. They're a little better.
https://www.amazon.com/Wayside-School-4-Book-Box-Set/dp/0063092093/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1AUXM4E9U1BLG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RmmHvblOSIqF_jCn7pSlzRciGHnW7z5uDuHPW5YlLfZyAXWIru70yQaaqpQZfW-Oq3a-aFDuG5PVNAyhcdEN9rqHHzYeJZabq8LC_t0_WhVwmZwxk1Yq2dFi_Zx4KRt-1sxgM0N6jqdyS5McmR4T3rBKOGhKx99E2oT5QyXWeSoFdJoJKMdCvhXc9-KVIULTbzplcf7befCZp9HEdPt07w3LfYjPD_lint8k4vwZh7o.qI101fMk3eF6SzufYPw2MkxSrLwEp6oPmggzl2Kc1Gg&dib_tag=se&keywords=wayside+school+box+set&qid=1719869886&sprefix=wayside+school+box+se%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1

The Mr. Limoncello series is great, maybe a higher reading level.
https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Lemoncellos-Greatest-Box-Earth/dp/0593649567/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MXCZA8AX2L0C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8lGKaNZo1-AHfRHgSBbPKVuFwGmRB3XGGfG0jeu6KyR0aKSZbS_TV1FxgF7A6GPQbTYSv2fjDuGM6g2sPI6ZF7n5mZq_WVIM8CXyF36K64wcHU9twDBrcAiaciHfEkc2cyverKhYWSt17SXDbq7wecoz2F9jreiqkz_VuOx0_fslFXDeWNPu-wPKom8LIugg4mXXk-HxhacrJ0STtJkRqLAiokWrrHKq2gaNDPVEiiY.I8hJbSiz2WJ2zxTNbKBJly-9qrivhYOpyqeFuth2dOw&dib_tag=se&keywords=lemoncello+box+set&qid=1719869834&sprefix=lemoncello+bos+se%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-1

The Benedict Society is definitely a higher reading level but very good.
https://www.amazon.com/Mysterious-Benedict-Society-Paperback-Boxed/dp/0316460966/ref=pd_bxgy_d_sccl_1/135-5018078-0096001?pd_rd_w=MTkST&content-id=amzn1.sym.c51e3ad7-b551-4b1a-b43c-3cf69addb649&pf_rd_p=c51e3ad7-b551-4b1a-b43c-3cf69addb649&pf_rd_r=4925J1GHSXZ3DMWEBJSH&pd_rd_wg=ZPELE&pd_rd_r=e804f0e0-c7d4-4909-925d-79d7fc46944d&pd_rd_i=0316460966&psc=1


When you find one he likes you can search Amazon for recommendations and try more. Libraries have all of these but it can be hard to get them all in order when you want them for big series.

My kid is in HS now and he reads but less for pleasure because he is just busier. That said he is a GREAT reader and we have so many Weird School books in our house.

[Anonymous]

Try reading another series with him. Offer to read it aloud or get the audio book and listen with him. Reading should be enjoyable and the My Weird School series has a lot of books.

Other series to try:
My Weird School Fast facts
Clubhouse mysteries
Wayside School
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Diary of a 6th grade Ninja
Mr. Lemocello
Wings of Fire
Ghoul School
Warriors
Last Kid on Earth graphic novels
Lemony Snicket: A series of unfortunate events

[Anonymous]

This summer, I’m offering my kids an ice cream party when they read a certain number of new books at their appropriate reading level. There’s a fair bit of rereading old stuff that’s too easy for them, but plenty of new stuff too.

[Anonymous]

Arrest him like he’s in the TSA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The author who created the series was a hesitant reader. He developed something silly to appeal to his former self to foster a love of reading.

For a kid who struggles with reading, these are motivating and go a long way in engaging an otherwise resistant kid.

I have 3 kids who varied greatly in their reading journeys, ranging from precocious/intuitive to needing more support (my oldest). My oldest actually became confident when she started nighttime read alouds to the younger two which led to bonding and genuine giddy laughter.

I’m pretty strict with manners and my kids have not become indoctrinated in delinquent behavior by way of these books. We discuss what appropriate behavior looks like and put boundaries on any inappropriate repeating of content.

And the good news is that a few tears later, everyone is reading for pleasure and read a variety of texts. I will say, the books are occasionally revisited and lead to a lot of fun connections between the kids.

That sounds so fun!🤩

[Anonymous]

Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Frindle
Hidden Talents by David Lubar
The Phantom Tollbooth
How to Eat Fried Worms
Danny Dunn
The Three Investigators
Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
Roald Dahl
Encyclopedia Brown
Einstein Anderson
The Great Brain
Holes by Louis Sachar
The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley
Pippi Longstocking

Choose Your Own Adventure Books

Kate Klise (books written as letters, newspaper articles, etc.)

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (quirky poetry)

Guinness Book of World Records
Ripley’s Believe It or Not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kid was like that with Dogman, and his teachers told us that as long as he was reading a book, it was fine, he'd grow out of it, and he did. As long DS is find happiness in a book, you're winning.

The exception, the teacher said, was Captain Underpants, because everything is misspelled.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least he's reading?

This. As a parent of a reluctant reader, I’m so glad DS is now reading Diary of a Wimpey Kid, Dogman etc. I don’t think a wimpy Kid is that bad. There are consequences for bad decisions. One step at a time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not agree that all kids will find their way to better books. Some need help. I told my son, when he was stuck in endless rereading of dog man and Wimpy kid, that he needed to read 20 minutes every weekday of a grade- level book. Yours might like the Andrew Clements books, which are realistic and set in school but lore clever with better prose and the occasional moral. My son also got into audiobooks—all the rick riordans are his lifeblood now.
Anyway, once he had done his 20 minutes, he was free to read other stuff. Yes, the English teacher in me doesn’t like it that a book is something that has to be forced, but , in the end, it bothers me less than the idea that he’s only reading the same weak stuff.

OH, i think it helps to nudge them and make suggestions, but if they're reading, it is lightyears better than not reading, even if it's garbage.

My kid LOVES things I loved—not sure if it's because we're wired the same way, or just he likes me... but I loved Gordon Korman as a kid, and that guy churns out books like crazy so there's no shortage of things for my kid to read. He also REALLY fell for Hatchet.

[Anonymous]

I hate it when teachers and other parents shrug it off "at least he's reading something." I mean, some of us want our children to strive for better things. I say this as the parent of a kid who only reads some other dumb book series. I feel ya, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate it when teachers and other parents shrug it off "at least he's reading something." I mean, some of us want our children to strive for better things. I say this as the parent of a kid who only reads some other dumb book series. I feel ya, OP.

I’m with PP and regularly suggest things, but my kids only take the bait maybe 50% of the time. And I’m completely fine with that because they also request weekly trips to the library and regularly spend their own money on books. They’ll move past Big Nate eventually.

It’s a long game. I read plenty of garbage as a kid and ended up with a Master’s in English and published books.