Encouraging Reluctant Readers: Lessons from a Library Educator

Guest post by Nirupama Kaushik

“I hate books. Reading is so boring!”

As a library educator, I’ve always loved books: picture books, wordless books, novellas, comics, each has a special place in my heart. Working in a school library is my dream job: what could be more exciting for a bookworm like me than diving deep into children’s literature and helping young readers forge meaningful relationships with books?  So it came as a shock to hear a thirteen year old student tell me with calm conviction that reading is a waste of time.

Not being one to give up  on a challenge, I decided that I would transform her attitude to books. We spoke informally outside the library and I gathered that she enjoyed art and sports, particularly basketball. We discussed stories about these themes. She began visiting the library more often just to talk about her day. As we got to know each other, I understood that she avoided books because she did not enjoy long tracts of text. So I showed her a few picture books and asked her to pick ones that would work with younger children. She gave me her recommendations.

Gradually, I attempted to introduce books that appealed to her interests. I suggested The Crossover an award winning and highly popular novel by Kwame Alexander, written entirely in verse. The basketball theme on the cover intrigued her and I rejoiced as she issued her first book for the year. Over several weeks she shared her progress, pointing out bits she loved. She particularly enjoyed the vivid descriptions of basketball matches and the conversations between the main characters. At times she found the writing style a bit monotonous but she finished the story and requested me to look for other ‘sporty’ books.

In the meantime, she is reading Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, which is set in Denmark during World War II. Although she is yet to experiment with a wide variety of genres in fiction, I often see her in the library picking up a book, newspaper or a magazine and flipping through it with interest. 

Looking back I realise that I began to breakdown my sporty student’s aversion to books by connecting with her on a personal level. Any educator knows that all learning begins with building a positive relationship with learners. Here are some additional lessons that I’ve learned about working with reluctant readers:

Provide variety: Invite children to explore a variety of texts and genres. Some find joy in poetry. Others enjoy graphic novels. Give them the freedom to experiment.

Encourage ownership: Parents can help children build their own collection by taking them to local bookstores and allowing them to browse. Gift books or book vouchers for birthdays and festivals. 

Share recommendations: Children can get overwhelmed by choice. Guide them through the delightful process of finding a suitable book. 

Read aloud: Reading aloud has many advantages. It gives reluctant readers a sense of community. When they hear a book being read with expression, it brings the story to life. Place the book in front of them once you’re done. You’ll find that they’re more likely to pick it up if they’ve enjoyed hearing it read aloud.

Trust children’s instincts: Parents and teachers frequently ask if a book is age appropriate (in terms of theme or vocabulary). My answer is always the same: children have a knack for recognising if a book is for them.  

A common way to check reading levels is the ‘Five Finger Guide’. Ask the child to read a page and lift a finger for every word that s/he doesn’t know. If the number of fingers up crosses three, perhaps the book is above the child’s reading level.

Regarding the theme, keep channels of communication open and tell children that if the story makes them uncomfortable or curious, it is absolutely alright to talk about it or read the book with a trusted adult. It is even okay to drop the book  and return to it some other time.  Read something else in the meantime.

Discuss the book: The most powerful strategy to keep young readers interested in a book is to talk about it. Engaging in consistent and meaningful conversations about the book assists them in processing what they have read. It also enables you to recommend the next book, and the next and the next.

And finally,

Be patient: Every child is a reader. They just need to find the book that draws their attention. As adults our role is to offer them books as a gift instead of a chore. Like all relationships, a love for books needs to be developed with care and commitment. Trust the process and don’t be disheartened if it takes time. Stick with it and you will enrich a child’s life. And remember…

The journey to discovering your favourite authors is the destination. 

What’s your favourite strategy for encouraging reluctant readers?

Nirupama has an MA in Elementary Education from Tata Institute of Social Sciences and has taught across pre-primary, primary and secondary school. She is currently a library educator at The Somaiya School, Mumbai, where she supports students in developing cognitive, social and emotional skills through books and stories. She also works with teachers to connect the curriculum to the library collection. When not at school she is usually found burrowing through bookshops, looking for hidden literary jewels to take back with her. She hopes to run her own library one day.