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Curriculum Opinion

Book Review: ‘Best Books for Boys’

By Richard Whitmire — April 29, 2011 1 min read
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Pam Allyn’s Best Book for Boys is written like a guy wrote it, only a guy didn’t. It’s practical, divided into topics and ages, and offers quick descriptions after each title. Just what any parent needs walking into a bookstore or trolling Amazon.

My favorite part is an extensive Q&A written in a breezy manner telling you just what you need to know:

Question #21: How do you feel about “light” books such as Captain Underpants?

Allyn responds: “I LOVE these books. They’ve been radically helpful in getting boys to read.” (And then she follows with a thorough response.)

Question #18: How can you get boys to read outside of the usual environment and routine?

Allyn responds: “Ask your boys to describe times when reading has felt good for them. Don’t dismiss their descriptions of the sports page, or an art drawing book, or a great Web site, or a manual for how to build a castle.” (And then elaborates.)

Practical advice from people like Pam Allyn, executive director of LitLife, and authors/teachers such as Jon Scieszka, constitute the best strategy for lifting our boys out of these literacy deficits that limit their post-secondary potential.

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The opinions expressed in Why Boys Fail are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.