Small group exercise Have you now or have you ever been a reluctant reader? What is your reading autobiography?

Who Are Reluctant Readers? Literate non- readers Illiterate literates Nonreaders Aliterates

Why They Arent Reading By the time many students reach high school, they equate reading with ridicule, failure or exclusively school-related tasks.

Why They Arent Reading Students are not excited by ideas. They prefer to experience life directly rather than through reading.

Why They Arent Reading Many active adolescents are unable to sit still long enough to read for any prolonged period of time..

Why They Arent Reading Teenagers are too self-absorbed and preoccupied with themselves, their problems, families, sexual roles, etc., to make connections between their world and books.

Why They Arent Reading Books are inadequate entertainment compared to other competing media such as television, video games and the Internet.

Why They Arent Reading Persistent stress from home and school to read constantly is counter-productive for some adolescents.

Why They Arent Reading Adolescents may grow up in non-reading homes void of reading material with no reading role models. There is no one to pass down the value of reading..

Why They Arent Reading Some adolescents may consider reading solitary and anti- social.

Why They Arent Reading Reading is considered uncool and something adults do.

Why They Arent Reading Cant find the good books

Small group exercise #6 Ranking and missing reasons

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers Cover - catchy, action-oriented, attractive, appealing, good "blurb"

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers Print style - sufficiently large for enjoyable reading

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers Format - appropriate and appealing balance of text and white space

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers Artwork/illustrations - enticing, realistic, demonstrated diversity

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers Clear writing without long convoluted sentences of sophisticated vocabulary

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers Acceptable literary quality and effectiveness of presentation

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction High interest "hook" in first 10 pages

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Well-defined characters and not too many of them

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Sufficient plot to sustain interest

When you write, do you think about the potential book's appeal to non-readers? R.L. Stine: Almost all of my books are designed for reluctant readers. When I wrote and edited educational magazines, I learned how to write for different reading levels. I try to keep my scary books at a 4th-grade reading and vocabulary level. In addition-- short books, fast-paced, lots of surprises and twists, cliff-hanger chapter endings to force them to go on to the next chapter, and plot-driven books with little description to slow down the action.

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Plot lines developed through dialog and action rather than descriptive text

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Familiar themes with emotional appeal for teenagers

Power Up With Print Young adults like fiction that: 1. Show YAs being independent from adults. 2. Reassure YAs they are "normal". 3. Present role models. 4. Demonstrate problem solving in action. 5. Allow to feel like winners/overcoming odds. 6. Display relationships of all sorts. 7. Capture intensity and uncertainty of their life. 8. Help develop of socially responsible behavior 9. Explore lives of other teenagers..

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Believable treatment (that does not preclude speculative fiction however)

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Single point of view / not too many characters

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Touches of humor when appropriate

Small group exercise Ranking and missing reasons: what are the most important and what wasnt discussed

25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 1. A library card: 2. Booklists: 3. Booktalking : 4. Build relationships:

25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 5. Celebrate Teen Read Week: 6. Contests: 7. Displays: 8. Follow-up :

25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 9. Freedom and choice: 10. Get input: 11. Get out of the library: 12. Get over yourself:

25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 13. Get them in the building : 14. Go the shelves: 15. High visibility merchandising: 16. Honesty:

25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 17. Keep current : 18. Listen: 19. Non-judgmental attitude: 20. Reader's advisory:

25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 21. Samples: 22. Wave goodbye to just fiction 23. Weed the collection: 24. Zowie! Get graphic

Connecting Young Adults and Libraries Patrick Jones Consulting, training, and coaching for providing powerful youth services including library card campaigns and web projects