Presented in a breakout session at the Manitoba Reading Association Adolescent Literacy Summit in Winnipeg on April 10, 2015 I have added sample reader survey questions and a list of the kinds of books we find reluctant readers will read

1. “I don’t really read…”
How to trick reluctant
readers into reading

2. Give us time with them… please <3
• Even if it seems they are “wasting time in the
library” getting them into the library is the
first step.
• We have a few tricks for that too…
• Once they are there, they need time to
browse or at least soak in some information 
• And, our library doesn’t have to be quiet, “if
you aren’t talking, you aren’t learning…”

3. Five (sort of)
Laws of Library Science
• Books are for use
• Every reader his or her book
• Every book its reader
• Save the time of the reader
• The library is a growing organism
(also - - the library is for everyone -- even
reluctant readers - - maybe especially for them)
http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/1769/1/ALIS%2055%282%29%2087-90.pdf
http://www.academia.edu/4674503/Ranganathan_and_the_Modern_Librarian

4. Ask these questions…
• What do you do for fun?
• What is your favourite movie?
• What was the last book you read?
• What did you like/not like about it?
• If you could read anything (novel, magazine,
biography, reference) what would it be?
BE PREPARED TO BUY ANYTHING


5. Visual learners often like graphic novels
(and some of them have a lot of words)
The Letter
Graphic Novels for Students 5 – 12

6. Graphic novels are “cool” and...
• are good "hooks" for encouraging visual
learners to read stories about
characters they have met in movies or
have heard their friends discuss.
• often also exist in traditional novel
form, encouraging students to try both.

7. But, some kids don’t like
graphic novels…
They may like books with lots of white
space, serif fonts and large print.
They may like funny stories about kids
who remind them of someone they
know - maybe even themselves!

8. If you still can’t get someone to like
reading what do you do?
• Get them to realize that reading anything, even
the back of a cereal box or a computer or phone
screen during a game is reading (so they are
readers even if they say they aren’t)…
• Create a buzz about books in as many ways as
you can (work with your library)
• Let them know that listening to books or reading
text with pictures counts (and believe it yourself).
• Realize that sometimes you have to be ridiculous
to show how cool books really are…

9. Pulling
Readers
from
a
Hat

10. Hold contests to generate
interest and get book ideas
#FridayReads contest
• Write down your name and what you are reading.
Cereal boxes count
• Put your entry in the hat/green box
• If your name is drawn you get to pick a new (or
used) book for the library and be the first person
to read it – books do not have to be novels, pick
something YOU will read. You can also suggest
new/used books at any time of course.

11. When reluctant readers choose…

13. We have found that reluctant readers
are drawn to certain books
• funny books
• diary book
• books that are written in verse
• books that are scary
• books about teens in trouble
• books that are also movies
• books with page-turning action
• books about stuff they like to do
• books about interesting (and gross!) facts

14. Try funny books….

15. Try diary books….

16. Try books that are poetry….

17. Try books that are scary….

18. Try books that are about kids in trouble….

19. Try books that are movies….

20. Try books that they can’t put down…

21. Try books about stuff they like to do….

22. Try books about interesting (and gross!) facts…

23. Books we found that also spoke to our reluctant readers…
For outdoor types who like hunting
Realistic stories about real events For readers who like cars/racing
Graphic novel about travel, family Fantasy about clans of cats. Teen spy, fast paced action Page turning fantasy.

24. Dystopian thriller. Mystery written in journal entries. Mother/daughter talk via notes. Life in an underground prison
End of the world military trilogy. Popular dystopian series. Twisting teens vs zombie tale.
Dragon tribes at war.

25. Real teen issues written in verse.
Funny books to be read alone or aloud. Books where the geek is a hero.
Books about teens struggling with mental illness. Adventure graphic novels.
Books that are now movies.
Books about what we like to do.

26. BUT WHAT IF THEY NEVER GO
TO THE LIBRARY?
• Invite them (free food helps).
• Always have something new, interesting or
ridiculous close to the door.
• Make the library some place they want to be (be
helpful and be nice – it’s actually our job despite
the shhhing librarian stereotype).
• Have stuff going on in the library – chess, game
days, D&D, strum club, Halloween stories, study
groups, readers theatre, (some quiet time too).
• Even if they never read a book (or say they
haven’t) they WILL soak up knowledge.

27. Read the Book and Watch the Movie Contest
Our school’s Philanthropy Group was going to be screening Divergent so we partnered with
them and held a contest with prizes of free movie tickets, free popcorn, the Divergent book
Four and the Divergent movie soundtrack. You could enter the trivia contest with help from
your friends even if you hadn’t read the book. Students who had read Divergent or the
entire series were great ambassadors at convincing non-readers to try (and like) the series.

28. Read a Red Book Contest…
Your prize? Pick a book, read it first!

29. Read a Green Book Contests –
Tell us why you are lucky - Shamrock Word Scramble

30. Displays can attract interest & generate discussion
about books students may like to read

31. Celebrate anything…
more importantly, have cake!

32. Let your librarian out of the library
We can help with
• career or subject research
• judging book cover contests
• judging fashion shows
• taste tests
• book talks
• lit groups
• ? (we are up for just about anything)
If kids see us in other places and we seem to have some good advice,
they will feel more comfortable asking us about books and more
comfortable about coming to the library.

33. What if you don’t have
a full-time librarian?
• Pre-ask students the questions librarians ask
using a survey
• Give the librarian (or yourself) time to source the
books that match up with their interests (the
perfect books may be out)
• Have some books they are most apt to be willing
to try ready for them to choose from, have
students part of the process, have students visit
the library (or take them) in small groups

34. Please Return this form to your Librarian or Teacher (add name)
• What do you do for fun?
• What was the last book you read?
• What did you like or not like about it?
• What was the last good book you read?
• What did you like about it?
• What activity is your least favourite?
• What is your favourite movie?
• What is your favourite TV show?
• What is your favourite sport?
• Who is your favourite scientist or inventor?
• If you could read a book about one person, who would it be?
• What is your favourite kind of music?
• Who is your favourite singer/band?
• What are your favourite video games?
• Who are your favourite hockey players or other sports stars?
• What is your favourite graphic novel/comic?
• If you could read anything (novel, magazine, biography, reference) what would it be?
• What kinds of books/movies/TV shows/video games do you like? (Please circle all that apply). Funny,
Scary, Exciting, Action, Real Life, Dragons/Knights, Outdoor Adventure, Hockey, Football, Baseball,
Skateboarding, Video Games, True Books, Interesting Fact Books Like Guiness Book of World Records or
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not or Shows Like Mythbusters, Zombies, Teens with Problems, Sad Books and
Movies Like Fault In Our Stars and If I Stay, Books That Are Like Diaries, Books Like Divergent and The
Hunger Games, Books Like Storm Breaker, Books Like The Lightning Thief and The Lost Hero, Books Like
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Books About Stuff In The Past, E-Books, Audio Books, Other _________
• What is the most interesting thing about you?

35. Visit us in the library…
• We have books - - lots of them
• We have more money than you do to buy more
books. If your library doesn’t, see if you can
change that.
• If you don’t have a library that is open all the
time, see if you can change that too.
• Sometimes we have cake 

36. You may find more ideas here:
• www.carmancollegiatelibrary.blogspot.ca
• www.whatthesheepdid.blogspot.ca
• @CarmColLibrary
• Carman Collegiate Library on Pinterest
• @harmstrong