Cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Boys, for some reason, seem to more likely not enjoy reading. This could be because of several factors: authors are generally women and write books that appeal more to girls; teachers are generally female and suggest books that they like to read, which doesn’t appeal to boys; or maybe it’s because they’re rambunctious and aren’t ones to sit and do something for very long.

Whatever the reason is, if you can find books that appeal to boys, you’ll be able to show them that there are books they can enjoy too. Here are some books that are recommended for elementary school boys:

• The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney. This is a great series of books for boys because the main character is a boy and it deals with issues that boys deal with. Boys can easily relate to these books and because the premise is it’s a diary written by a boy, it also might encourage boys to write as well.
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians, by Rick Riordan. This is another series with a boy as the main character. What’s great about this book is the main character has dyslexia and ADHD, which many boys can relate to, and it shows the character being successful despite these faults. It also has a lot of action.
• Alcatraz Smedry, by Brandon Sanderson. This series of books is hilarious. The main character has a penchant for breaking things, but this series explores how this is actually a talent. Very fun for all ages.