Raising Boy Readers

Sullivan, author of Connecting Boys with Books 2 (2009) and Serving Boys through Readers Advisory (2010, both ALA) writes his first work for parents of boys. In a clear, conversational tone, he offers practical and reassuring advice on a range of topics, including how fathers influence what their sons read, what kind of physical environment fosters reading, and why reading large numbers of titles—even below grade level—is essential to making boys lifelong readers. The first half of the book features five chapters, each addressing the "whys" and "hows" of boy readers, concluding with a "big question" that pertains to the central topic. The chapter on "How Boys Read" discusses gender differences, brain science, the importance of reading aloud, ADHD concerns, and encouraging boys' writing. The chapter's "big question" asks if e-readers benefit boys: Sullivan says "yes" and makes a persuasive case. Detailed source notes at the end of each chapter demonstrate the author's thorough research and make information easy to find. The second half of the book is an annotated list of more than 300 titles organized by grade level, elementary through high school. The same list is then reorganized by genre, subject, and grade levels. An index includes all 300 titles in the booklist and is well-organized for quick reference; the bibliography is comprehensive. While Sullivan's stated audience is parents, educators and librarians will also find valuable insights in this volume.—Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY