My names for the problem this event addresses are really not printable.
Call me Cassandra. You know, the woman who was cursed to tell the truth but no one could see it?
Okay, so I'm not as important as Cassandra, but here is what I have been saying:
Boys read. Boys need books they will read. We stereotype boys a lot. We are failing our boys.
One time The Powers That Be sent me an article about how boys are falling behind in literacy. There were lots of statistics. There were no solutions. The Power scrawled, "Hope this answers your questions!" at the top of the article. With a smily face.
I think this particular Power meant well.
It did not answer my questions.
Meaning well is not enough.
Today I am going to "The Why Chromosome: Why Boys Do Love Reading". This event is sponsored by Bridge to Books, and is hosted by Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop.
Men who write books will present.
I will return with renewed hope and purpose.
Contests continue!
The giveaway for THE MARBURY LENS, signed by Andrew Smith, and page five of PASSENGER, signed and with editorial comments, continues. See here for guidelines.
The The Spooktacular Giveaway Hop is also going on right now. Each blogger is offering a book-related prize. Go for them.
Greetings Kristen,
ReplyDeleteBravo - there's a lot being done lately to encourage boys to read. I have to say that as a middle school teacher, I don't see the huge gender schism between readers that every study under the sun reports. That said, I'm always excited to hear about anyone encouraging reading.
See you at Writers' Day next weekend.
Great post! Promotion of reading in boys and ensuring a solid teen reading bridge to get boys from middle grade readers to adult readers is vital and something that drives me as a writer.
ReplyDeleteI have three teen boys and they all read. The problem is finding the right books for them. Mary Kole had a good post on this subject recently. Check out kidlit.com
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