High and Low Books for Reluctant Readers

Reading is everything, right? So what can you do when one of your students is just ‘not feeling it’? Not just for a day, but for months. You’re wracking your brain to try and get this kiddo to pick up a book, but he isn’t interested in anything you have to offer. We’ve all been there.

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It can be challenging to sell some students on the joys of reading, especially when technology offers so many other convenient options and (sometimes) distractions. In the classroom, however, this isn’t the case. Even if the technology is a daily part of your routine, you can still hope for your students to catch the reading bug while they’re in your classroom with some high and low books to attract reluctant readers!

Why Some Children Don’t Like Reading

There are usually only one or two reasons why students don’t like to read. Either they haven’t found the right genre, or reading is just plain difficult for them. Finding the right genre takes time and perseverance, but the second reason can be much more complicated. Goal setting is so important in the early elementary classroom, and nearly every student can benefit from a goal of reading more books.

For students that struggle with reading, it’s important to find a text that is high-interest but not too challenging. These high-interest, low readability (high and low) books are the perfect way to help your students find their own love of reading.

If your student has trouble reading, here are some high-interest, low-readability books that are likely to pique their interest.

High and Low Books for the Early Elementary Classroom

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

by Judy Blume

Peter is just trying to live his life. Unfortunately, his younger brother, who everyone calls ‘Fudge’ is constantly trying to ruin it! Students with siblings will easily relate to the struggles in Peter’s life, and the trouble caused by Fudge is truly hilarious.

This is great book to start a fourth-grader off when trying to reach the target of increased reading time. Superfudge by Judy Blume is the sequel to this hilarious story. ‘Fudge’ (Farley Drexel Hatcher) gets older in this book, and he is still just as annoying to Peter and the rest of the family. Especially now that he fancies himself a superhero!

Besides Fudge himself, the family is facing both a move AND a new baby. How will Peter survive? Your students will love reading stories of Peter, Fudge, and the whole Hatcher family.

Magic Tree House Series

by Mary Pope Osbourne

The Magic Tree House series centers around a brother and sister duo who time travel to check out what REALLY happened in history. Jack and Annie have wonderful adventures together! Since the books are based around historic events, your students will learn a little history and geography while enjoying some simple chapter books. Pick up a few books or the whole set for your classroom!

Beezus and Ramona Series

by Beverly Cleary

Like Judy Blume’s novels and the Magic Tree House stories, the Ramona series is another one that has kept generations of early elementary students engaged and loving reading! If Fudge is Peter’s nemesis, Ramona plays that role for her older sister, Beezus. Beverly Cleary describes timeless arguments and shenanigans between siblings and friends. Every child can relate through these early reader chapter books.

Henry and Mudge Series

by Cynthia Rylant

Where would Henry be without his big, crazy, lovable dog Mudge? Together Henry and Mudge have lots of adventures in this easy-to-read series. It’s often difficult to find much content at such a low readability level, but Rylant does a great job of creating sensitive and relatable characters. Sucie Stevenson provides heartfelt illustrations that bring the characters to life and help young readers transition from picture to chapter books.

Cam Jansen Series

by David Adler

The Cam Jansen Series series features a girl and boy who are best friends. The girl is the detective, and the boy is her sidekick. The detective, Cam, has a photographic memory that helps her solve mysteries. With stories around 60 pages, your young readers can find excitement and engagement in a low-readability text!

Your elementary readers may finally fall in love with reading! These high and low books to attract reluctant readers are a perfect way to introduce chapter books and topics your young learners will love!

Audiobooks can be the Key for Reluctant Readers

Some of your students are auditory processors or reading is such a struggle for them that the sheer effort required outweighs the enjoyment of reading. Audiobooks can solve both of these issues.

My son has severe dyslexia, but he devours books, audiobooks that is. We rent them from the library and he listens to several long chapter books a week. In fact, just this week, he devoured the Henry Huggins series by Beverly Clearly and in the past has listened to high-level chapter books that build is vocabulary, syntax, and word pronunciations.

Here is a post on where to find audiobooks for your classroom.

While it may seem like it’s just an electronic input, audiobooks help children dive into stories, as they would if they were reading them. Audiobooks help students understand the rhythm and cadence of language, the syntax of sentences and how words are pronounced. They can be an integral part of helping struggling readers fall in love with reading.

Motivating Reluctant Readers

While this blog post focuses on some specific reading resources for reluctant readers, I have another post a few more ideas on motivating reluctant readers.