My nine year old does not love to read, she’s sort of preteen these days. Any suggestions?
My nine -year-old does not love to read, she’s sort of preteen these days… Any suggestions?
38 Answers
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Loading Please wait
What does she love? I’m no expert, but I’ve found that at any age, if someone isn’t a great reader it can often be because they haven’t found their genre or topic yet.
I am hoping this is the case, I keep trying new series but she has not given them a chance really
Laura Marie, I’m in the same boat with my 9 year old granddaughter. I’ve tried Judy Moody, Clementine, A to Z Mysteries, Magic Treehouse and none have piqued her interest. Of those, she will read Judy Moody the most…but grudgingly. She loves the HP movies but won’t read the books. She checks out the Dork Diaries series from the school library, reads two chapters and is done. It’s killing me because I so love to read!
I wish you both the best of luck! My sister enjoyed a variety of animal-centered books at that age. As in, where the animal is the main character.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants ? is a great series about friendship!
I love anything Roald Dahl!! I teach 3rd grade and love reading them Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The False Prince is really good. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is good.
Because of Winn-Dixie and Wonder are good choices.
The Babysitters Club books,by Anne Martin
Dork diaries
They sound entertaining for her
@Laura my daughter loved them I think they are quite easy reads and relatable stories
There is always – Harry Potter series; Chronicles of Narnia; Wrinkle in Time series- all have been made into movies- but the books are so much better.
We did read a wrinkle in time before the movie came out, she’s sort of liked it but I can’t get her to read Harry Potter for the life of me
Or maybe short stories
Try chicken soup for the preteen soul
I loved little house on the prairie series as well as THE BFG,witches,etc
Harry Potter.
Just finished The girl who drank the moon by Kelly Barnhill. It is about 9 year old reading level, has magic, a dragon, a little girl and a mystery.
Maybe just set a good example and she will read when she’s ready? It’s hard to get a nine-year-old girl to do anything she doesn’t want to do!
So True
My 10 year old daughter loves the Wings of Fire series
Try Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate or Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead. I teach Living Storybook for grades 2-5 and my kids love them. If she is not a strong reader then take turns reading and help her with the words. Both are great stories?
My daughter loved Crenshaw and The One and Only Ivan.
When my boys were that age they didnt want to read. We got audio books at the library and they really loved those.
Judy Blume books. A trip to a bookstore & money in her pocket to choose for herself. Sometimes some personal attention from bookstore clerk can also be helpful.
My 9 year old daughter is reading this series right now and loving it ? https://www.amazon.com/Boys-Start-War-Girl-Battle/dp/0440418410
Model reading, let her choose her own books. Don’t push her too hard toward reading. Let her come to it. Or not.
I’ve been trying to help my niece discover books to love for the past couple of years. She’s 13 now, but was just a little older than your daughter when we started. You mentioned that you’ve been trying to get her hooked on series of books; just in case a whole series feels intimidating to her, here are some of the stand-alone novels that caught my niece’s interest. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk, Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell, Lois Lowry’s novels The Giver, and Number the Stars.
The Mo and Dale Mystery series by Sheila Turnage is excellent. Funny, clever, heartwarming and good mysteries. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11737313-three-times-lucky
The Gaither Sisters series by Rita Williams-Garcia is outstanding. Won every award children’s books can win. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6609764-one-crazy-summer
Miss Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson is unforgettable. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27064348-ms-bixby-s-last-day
Let Her Pick Out Somethin’ And You Girls Read It Together, Drinkin’ Hot Chocolate!!!
A book is a great source of knowledge, wisdom, imaginations and much more. But some people are not reading lover, this doesn’t mean they are not getting knowledge, wisdome, imaginations and all that… Try with the suggestions, if it works it’s very good otherwise give her a little time.
Maybe suggest writing a story together. You write the first sentence, then she writes the second. You do the third, and she the fourth, etc. until you decide to conclude it. Determine what genre it might fit into, and then check into those kinds of books at the library.
My 4th graders love the I Survived Books.
Why force her?
Maybe she prefers magazines? I couldn’t read much “books” when I was her age (except Grimm’s). I was glued to news and teen magazines. I didn’t start holding a real book until I was in my 20s. She’ll come around…
Preteens are notorious for being obstinate. The more you push the more they resist. I’d have books available and a set bedtime. Then I’d allow for a few minutes of reading in bed before lights out. Be real low key about it. Act as if it doesn’t matter to you one way or the other. If she gets interested enough she’ll ask for more time. Act like you’re begrudgingly giving it to her. She’s got to think it’s her idea.
Have you tried Dork Diaries? My daughter was pretty obstinate at that age but she LOVED those books.
Judy moody