I began to realize the importance of keeping a reading log while working with the students whom I mentor. Often I would show them a book we had read months ago and ask them if they remembered it. Sometimes they would, other times they would tell me we had not read it.

Wouldn't it be great if they were keeping track of their reading on their own, instead of needing me to tell them which books, or how many books they had read?

The Kids' Lit Quiz (KLQ) is a literature competition for kids age 10-13 that takes place in the UK, China, New Zealand – and I just learned – South Africa!

Students join together in groups of 4 to answer questions about books from various genres including: contemporary fiction, comics, poetry, classics and more. Excitement surrounds the preparations and the competition as students gear up to compete for prizes. Winning teams from participating schools go on to National finals and those winners go to the World finals.

 Interested in the best books for boys? This list of topics is based on my 15 years of experience in education. For the most part, the list addresses boys of all ages.

1. Misc. Nonfiction! Materials that match his current interests! Various formats - web sites, magazines, books. Examples: Guinness World Records, Star Wars Dictionary, The Way Things Work, Dinosaurs, Pirates, Survival / Outdoors, Biographies
2. Vehicles: Lowriders, Hot Rods, Custom Cars, Choppers, Sport Bikes, Trucks, Sports Cars, Race Cars
3. Sports: Extreme Sports: Skateboarding, BMX, X-Games, Motocross
   

I love to read – always have since I was a child. Perhaps that's one of the reasons I decided to volunteer as a reading helper to work with children. I wanted to share my passion for reading with children who had not yet discovered theirs.

While reading together with my students is important, demonstrating a positive attitude about reading (and learning) is just as critical to their developing reading habits. As reading role models we are influential and can have a positive impact on boys' attitudes toward reading with just a few positive steps.

Book Review: YA Fiction for Teen Boys
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Meet Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, the dorky, confused and compassionate protagonist in Sherman Alexie's semi-autobiographical tale, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian.

After a passionate – although violent – outburst at school, Junior is encouraged by his math teacher to leave the reservation to attend a high school over 20 miles away. Junior struggles with his identity. He feels like he doesn't belonging anywhere – neither on the reservation which he has abandoned, nor at his new school where he feels like an outcast among the students.

Along his journey, Junior deals with poverty, alcoholism, racism and loss, but he never loses his conviction to find hope nor his sense of humor.

How-to topics appeal to boys' desire for practical, concrete and hands-on information. Reading or writing this sub-genre of non-fiction is appropriate for boys of any age group, reading level, or with any interest – sports, science, hobbies, anything!

How young is too young?

What if they don't seem interested?

 Mention separating genders in the classroom and many can’t help but bristle. Segregating the sexes seems an antiquated, pre-women’s rights idea that brings forth images of elite male schools and ivy-league colleges that did not admit women. The feminist movement in mid 20^th century pushed for women’s equal rights in education as well as the work-force… wouldn’t instituting gender-separated classrooms be a step backward?

This might come as a surprise, since we often don't think of boys wanting to talk and socialize, but boys like social activities. Just think of the activities they enjoy the most. Baseball, football, basketball – team sports are the ultimate social activities. Even movies and video games can be perceived as social for boys. When all their friends are playing the latest game or going to see the newest release, boys want to be “in the know” and able to keep up with their friends socially.

On the flip side, books and reading are perceived as anything but social. As a solitary activity, boys sometimes equate reading with being anti-social, a nerd, weird or a loner. We can help change this perception by making reading a social activity for boys, one that they want to share with friends.