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Testimonials
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Article by Mike McQueen
I'm a teacher-librarian, author, and founder of GettingBoysToRead.com. I hope you enjoy your experience on our site. Be sure to sign up for my free video course, 8 Ways to Hook a Struggling Reader by filling out the form on the top right side of the page.
{ 69 comments… add one }
Benita
Education should be infused with the multimedia and social networks that our youth use every day.Thanks for thinking of our boys.
Liz
Interesting blog — I have 2 boys, age 6 weeks and 3 years — I had no idea that getting boys to read might be difficult… or require a different approach than girls.
DeAnna
Hi Mike,
I think this is an important topic. I write articles for several sites and I plan to do one on the topic of boys and reading soon. Your blog will make a good reference for it.
Divina
Hey Mike,
Just went on your blog and love it.(Our son) is only 11 months old and every night either his dad and I read to him. I will definitely be back for the articles!
Susan
Hi Mike, I had a fascinating time reading some posts at your blog.I thought the posts were a great balance between useful information and personable style. It seems to be a kind of group blog with a bunch of enthusiastic people who acquire points by commenting.
Karyn
Hi, great blog. I have a 2 year old who’s definitely loving letters. He’s also just starting to spell and remember simple words. So I’m definitely interested in your blog — I’m worried that his early interest in pre-reading will wane, and am looking for ideas to keep it going.
Jess
Hi Mike. I will be checking out the site. Always interested in reading/reading education as a mom and an educator.I always like to stay connected with reading communities.
Leanne
Hi Mike! I’d love to pass along your site, and will definitely share your information on my blog. As a young girl one of my favorite books (still is, actually) was “My Side of the Mountain”. It’s a great book for getting boys interested in reading. Butgirls loved it too!
Jane
Hi, Mike. Your site looks intriguing. More so, I am interested in your personal story and your library makeover (more like library revolution – inspiring!). My sons are passionate about libraries and books (and my oldest is interested in becoming a librarian).I am a mother of 4 boys who all love books and reading. It is sad to think about boys who don’t (or can’t) read.Thank you for making a difference with your library efforts and this site!I will definitely link to your site.
Danielle
I think your site sounds very interesting and necessary….I will check it out! Nice to see someone doing so much good for children these days!
Anonymous
Hey Mike! We love to read!! My 4 kids love to read, too.. Although different ways and interests…My 8yo stays late at night just to finish a book he’s totally into! Great idea and purpose!
DeAnna
What a great idea for a blog! I have a son and a daughter and I have experienced the differences in boys and girls reading. My son has a high IQ yet he hates to read, even though he loved be read to when he was young. We had trouble getting his grade school teachers to take this seriously- they just said he was a boy, so therefore he probably doesn’t like to read. I think this issue needs to be addressed by teachers and parents alike and I am so happy to see you are doing it.
Amy
I just became a follower on Twitter. Your blog looks very interesting and informative. I’m expecting a little boy next month so I will definitely be checking back for tips! I’m not an expert on boy’s literacy but I know it’s a very important topic.
Tracy
I looked briefly at your site, but will be back for more as I have a 7 year old boy who struggles with wanting to read. And being a voracious reader myself, this can be a troubling dilemma. I just followed you on Twitter.
Alice
My little toddler (1 year old) has very short attention span. He forcefully closes the book as soon as I start reading to him. The longest he went so far without wanting to close the book was up to 3 or 4 pages only. I’m keen to get the most from your website to foster his reading interest.
Angela
Hi Mike!Great site! My son is 12 (almost 13) and LOVES To read! He’s in the 80th percentile on all of his assessments.
Kelleye
Wow! What an Awesome sight! I have 3 boys and 1 girl and for the life of me, I just realized Boys def. need more tools and encouragement to read than Girls. What a very useful page you have going!
Lori
Mike! Love your site!
Joyce
Hi Mike, What a great web site. I think the info you supply will be greatly appreciated.
Angela
I love your blog and you are doing something really important like the awareness of reading , keep it up.
Heather
Sounds like a great program you’ve got going on there. My son is only 2 1/2, but he’s gotten really into reading lately. What has helped is putting away the other toys in his room so he has books to turn to if he can’t get to sleep or wakes up early, and he does.Best of luck to you!
April
Mike, we don’t see a “dude” we see someone who is bringing an important message to an under serviced population! thank you for being so passionate!
Michelle
Looks like a great website! Can’t wait to read more.
Angela
I’d love to network with you. Reading is a favorite pastime with my boys, and I’d love to share tips to help other moms assist their little ones in knowing the love of reading.
VCSMama
Mike, great site!I’ll be using your site as a resource. Thanks for sharing it’ll be using y.
Nora
I love your site.Great stuff. I have 2 boys and I love the crusade to get boys to read. Keep up the good work! See you on fb too.
Duncan Faber
Here’s a great half step towards getting kids interested in reading more. Audiobooks. Not quite as good as actual reading, but it’s a step in the right direction. There’s lots of sites where you can download them for free. Here’s one that we use a lot. http://www.twirlygirlshop.com/stories-for-kids
Jayne Jaudon Ferrer
As a writer and mother of three sons, I was delighted when I discovered “Getting Boys to Read.” Though I am blessed to have boys who love books as much as I do, many of my friends and family members have anguished over their sons’ lack of interest in reading. I applaud Mike’s efforts in marshalling a team of seasoned veterans to offer advice and expertise in encouraging boys to read. The pleasure and confidence that comes from literacy is a precious gift to give, and “Getting Boys to Read” is helping to bestow that gift on a daily basis. I’m proud to support their efforts and hope many more will join the cause.
Judith
Getting Boys to Read has been an inspiration and a form of support to me, not only as a reading teacher but as a parent of a son who needed reading encouragement. From monitoring the comments sent to the FB page, I explored the writing and illustrations of Robert J. Blake, non-fiction materials, and graphic books, such as the Tintin books for use with disinterested or discouraged students.
My state test scores just came in with better results than I’ve ever had! Out of the 39 third graders I am responsible for teaching, 34 obtained advanced standing in reading performance and 6 were rated as proficient. No one failed to achieve proficiency! Better than ever! Thank you for the support, information, discussion, and shared concern for boys learning to read!
Sandy R
I enjoy opportunities to find exciting books for boys–they ARE much more difficult than girls when it comes to reading for fun.
- youth services librarian
Sophie
I am a school librarian and one of my struggle is to get boys to read. Mike McQueen had to courage to open a site where other school librarians can find resources. I applaude him for this intiative. Sophie Blavet. School Library Media Specialist, Morris Plains New Jersey
Jean-Marie
My son is 2. Although he is my second child, he is my first boy. GettingBoysToRead.com has already proven to be a great resource for me. First and foremost it’s taught me to trust my instincts and follow my son’s lead. If he’s into trucks this month, we read about trucks. If he wants to stop reading to play with his trucks, we stop and play. If he wants to find trucks from his collection and match them to the pictures in the book, we match.
GettingBoysToRead.com has taught me that if reading is fun and engaging for my son, then the rest will follow. So far, so good.
I’m so glad I found this website. I plan on it being a first stop for information to help me grown and nurture my little reader. And I already feel better prepared than most for my son’s future school days. I will definitely ensure that there are as many reading materials appealing to boys in his classroom and on his reading lists as there are for girls. Thanks for all the insight. Keep it coming!
Jennifer
Mike, I have three stereotypical boys who read only when necessary. My middle son is beginning to read for pleasure, but only sporadically. I’d love any advice you can give and will check out your website.
Tracy
Hi Mike
I have an 11 yr old son who has had lots of challenges with reading and traditional learning methods.I think in this day and age kids that love techno stuff sound really be supported in that…reading is reading right!? Does not matter if it is in book form anymore.
Liz
I think your site is a wonderful idea. My boys are currently 1 and {almost} 3 and it is a big priority for my husband and I to raise them to love reading and learning. I’m looking forward to getting to “know” you and your site better and getting great tips to raise my little guys to be big readers.
Bindu
Hi Mike, I have gone through your website. It makes an interesting read and the topic sure is of interest to me. I have a 4.5 year old daughter and expecting next one. Getting my daughter interested in reading came naturally as I had introduced books to her at a very early age and now she is avid fan of books. Keep up the good work and good luck to you!
Gina
I love the resources. Great concept! Glad to find you!
Rebecca
Sounds like you’re doing some great work! What a great cause… looking forward to connecting, just added you on Twitter
Michele
Great site Mike. Boys and school/reading IS such an adventure!! They certainly are wired differently than girls. I’ve actually found it easier to teach my boys to read, but harder to get them to really love to read for enjoyment. Best of luck to you.
Jocelyn
I really like your site! What a GREAT idea! My son will look at books for a short period, he walks around the house saying “Book, Book” Now, if I could just get him to sit still long enough to read to him!
Rachel
Great site with very useful information.
Sue
It’s great to see that someone is caring about what boys read and learn.
Tara
I think your website ROCKS!
Diana
I think this is a great goal. Both of my kids are good readers. I think to get boys reading, you have to have parents who take the time to read also. Reading has gone the way of walking. Videos like cars are a much faster way to accomplish the same thing.
Erin
Hi Mike, thanks for sharing your site with me. I’m definitely referring my Dad to your site (he’s a teacher).
Reannon
I have two boys,still younger now, but one coming up on the age of learning to read. I look forward to viewing your site and getting ideas to help!! Thank you!!
Michelle
I know how hard it is to get boys to read, but my husband got my older boy to read by using comic books.
Dolly
I love the concept behind your blog. Fantastic book reviews focused on encouraging boys to read!
Whitney
Hi Mike! I have a boy, and it’s sometimes hard to get him to read. Anyway, I’m glad you are here.
Bridget
Getting boys to read is a particular passion of mine, so it was fun to visit your site. I’ll try to come and visit again.
Katherine
You give me hope. My son hates to read and it has been a struggle. Thanks!
Christina
Your blog is great! I know lots of parents who are struggling to get their boys to read…hiring tutors, etc. mixed success. I don’t know of any blogs like yours.
Liv
Hi Mike – Great mission! I have two boys, a mom who’s an early childhood literacy specialist, so I know the work you’re doing is SO important! Rock on.
Oxana
Hi, Mike.I have three boys and only one as a reader. Worth to say that he is the one who’s ended up at Harvard
Tough job to get other two to read. Little (12 yo) one just finished assigned ;P reading for school in two days and 8 hours! Cheers to all.
Richele
I have a 9 year old boy that I currently homeschool. I looked at your site and I joined! Loved it! I think you are really filling a need. Time to put down the video game controller and pick up a book!
Danielle
I am very interested in your blog and will be checking it out. I am a mother to 3 girls and 1 boy. My girls and I love to read, but my husband is not much of a reader and the little guy is already proving to not care for “storytime”. I am hoping to someday “convert” my husband to reading and I hope my son will also turn out to be a reader. Anyway, I look forward to reading your tips.
Anonymous
I am the mother of two boys, 14 and 11. One is a reader like me, and the younger one just isn’t into it AT ALL!! After the first meeting, I went to the library and got several graphic novels. Now he’s reading past his “lights out” time!
Alexa
I am very impressed with your website. It’s great to see how varied this incredibly important topic can be presented to parents, community, boys and educators.
Kim
As a former reading teacher, I applaud you. Keep up the good work.
Laurie
Hi Mike,
I’m a children’s book author and a mother of a 1st-grade boy. I’ve been following your tweets for awhile and love them. Please keep up the good work!
Anonymous
Saw your post about Black boys not reading. I am very concerned about this issue as a mother of a Black son AND a highly educated Black female working in higher education, specifically an administrator for a public university’s law school. We need to fix this problem or pretty soon there will be no Black men in law school
Sue
Thanks for the GREAT work you’re dooing for kids!! Particularly BOYS – I’ve two grown sons.
Jill P.
I couldn’t stop reading your page- that is fabulouse what you do! My son was not originally a reader and I switched him into a magnet school here in the Cherry Creek schools. It has changed him and now that he is entering middle school he made all of the honors classes. I know what you do makes a difference!
Jill P.
I couldn’t stop reading your page- that is fabulous what you do! My son was not originally a reader and I switched him into a magnet school. It has changed him and now that he is entering middle school he made all of the honors classes. I know what you do makes a difference!
Diana_
I think this is a great goal. Both of my kids are good readers. I think to get boys reading, you have to have parents who take the time to read also. Reading has gone the way of walking. Videos like cars are a much faster way to accomplish the same thing.
Ghee P.
Hi Mike. I’m now a member of your community Getting Boys to Read. Thanks! I love your site.
Angel_
It’s a great website and especially helpful for me and my 2 year old son.
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