So, I hate to admit it here, but my youngest is not the best reader. He got just to the level he was supposed to be at when he ended kindergarten,  (which is begining first grade level here) , but barely and he struggles. The problem I am having is that the books at the public library in the easy reader section are all what he would consider "baby" books - Barney, Sesame Street and the like. Or they are about princesses. LOTS of princess books written at a first grade level, it seems...

He likes Pokemon, Superman, Kung Fu Panda, and stuff like that. He also likes animal books, but again, I'm having trouble finding these at his level that aren't geared toward a 2-3 year old. ARGH. My older son was a much better reader and was probably at this stage for just a few weeks, to be honest. He was at a second grade level by the end of kinder, so all his old books are too hard for L.  <sigh>   I'm hesitant to order them on here or elsewhere online b/c I've done that a few times and gotten a book that was way above his level and I had to read to him. I'm needing some books he can read that are interesting to him or at least not "baby" or "girl" books. Anyone have any recommendations?  I am making him read 30 minutes a day - in 2 15-min. segments every day this summer trying to keep him from falling behind and I'm so tired of struggling to just get him started. Then there is the struggle to help him remember the words he remembered yesterday. I probably should get him a tutor, but we just can't afford it right now.

Have you tried the "Frog and Toad" (and other) books by Arnold Lobel?  The stories are very simple and wonderful.  Even adults love them (OK , at least I love them).  They are classics and not baby books.

Kudos to you for reading with your budding reader!  SOme children just take longer to get the hang of it but catch up later.  If there are continuing struggles you may want to have him tested for dyslexia?? (I'm by no means an expert on this).  Lots of hugs to your sweet boy who is trying so hard!  I'm sure he is a blessing.

Eileen

I likeMargaret Hillert's books, our library has a lot of them.  I don't think they'd be too babyish for him.

Thanks. I'll see if I can find some books by those authors to try!

I have a 6yo rising 1st grader and have books that he has read through on my bookshelf. they aren't the pop culture ones that you mentioned because he woudl never give them up no matter how babyish. however he also loves the ones that I have but is moving on to the magic treehouse and thinsg like that so i thought i'd swap these. again not pop culture but they are fun.