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Visual Books for reluctant readers
If your child is having trouble reading then they may be a visual learner and could respond to books that have more images than text.
There is no doubt that children learn in their own time. Some children may be reading fluently by the age of seven whilst others can struggle with basic text for sometime before something "clicks".
The best way to encourage your child to enjoy books without pressuring them to necessarily read is to give them alternative books that are visual or have an interactive element. Here are a few examples:
Comics
Comics went through a stage back in the 1950s where they were regarded as the scourge of childhood delinquency. Opinions have changed and indeed so have comics. There are some wonderful comics or graphic novels that can encourage kids to become interested in reading without forcing them to read the words in order to get the gist of the story.
By telling the story in sequential pictures, readers can understand the basic flow of the story from the action, from facial expressions and other visual cues. For beginner, or emerging readers check out titles like Bone by Jeff Smith or The Dreamland Chronicles by Scott Christian Sava. Both are wonderful fantasy tales with highly engaging graphics.
Interactive Books
Leapfrog has been in the Interactive book game for a number of years. Their Leappad system was highly successful and their latest interactive book system, the Tag Reader, has recently won toy of the year for 2009.
Using a battery operated pen "reader" the system interacts with words and pictures on specially designed books, not only reading words but also encouraging comprehension through games. Books are available for younger readers but also for those who have come late to reading and may be into franchises like Ben 10 or Star Wars.
Both styles of book are highly recommended to help your reluctant reader develop a love for books, even before they feel comfortable reading.
