Young Reading

Besides picture books, the bulk of books that cross my desk are girl-centric. There are great books for readers under the age of 8 for both genders -- action-packed, colorful, vibrant fiction and non-fiction books. But when it comes to books for middle and young-adult readers, the scales tip decidedly in favor of girly reads. So when Jon Scieszka (the zany author of The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs and The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales) started his Guys Read program (www.guysread.com) online, guys (young and older) were given a great gift, because guys can and should enjoy books. The trick to get boys reading, as with any reader, is finding the right books to unlock the joy books yield.

JON SCIESZKA PRESENTS GUYS WRITE FOR GUYS READ: Boys' Favorite Authors Write about Being Boys! Viking. Ages 11 and up. 272 pages. $11.99.

This collection of 92 short essays and stories by writers and illustrators is great place to get started. The foreword and first story by Scieszka are hysterical (he is one of six boys, his poor mom), and the entire book is chock-full of stuff any reader at any age will enjoy. The short, one-sitting selections provide a good way to introduce non-readers to the joy of laugh-out-loud written entertainment.

THE CURIOUS BOY'S BOOK OF ADVENTURE: 100 Hijinks & Escapades. By Sam Martin. Penguin. Ages 8 and up. 160 pages. $15.

What a fun guidebook to all things adventurous! Grab this book and choose a different quest to try each day. In five chapters featuring exploring, hunting, experimenting, building and playing, readers can figure out how to splice a rope, find north without a compass, fish, crush a soda can using only water, build a pinhole camera or master skipping rocks on the water's surface. The world becomes brighter with this book to guide a boy's summer days.

Also check out these books with a similar theme:

THE CURIOUS BOY'S BOOK OF EXPLORATION: 100 Challenges, Puzzles & Experiments. By Sam Martin. Penguin. Ages 8 and up. 160 pages. $15.

FOR BOYS ONLY: The Biggest, Baddest Book Ever. By Marc Aronson and HP Newsquist. Ages 7-12. 240 pages. $14.95.

BRINGING THE BOY HOME. By N.A. Nelson. HarperCollins. Ages 8-12. 211 pages. $15.99.

In the Amazon jungle in the secret Takumnami tribe, two boys verge on turning 13. Luka's mother holds nothing back to prepare her son for his coming-of-age test, the "soche seche tente." She disregards her other children's needs and feelings to ensure Luka's success. Tirio, the second boy, now lives with an American anthropologist who found him floating down the mighty river after he was cast out of the Takumnami tribe because of his crippled foot. When Sara takes him back to the Amazon for his 13th birthday, Tirio knows he must slip away and find his tribe before his birthday to truly become a man. A wonderful read with as many twists and surprises as the Amazon River.

ALVIN HO: Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things. By Lenore Look. Random House. Ages 6-10. 172 pages. $15.99.

Poor second-grade Alvin is afraid of almost everything. His fright keeps him from speaking at school, although he manages just fine at home (by pretending to be Firecracker Man and through his hero worship of his father, who Alvin thinks is part superhero). Alvin will go to any length to become friends with the boys at school -- only he discovers that isn't exactly all it is cracked up to be. A perfect read for reluctant readers, Alvin Ho is funny, sensitive and right on target for its intended audience.

Have superhero wannabes in your house? Investigate:

THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ORDINARY BOY (series). By William Boniface. HarperCollins. Ages 8-12. $6.99.

BOYS OF STEEL: The Creators of Superman. By Marc Tyler Nobleman. Knopf. Ages 6-9. $16.99.

BATMAN: The Story of the Dark Knight. By Ralph Cosentino. Penguin. Ages 3 and up. $15.99.

LITTLE BOY. By Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds. Simon & Schuster. All ages. $15.99.

This is the book you buy to take to the baby shower of any parent about to have a little boy. Like a chorus, the text echoes "Little boy, so much depends on" and goes on to list the quirky little things in life that make boys tick. "Little boy, so much depends on a puddle to jump, sand to dump, truck down the hall, pencil lines that mark how tall and ... your big cardboard box." Precious and full of the sentiment "Little boy, you remind me how so much depends on days made of now."

A COUPLE OF BOYS HAVE THE BEST WEEK EVER. By Marla Fraze. Harcourt. Ages 6-9. $16.

When James and Eamon go to visit Eamon's grandparents at the beach for a week, they have the "best week ever." Pam and Bill, the grandparents, have put together a week of "nature camp" for the boys. When at last the boys truly discover nature, they have the best night of their week away from home.

■ Monica Young can be reached at cyoung9@triad.rr.com.