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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 7; suggested age 7.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Book site for "guys" assures boys that reading is cool.

On this site kids can:   buy stuff, do research, learn about a specific topic

Why We Rated This on for Ages 7 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    For parents, the site offers some troubling statistics about boys and reading, balanced by some possible reasons for the problem and practical solutions. For boys, the site suggests hundreds of books, magazines and comics broken out into "guy"-friendly categories like ghosts and dragons. Scattered throughout are This Guy Reads sidebars, in which various male authors discuss their favorite books. Complementary outside links celebrating the "guy lifestyle" include National Geographic Kids and Books on Tape.

  • User-created content:

    Kids can't post anything but they can suggest a book by filling out an online form, rate listed books on a five-star scale from "okay" to "the best," and print out their own Guys Read bookmarks and bookplates.

  • Messages:

    Sometimes guys have trouble reading but that doesn't mean boys aren't smart or that they should give up trying to master an essential life skill. By showing that plenty of cool guys like books -- in fact, have made careers of writing -- and urging kids to start their own informal Guys Read chapters, the site can help boys develop the confidence they need to find their reading groove.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    This not-for-profit site, funded by the author and other writers, has no ads. However, it does sell T shirts, baseball caps and skateboards emblazoned with the Guys Read logo and includes links to online stores  where kids can buy recommended books, including some of the author's own work.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

How safe is it?

  • Personal privacy:

    Not an issue.

  • Online interaction:

    Not an issue.

  • Parental controls:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Guys Read

Parents need to know this impressive new literacy site for boys was created by father, former elementary school teacher and children's author Jon Scieszka, who wrote the best-selling fractured fairytale The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs. Basically a reading list for boys who don't like to read, the site's goal is to help instill a love for books by appealing to boys' special interests. Except for a handful of books by female authors, including uber-guy writer J.K. Rowling, the site is an all-male club. Some parents might object to this and the inclusion of a war category. But it's hard to argue with Scieszka's statistics and the need to help boys read better. This site is safe and fun for guys -- and gals -- of all ages to explore, ideally with parents who can help them choose a good book.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Some kids think reading isn't very important because they don't plan to go to college or use books in their jobs. Discuss why this is flawed thinking and all the ways we use reading every day, both practically and to enhance our lives.
  • Some educators believe that one reason boys dislike reading is because they can't relate to the feelings and emotions present in most popular fiction. Do kids ever feel happy, scared, angry or sad when they read? Discuss what triggers these feelings and why it's OK.
  • Books make for great family discussions about all sorts of issues. Take, for instance, the teachable moments in Harry Potter.
Tools and tips that can help

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