Guys Read
Guys Read, a web-based literacy program for boys whose mission is ‘to help boys become self-motivated, lifelong readers’ by bringing attention to the issue, promoting the expansion of what we call ‘reading’ to include materials like comic books, and encouraging grown men to be literacy role models. Scieszka says, “It kind of came out of my experience both as growing up a guy, for starters, and then going into elementary school teaching, where I found that the guy sensibility isn't really appreciated there, mostly that the world of elementary school is probably like 85% women -- teachers and librarians.” As for how exactly to motivate boys to read more, Scieszka says. “I think the best way to do it is to give them things they like to read... What we haven't done with boys is we haven't really given them a broad range of reading. In schools, what's seen as reading is so narrow: it's literary, realistic fiction.”
The Guys Read website includes a large list of “books that guys read”, instructions as to how to start your own Guys Read “field office” (or book club), a blog, and links to many boy-loved authors’ websites.
Guys Write for Guys Read, the first book to come out of the nonprofit, is a compilation that features over eighty essays from noted authors who shared stories from their own childhoods. In 2010 Scieszka began editing a series of Guys Read books that are grouped by genre. The first was humor "Guys Read: Funny Business", the second is horror "Guys Read: Thriller". More are in the works.
Read more about this topic: Jon Scieszka
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