Suggestions for an able 6 year old reader with a short attention span

Anybody got any suggestions. My son is 6 years old and an able reader and can normally concentrate at a task for ages but, whilst he loves being read to, seems uninterested in putting the effort into independent reading at home. Have tried him on Astrosaurs and Roald Dahl amongst others but while he starts off well, and chuckled through the beginning of The Twits, he's not yet shown the perseverance to keep reading past the first few chapters. Shorter humorous books that he can finish in fewer nights may appeal to him more. I don't want to force the issue and turn reading into a chore. He loves to hear stories, has the reading skill and I really want to inspire a love of reading in him. Anybody got any good suggestions that may inspire him? Many thanks.

You could start on some shorter books which he could get to the end of pretty quickly such as Alan Ahlberg's "The Man Who Wore All His Clothes" or Jeremy Strong's "My Brother's Famous Bottom". Then ease him in to longer books which you can read out loud and then let him continue reading himself. I found Cressida Cowell's Hiccup series great for that with the kids and I fighting over who got to keep reading them and eventually fighting over who got to read them first. Then try Lari Don's First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts which also reads very well out loud and is very pacy and exciting, a real page turner. If you can take him along to see an author who does good book festival events. I took my kids to see lari Don at the Edinburgh Book Festival and they were blown away.

Agree with suggestion re Jeremey Strong as books are humerous. Also recommend Horrid Henry - any of these books by Francesca Simon.
However when I introduced my daughter to longer books from picture books - I read a chapter to her, she then read a chapter on her own and then told me what happened - I then read the next chapter and so on.

Its a great way to enjoy a story together especially if they find the prospect of reading a non-picture book daunting!

My Grandson loves 'I Can read books' and DK Readers, try these as they are only short books and keep their attention.

Keep reading to him, a bedtime read etc. I was still reading to my son bedtime books until he was about 11 and when I'd gone downstairs, he would continue reading himself for a while.

When he was little I often chose short story books. You can get them via Amazon, for age 6, age 7 etc. Some are funny stories. The stories are often only a few pages long and then start another story. You could encourage him to read those and read them with him, taking turns. E.g. Funny stories for Six Year Olds - Helen Paiba

He is only 6, so perhaps he would like more involved picture books, i.e less text than a chapter book, but more text than a toddler's picture book; something he can look at as well as read.

Hiccup is a good read aloud book, as it involves lots of shouting.

Have a look at Red House books online. It gives you books in age ranges and you may get some more ideas from there. You can then always order via Amazon.

Good luck, and keep reading.

Try some books with less text to get him hooked on the pleasure/fun of reading, e.g. Horrible Histories, Captain Underpants. Also non-fiction. This is a common problem with wee boys but try not to get uptight about it. Hard, I know!

Try going old school with things like Spike Milligan's Silly Verse For Kids, or the Thomas the Tank Engine series - nice small books - or, if you can find it in the library, Wumpus by Elleston Trevor. These are all books that have survived from my childhood, been read by my son, and are now being enjoyed by another generation.
Cheers

I agree with Mrs Evans review - reading together is a great idea. 'I Don't Believe It, Archie!' by Andrew Norriss is another possibility. Very funny stories with great illustrations. You want to keep reading to find out what happens next & the stories aren't too long. I Don't Believe It, Archie!

Ralphie The Racing Driver is about an exciting car race and has been used in school for 4 to 8 year olds to encouage interest and development in reading. It could also encourage story telling and develop ideas for writing! As a retired teacher I know how important it is to encourage a love of liiteracy and I am sure your enthusiasm is showing through. Good luck to you both and enjoy! Ralphie the Racing Driver is to be found in Kindle store or can be downloaded to a computer.

Try the 'Robber Child' only £1.50 by Jasper Sleeman-Hiscock

Fred and Harry Story Book 1 has just been launched with two short stories ideal for boys your sons age. Hopefully a story that contains some slapstick comedy will make him enjoy reading before he moves on to longer books. There are a lot more Fred and Harry stories coming soon if he likes them.Fred and Harry Stories - 1

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Try the Dr Suess books, funny, rhyming and illustrated e.g. How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Other Stories

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Hi

Try the Little Zero and The Ball That Bounced by Carl Ashcroft of the Storytelling Emporium.

They are short at about 4000 words each

Marie-Anne

Go back to picture books - try Voices in the Park by anthony browne. This book will encourage him to sit and discuss all of the hidden messages in the story and the pictures.
Try a comic or two aswell - he doesn't have to read books remember to develop a love of reading.
He might enjoy books like Nudie Dudie by Michael Lawrence - or Bill's New Frock by Anne Fine

New childrens book Henry the Horse by author Eric Pullin makes for a lovley little story with full colour illustrations. It is written in simple verse style. There is not many Horsey stories out there, so may be something different to read.
Henry the Horse

Why not try sharing the reading with him? He reads a bit, you read a bit to him...
The Rainbows and the Secrets is about a naughty boy and some monkeys with a short attention span, so he may be interested.The Rainbows and the Secrets
Also available on KindleThe Rainbows and the Secrets

The Beast Quest books are supposed to be aimed at 6+ children who are reluctant readers. Try those. Read some to him at bedtime and get him to read one ot two pages to you. Whatever you do don't force the issue. Just keep reading to him and interesting him in stories. He's obviously not ready to read longer books to himself as yet. I used to get my son story compliations amongst other books e.g. Stories for 6 year olds etc., as they were good for bedtime reading. Perhaps those type of books of short stories would be good to try him on reading.

Walker Books do a series of books with 3 linked short stories, specifically designed for children starting to read independantly and progressing to longer chapter books. The range is called "Walker Stories". My 7 year old son has really enjoyed "Parrot Park" and "The King's Shopping", in this series. Other good transition books are the Gaskitt family books by Allan Ahlberg ("The Children Who Smelled a Rat", The Man Who Wore All His Clothes" etc). They are genuinely funny and easy to read. Alan Ahlberg's Happy Family series are also suitable for this age group (Mrs Wobble the Waitress, Master Money the Millionaire, Mr Biff the Boxer etc). My son has now moved onto the Alfie Green books, by Joe O'Brien, the Horrid Henry books by Francesca Simon and Mr Majeika books by Humphrey Carpenter. However he still re-reads many of his "old" picture books and gets pleasure now from being able to read them himself. I read to him every evening and he has hugely enjoyed listening to the "How to Train your Dragon" books on CD. They are brilliantly read by David Tennant. They would still be a bit difficult for my son to tackle on his own, but are perfectly accessible on audiobook. Best of luck.

Try the Geronimo Stilton range of books that are available on Amazon. The main character is a mouse called Geronimo Stilton and he is a newspaper editor and author who writes a story about each of the adventures he goes on. The books are fantastically illustrated - lots of maps, colourful pictures and key words in the text are printed in different typefaces to make the books really interesting. There are about 50 paperback titles to choose from and new ones are coming out all the time. My son is 8 and a half, we have been reading these for about 18 months and he has thoroughly enjoyed them.

I just wrote a short chapter book. It's currently on Kindle, and available on Lulu.com.
It's called "Pigeon Tales; the Forbidden Tower". The nature of the book might suit, because it's an adventure story with short chapters (maybe one per night?), but also quite innocent and (forgive the expression) old-school in it's morale, and that it's a story about a little pigeon off to rescue his sister.
I think it's suitable for children who are starting to read chapter books, but also for parents to read to their younger children on a chapter/night basis.

Good luck!

p.s. please excuse the shameless self-promotion - the economy.. etc etc :)

I teach primary children and am a mum too, so have come across lots of boys, particularly, who are capable but reluctant independent readers, and it's great to see them develop a love of reading for themselves. I would recommend 'Horrid Henry' too if he likes funny stories, but would also recommend the Jack Stalwart series of adventures (a bit like Alex Rider secret agent but for much younger children). They contain an exciting story each time, but also have lots of factual stuff in about a different country each time, which appeals to boys especially. I have seen a lot of boys take of on these two categories. It's stil good to keep reading to him too though at this age.

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Try him on the ebook Football is Fantastic! My boy at 7 loved it! With 5 easy length chapters, it's not a daunting read and is so funny you can't put it down.