This week’s haiku is based on a true story – my son’s true story, actually! He went through a bit of a “no book” phase, where he refused to read anything we offered, claiming that books were just too boring, especially when compared to his favourite Youtube channels, where people raced hot wheels cars and built epic marble runs.
As you can imagine, his words were like a knife right through my poor librarian-heart, but I have never been one to shy away from a challenge, so I made it a personal mission to find books that would entice my reluctant reader.
Enter: The InvestiGATORS.
These absolutely charming graphic novel adventures about a pair of mystery-solving alligator spies were the golden ticket to unlocking my son’s latent love of reading. They’re a bit above his current reading level, but they make for a hilarious co-reading experience, as I love putting on different silly voices for all the different outlandish characters (there’s an octopus named Sven who’s obviously inspired by Karl Lagerfeld, and a chef named Gustavo Mustachio who looks like Super Mario)! There’s a lot of great wordplay, with some fun little asides for grown-ups (a baddy threatens to send a hero to “Davy Jones’ locker” and make a “daydream believer” out of him). There is some cartoonish violence, and moments of real poignancy, and my husband and I both get quite a kick out of reading them with our son – it’s rare to find a kids’ book series that grown ups can enjoy, too!
I’m a firm believer that the majority of people who think that reading in general isn’t for them just haven’t found the right reading material yet – whether that means they should be looking at magazines, newspapers, comic books, essays, short stories, nonfiction, poetry, romance, comedy, adventure, the list goes on and on, and there really is something to read for just about everyone out there!
So, Poetry Friday friends, what are you currently reading?
Rose at Imagine the Possibilities is hosting this week’s Poetry Friday collection!
Jane, my sons went through the same stage. They are now adults who love to read. I agree, it’s about finding the right book. I’m glad your son found The InvestiGators series. My nephews love them!
They’re so much fun! It’s been an eye-opening experience for me, because I was such a bookworm, and grew up in a family of bookworms. It never occurred to me that any child of mine would be any different – just goes to show, parenthood is just one surprise after another!
You are singing my song, sister! There are so many wonderful stories and ways of reading them out there. I love the whole idea of “gator” being smashed with investigation. Fun! Keep up the good work, Librarian-Mum. There are millions of synapses just ready to connect!
Another Linda 😉
Yes! My husband never thought of himself as a reader, but discovering audio books as an adult quite literally changed his life, and opened up so many new worlds to him, it’s beautiful to see how the right format can make all the difference!
Thanks for the tip, Jane. I’m always looking for good books that my grandson will enjoy.
Always happy to help! Readers advisory is one of my favourite parts of my job, I love helping people find the right books for them! 🙂
Wonderful post and haiku Jane! I couldn’t agree more about helping folks find their book. Right now, I’m reading books for the Trans Rights Readathon. I’ve started with the picture book “Not He or She, I’m Me!” by A.M. Wild, a Stonewall Honor Book that is a delightful celebration of a kid just being a kid, regardless of gender.
Oh, I love that book! I love the straightforward way in which children so often accept realities that grown ups can struggle with. I had this conversation with a kid once: Kid: “She (a family friend) has two moms and that’s really confusing.” Me: “Oh? Why is that confusing?” Kid: “Because if she says MOM how will they know which mom she’s talking to?” I explained that she actually had a mom and a mama, and all was well. 😉
I’m here to tell you, as a fully grown adult woman, that I love the DOG MAN books! (Most of them, anyway.) The humor that hits at many levels (all the way to adult), the big themes, the play on classic literature. I even like the flip-o-rama!
Yes! That’s why I love the InvestiGATORS books – the one we read last night had an exchange between characters, where one said “Doctor, doctor!” and the other said “Gimme the news!” and the Robert Palmer song popped right into my head and made me chuckle, much to my son’s confusion. 😀
Kids at my school love InvestiGators too!! I’m currently reading too many books, but the one in my purse is EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS by John Green.
I’ve got a hold on that one!! The wait list is so long, but I’m really excited for it.
Love this story and your haiku! My middle daughter went through a similar stage. She was a “later” reader (my translation: every kid grows into it in their own time and their own way) and I think it was a defense mechanism. Once reading clicked for her, she became a voracious reader. And I agree with you — there’s something for everyone!
Oh, I absolute get that – that was me with biking. I “didn’t want to”, when in reality I was really struggling to get the hang of it and was so embarrassed. We all grow at our own pace, but when it feels like everyone is getting it ahead of you, it can be tough!!
I’m late – because I was out of the country and internet was very hard to come by! But I did just want to pop in now that I’m home again and play catch-up. And I’ve got to say, I love that concept; The InvestiGators. Very clever!! I hope it’s the start of many more grand reading adventures for your son.