Reluctant readers want action, adventure and fun but not Harry Potter, according to a survey of teachers and parents.
While such staples as Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown and Northern Lights by Philip Pullman have been voted into the top five books for their age range, nei
ther the Harry Potter nor the Tracy Beaker series made it.
The survey of 1,300 adults more than two-thirds of them teachers was run by the website Lovereading4schools and the National Literacy Trust.
Julia Eccleshare, a children’s book consultant who is helping to draw up the final lists for the website, said: “What’s interesting, but not surprising, is the books which attract readers are also the kind which attract boys. They are looking for a story that grabs you immediately, with action and drama.
“The list for seven-year-olds shows how important humour isfor children who have just started reading. It is the least gender-specific. But the 11-plus list is almost all for boys: Alex Rider, Young Bond and the Cherub books are about boy action heroes. Harry Potter is not necessarily a book for a reluctant reader.”
* www.lovereading4schools.co.uk
