Promote Life-Long Reading With Authentic Literature
Keep Out: No Boys Allowed!
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Elementary
Middle School
High School
Keep Out: No Girls Allowed!
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Elementary
Middle School
High School
Research
A study published in 2006 by the Journal of Literacy Research notes most young readers have noticeable preferences for specific genres of books. The report, written by Kathleen A. J. Mohr of the University of North Texas, also noted studies have shown gender often plays a role in the types of stories children like to read. For example, girls prefer stories with female protagonists and story lines dealing with family, friendships, and home life. Boys prefer stories with humor, crime, sports, war, adventure, and featuring a male protagonist.These noted preferences have been deliberated as a possible product of society's gender pressures or physiological differences between boys and girls. Is it realistic to assume no girl will find a book featuring a male protagonist interesting? Of course not, and the same could be said in the reverse scenario. Since each may enjoy reading different material, educators must remain aware of the preferences that do exist and make available a cross-selection of the various genres.
In an effort to promote increased recreational reading, we offer the title listings above as interesting selections for boys and for girls.