Tweens and Teens Favorite Book Sets

Finding the right books for our tweens and teens to be interested in may take some effort on the part of every parent. Why not give them what they already like to read so they will develop a good habit of reading?

When my nephews were growing up they would spend many weekends with us. They knew that we were avid readers and encouraged reading. Being a teacher made it possible for me to keep up with the reading materials children needed for each grade level, and so I stocked up on those kinds of books.

I have highlighted some of the books that are very popular with children in their tweens and teens, from silly to serious. Often times when a child likes a particular book they will follow along with a series, which promotes a healthy reading lifestyle.

Let's face it; in order for our youth to be able to function in this world, they need to know how to read. Provide an environment in your home that will help your children establish a pattern for daily reading.

Select several sets and encourage your kids to read more with these proven favorites among children.

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Every night before going to bed we have a tradition of reading. So when our nephews began spending oodles of time with us, especially on weekends, we encouraged them to do the same.

Our home has always had a library - one for children and one for adults. It was filled with our favorites from childhood through adulthood. To help encourage reading, we stocked the shelves with books in all different categories and interests so that each child would find something fascinating enough to actually read.

We started off with my husband primarily reading from the Bible story book when they were really young, and eventually branching out to some of his favorites. When he got to the more scary stories I slipped out of the room with them laughing as I made my exit.

The range of materials was vast leading from history to present, classic to prehistoric, sad to funny. When they didn't feel like reading something heavy, they would at least do word finds, fill in the blanks, finish the story and crossword puzzles. One of the favorites was to finish a story adding nouns, verbs, adverbs or adjectives. We would do them together and make up the funniest stories and read them to one another. So, in reality, they still read!

Whatever method you choose to get your kids to read, encourage them with a variety of things to chose from in your own reading library. Turn off the television, turn off the radio, Internet or video game and turn them on to good old fashioned reading - it will never go out of style.

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Every year I assigned my students eight book reviews to complete. They could be in video, play, hanging mobile, report or diorama form.

Some of my classes selected the books from the Narnia Chronicles series. Even though they could only do one report on the series, many of them continued reading through the entire line of books by writer and scholar C.S. Lewis.

Each of his stories have an underlying theme that wars against good and evil. Although the books are based on fiction and fantasy, Lewis uses biblical theory in getting the message that good will overtake wrong doing in the end.

Get involved with your child's learning and read with them. Discover The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, where the children climb into the clothes wardrobe entering the fantasy world of Narnia. The adventures continue on in this fictitional land for the entire series.

The full movie of the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. Where animals talk and good overtakes evil.

Items that are included in the gift box sets that go along with the Chronicles of Narnia Book series..

Character Lucy's episodes in the Chronicles series.

Trailer for the new movie from the Chronicles of Narnia series. The adventure continues on the open sea.

Review of all the books in the series ending with the final battle.

If you are familiar with the C.S.Lewis books, you know that there have been dolls, toys, games and other items made to bring out the characters in his books. Many have bought these items for their Barbie, My American Girl or American Girl dolls. However, because they are delicate, I would not encourage these replica items for "play", but to be used as display props for a collectors series.

Each set has a different miniature replica set that is fashioned after the story and comes in an attractive gift box. Help bring the characters and story to life using these gifts with the books.

It may seem funny, but I was first introduced to these books by one of my tenth grade students named Gary. Every month the classes would have the opportunity to purchase books from the Scholastic or Troll Book clubs. He couldn't wait for the next volume to come out, and would pester me until his selections came in that month. Over time his interest in the series enticed some other students, and he was the one that got the boys reading.

If you have a young man that doesn't have an inkling as to what good literature is, try giving them one of these books. These are not easy reads, but will take them to places in their imagination that is beyond their everyday thinking. I can assure you that they will not be disappointed.

When my sister was a young girl she would read so many books that were part of a series. I can remember her reading mysteries, romances, fiction, non-fiction and practically anything. One series that stood out in my mind was Nancy Drew.

I cannot really speak for the boys, but I know that they like the Hardy Boys mysteries as much as the girls like Nancy Drew. As we grew older, our tastes in reading may have matured, but our love for the classics that got us hooked on books hasn't changed.

The story of orphan children who live in a red boxcar as they try to keep the family together.

I remember purchasing some of this set for my classroom and home children’s library. At the time many of my 7th graders were reading these books, mainly because they were introduced to them back in their lower grades through reading programs.

The first book is a heart-warming story of orphan children who run away from their horrible grandfather, in order to stay together as a family. They finally find solace in lowly red train box car, and that’s where it all begins. From there we are invited to engage in their travels, escapades, troubles and celebrations along their mystery trail in life.

In celebration of their 70th year in print, the first six books have had a facelift – an attractive redesign of their covers.

When my nephew was first learning about words and picture associations to those words, he discovered the Waldo books. Learning to read was difficult for him, so finding this series made books fun, because they were mostly interactive with few words on a page.

Any child will like this set, but it is a good introduction to books for kids that really don’t like reading. The pictures are fun, trying to find Waldo isn’t always easy either. It’s a perfect series for several reading levels (and even adults like them).

This is the only series that has these titles in one boxed set. You will get these titles in a slipcase cover, making it easy to house the books in one place.

Where’s Waldo; Where’s Waldo Now?; Where’s Waldo? The Wonder Book; Where’s Waldo? In Hollywood and Where’s Waldo? The Great Picture Hunt.

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