During the month of March, Dr. Lettie Albright answered your questions about reading across content areas!

Read her response to question 3 below.

Question 3:
Hello Lettie,
My son is in fourth grade, and he has very little interest in reading. He has always struggled with reading, but now I really want to make sure that he catches up to his classmates. It seems typical that he has no interest in reading at his age, but I really do want to encourage him to read. He is very interested in animals and nature. Can you suggest any books or magazines on these topics that might encourage him to read?
Thank you for your suggestions,
Sarah Inez, MN

Response from Dr. Albright:
Dear Sarah,

You're on the right track to encouraging your son's reading! Finding reading materials on topics that match his interests is one of the best ways to encourage him to read. If the material is not only related to his interests but also fairly easy for him to read, you'll be even further along the track. One magazine that might grab his attention is Zoobooks, which devotes each issue to one featured animal. (They also have a wonderful website at http://www.zoobooks.com/.) The Cricket Magazine Group also publishes engaging magazines for children. Two that might interest your son are Spider and Ask, which are both geared to ages six to nine. He also might enjoy Click, a Cricket magazine about science and exploration. Even though it's geared to ages three to seven, it could be very appropriate for him to read on his own. Other magazines to investigate are Kids Discover, National Geographic Kids, and Ranger Rick.

In addition to magazines, there are many nonfiction books for young readers about animals and nature that grab children's attention because of the colorful way they are written and illustrated. For example, Gail Gibbons's numerous books, including Monarch Butterfly, Bats, Spiders, From Seed to Plant, and The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree, are full of fascinating information both in the text and in the illustrations. The Magic School Bus series is also a popular one with children.

Let your son read these books and magazines in a low-pressure atmosphere. If he tends to look at the pictures and not the text, don't discourage this. Encourage him to discuss them with you and share important and interesting information he finds in the pictures and in the labels and captions that accompany them. Encourage him to come up with more questions about the topic and read the text to find the answers. This will encourage him to read with a purpose in mind, which may make him more eager to read.
Don't forget about reading material other than books and magazines. If you see an article in the newspaper about animals or nature, share it with your son. When he opens a new video game, or a "bug-catching kit," help him read the directions. Surf the Internet for sites about animals and nature.

Remember, too, that you can read aloud to him. Children don't stop enjoying being read to when they can read on their own.

• Zoobooks, Wildlife Education Ltd. 9820 Willow Creek Road, San Diego 92131-1112
• Cricket: http://www.cricketmag.com/shop_magzines.asp
• Kids Discover, 170 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10012-3999
• National Geographic Kids, National Geographic Society, 17th and M Streets, NW Washington, DC 20036
• Ranger Rick, National Wildlife Federation, 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22184-0001