I Don't Like to Read - Hardcover

Nancy Carlson has written and illustrated many beloved books for young readers. She lives with her family in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Henry, the protagonist of four previous picture books, including Henry's 100 Days of Kindergarten (2005) and First Grade, Here I Come! (2006), likes listening to stories, but he finds it very hard to learn to read. Soon, he declares, reading is "boring" and "dumb." His teacher and his parents provide extra help over a period of time and, when a literary emergency comes along (a babysitter takes a long phone call in the middle of a good story), he finds that he can read after all. Brightened with cheerful colors, Carlson's line drawings clearly express Henry's feelings as he faces and begins to conquer the challenging task of learning to read. Though it's clear from the pictures that Henry's father, mother, and teacher are unhappy to hear his negative opinions of reading, they don't contradict, coax, or lecture him, but help him quietly and let him make the breakthrough on his own. Some parents may shy away from the title, but this down-to-earth picture book reflects the frustrations of many children who find reading difficult. Phelan, Carolyn