Naked Reading: Uncovering What Tweens Need to Become Lifelong Readers

by Teri S. Lesesne

Naked Reading was inspired by the author's ten-year-old granddaughter, whose frequent practice of spending time after a shower air-drying in the privacy of the bathroom, so she can continue reading an engrossing book, made Teri Lesesne curious about what makes some tweens avid readers while others elect not to read or become dormant readers.

Not yet fully young adults, but—as they are quick to tell you—no longer “little kids,” these nine-to-fourteen-year-olds are at a stage where every day brings new emotions and physical growth, when habits become ingrained, and when tastes are established.

For teachers, the tween years can be the best and worst of times. While some fourth-to-ninth-graders come to see books as a lifeline for understanding a changing world, too many experience “the fourth-grade slump”—a marked decline in interest and achievement in reading. Without help, many become middle and high school students who have stopped reading for pleasure, and only slog through what is assigned.

Teri draws on her extensive experience as a teacher and consultant to examine ways that educators can help interest kids in books and keep them reading during this crucial period. She looks at:


developmental attributes of tweens;
emerging interests for tweens;
themes and plots tweens find most engaging;
annotations for scores of children's and YA literature most appropriate for tweens;
practical classroom activities for sparking tween engagement in reading.
As in her previous book, Making the Match, Naked Reading is loaded with specific titles to help you connect kids with books that will interest them the most.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching, Adult, Professional Development, Library Science, Librarianship

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2006

Reviews

[Donalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart research that supports teachers, librarians, and students. Includes extensive booklists of titles that appeal to tweens and teens. (reread)

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is to tween readers what Kelly Gallagher's "Readicide" is to high school. A complete must-read for anyone teaching grades 6-9, with residual good ideas for 10-12. I particularly liked ch.5, with lists of alternatives for book reports.

[jacky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly younger in focus than I have taught, but much of it is transferable. Long recommendation list at end.

[Brandon O'Neill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though the title is, shall we say, "titilating", this is a professional book about "uncovering what tweens need to become lifelong readers".
What tweens prefer to read - subliterature (comics, magazines, series books), nonfiction, horror, suspense and the supernatural, humor and mystery.
Motivating readers - hearing a book read aloud, choice in what they read and being able to buy a book at a book fair.
Keith Lance (2004) "How well students perform on state assessments is correlated to the strength of the school library and its personnel".
Following up - Acrostic using book title, A-Z (2 letters get a square, name people, ideas, things from book), an annotation, chalk outline, genre exchange, logs to blogs, Sticky note poetry, power point booktalks, shelf markers and shelf talkers, SWBST - somebody wanted but so then, ugly book contest.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bookaday #49. I fear there is no easy answer for my quest to find ways to transition third graders from picture book readers to confident chapter book readers. Chapter 5 has a great list of un-book reports that I need to share with reading teachers. Also, the poem on pg 88 about the reader on the train is for all of us: being a reading model for children, you never know when they are listening and looking and how it will impact them.

[Abby Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lesesne offers some solid advice about connecting tweens (here defined as kids in grades 4-8) with books. She includes ideas for finding books that tweens will like and ideas for connecting tweens with books. Although the book is more tailored to a reading/English teacher than to a librarian, I still came away with some ideas for my library.

[Salsabrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best for reading teachers (I like the ideas for book report alternatives) but useful for librarians, too. What kids surveyed want to read: comics/graphic novels, magazines, series, NF, horror/suspense/supernatural, humor, mystery.

[Jenna Idenward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrible name (it refers to her granddaughter’s practice of extending the time after her shower so she could exploit the only quiet room in the house to read), but worthwhile book. I didn’t find much new information, though I think that speaks more to the quality of my colleagues and my teacher preparation program than anything negative about this book.

[Anne Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lesesne shares research and practical strategies to build capacity in tween reading. The book lists are a wonderful springboard for classroom libraries and book talks.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, full of fantastic ideas for inspiring readers and encouraging non-readers to give reading a try. Would love to see an updated 2020 edition.

[Sheila Bracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came out during my three year break from teaching. I’ve been trying to catch up while keeping up w/ my professional reading since. It’s not new info; best practice means giving kids choice in what to read & time to read. It also means modeling what good readers do. 4/5

[Toby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I thought Elizabeth Bird's Children's Literature Gems was going to be. A few statements I highlighted: in re: 'canned' reading programs (i.e. AR): "There is nothing you can buy that will create a reader except the right book for that child." A 10-year-old who comments "I like to finish books but not start them." [I get that! but never actually thought about it before:]. Research-based stages of reading development (or the reading continuum, as I've thought of it): "unconscious delight, reading autobiographically, reading for vicarious experiences, reading for philosophical speculation, and reading for aesthetic experience" or, as a 6th grader once told me, reading to be carried away. There is also a chapter on reader response, or un-book report ideas and an appendix of 100 annotated book suggestions for tweens. A readable, user-friendly and recommended professional resource.

[Ms. Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This "skinny" book with a provacative title, had a lot of good information for educators about motivating tweens (ages 10-14) to become life-long readers. In particular, Lesesne highlights the importance of using read alouds in the classroom to pique student interest, as well as allowing students to choose their own reading material and also the importance of students owning books of their own. Additionally, Lesesne advocates providing children with opportunities to talk about the books they are or have read. Other topics found in Naked Reading that teachers will appreciate include a chapter on assessments of reading that don't involve the traditional book report and a lengthy appendix of great books for tweens which is sure to delight any teacher who takes pride in maintaining their classroom library.

[Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, the obvious, what an unfortunate title! The author does explain why she used the phrase "naked reading" for the title, her daughter often read books after getting out of the shower and got so lost in them that she forgot to get dressed, but it's still awful. I kept trying to read this at the desk, but slyly hide the cover, because "tween" and "naked" are words that I don't like seeing together. I didn't learn much from it either, many of the suggestions are rather obvious, like going over the basics of a reader's advisory interview or suggesting sports and adventure titles for reluctant readers. Perhaps maybe this would be more helpful for parents of tweens, but I bet many of them won't pick up the book because of the ridiculous title.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garnering great suggestions and reading tips for my "tweens" at school. My population is a challenge when it comes to books and this treasure from Cherylann has some great ideas!....

Love this book. Teri S. Lesesne is wonderful and makes the entire subject one I want to explore--even after grading summer reading projects, finishing memoirs and a department meeting!!

I hope to discuss some of these ideas with Cherylann and Carol, as my students would be open to the variety of creative options for reading assessment.

I hope to put a few directly in to action, and I soooooo appreciate Cherylann putting this book in my hands!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lesesne offers guidance to teachers about how to engage and motivate tweens to become lifelong readers. Though I feel that this book is geared more towards a classroom teacher, it's still practical information for a teacher librarian (i.e. school librarian)-to-be, like me. What I wish is that the author had a list of books by subject, rather than just a bibliography of 100+ titles in the appendix. In all, though, this is a good start to knowing what kind of fiction and nonfiction might appeal to certain tweens.

[Stacy Natal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author offers some solid recommendations about how to connect tweens (kids in grades 4-8) with books. She includes ideas for finding books that tweens will like and ideas for practical classroom activities for sparking tween engagement in reading. I was pleasantly surprised to see some new ideas for responding to reading (the un book report she calls it). The book also includes fantastic lists of books that may appeal to kids in this age bracket, very helpful in bridging that gap between picture books and YA literature.

[Mrs. Cubby Culbertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good professional read! Filled mine with yellow highlighter. Want to share with colleagues who use different color highlighter to compare our thoughts and ideas. Will suggest to our Teachers As Readers group. Lots of references to reading experts who I revere. Loads of ideas, suggestions, and lists. Quick. Only 118 pages, but lots packed into 118 pages! Naked Reading : The Bare Essentials, Books Tweens Prefer--Their Own Suggestions, Motivating Tweens, Energize Tweens, Follow Up Reading Ideas, the 5 chapter titles. Quick and very good! Thank you, Teri Lesesne!

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books I wish my Teaching Language Arts in the Middle Years professor WOULD have assigned for our class. Short, direct, and full of excellent recommendations, this book succinctly describes what kinds of books 10-14 year olds are attracted and why. It also provides great recommendations for checking comprehension without dragging students down into endless repetitive writing activities. Worth not only reading, but buying for regular reference!

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a title! I'm always looking for ways to grab the uninterested.

Mostly all the things we already know/do: let kids select books that interest them, know your books so you can recommend effectively, don't kill a book by over-analyzing it in class. Give kids time to read, read, read.
Helpful book lists and ideas to ignite some interest. Worth reading.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this was an academic book I read for my project, it was written in an engaging way that made me want to read more. Clearly this author reads like I do! I'm looking forward to reading another book by her: Reading Ladders.

[Kyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the idea of this book and the advice - the tweens and middle readers motivations and needs are not as often discussed as I would like them to. While I appreciated the bibliography and readings lists, I would have liked more about their mindset/ But, took some good tips from this book to share with my teachers.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, but fantastic book about motivating Tweens as readers. There was some valuable information I learned, not only about the types of books Tweens like to read, but also how to encourage more creative discussion and assess comprehension without using traditional book reports. Lots of great book suggestions as well.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great resource -- lots of ideas for pre- and post-reading activities, ways for the kids to interact and respond to books. It's also easy to skim and just pick out what looks interesting to you. Or check it out from the library, take a few notes, and save yourself the $15.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reaffirmed what I have always believed about how we create lifelong readers. It starts with being a reader yourself and surrounding developing readers with fabulous books and a caring reading community.

[Betony · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALMOST as good as Nancie Atwell's The Reading Zone, Naked Reading was another proponent of getting books that kids love into the hands of kids! I love it!

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty basic. It contains few good booklists and basic information on why kids aren't reading today. Offers a some unique suggestions on activities to do with the books kids read.

[AM · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a great book on Middle Grade through YA lit

[Kathy]

Very helpful.

[Elaine Bearden]

The author considers what makes some tweens avid readers and some not.