The best books for children who say they hate reading — fast, funny and impossible to put down.
The most important thing about reading is doing it. For reluctant readers, the goal is not the most literary novel — it is the one that gets turned to voluntarily, read at bedtime without being asked, finished and immediately replaced with the next one. The books on this list are chosen specifically because they work for children who do not yet think of themselves as readers.
Research on reluctant readers consistently shows the same pattern: the books that convert non-readers are those with short chapters, a fast pace, humour, a relatable protagonist and a genuine sense of stakes. Long descriptions, slow openings and thin plots lose reluctant readers quickly. The books below all score highly on the factors that matter.
Short chapters, disgusting pranks and immediate comedy. The Twits is the perfect entry point for children who find reading slow or dull. It can be read in two or three sittings and the satisfaction of the ending is total.
KS2 QuizSummaryDavid Walliams is the author who has converted more reluctant readers than almost anyone else. Billionaire Boy is funny from the first page, the chapters are short, and Joe's loneliness is something almost any child can relate to.
KS2 QuizSummaryThe combination of gross-out humour (cabbage-smelling granny), an impossible heist and a genuinely moving ending makes Gangsta Granny irresistible. Even children who claim not to like reading frequently finish this in a weekend.
KS2 QuizSummaryShort, fast and completely satisfying. Mr Fox is a brilliant hero for reluctant readers — he is clever, decisive and wins decisively. The three horrible farmers are comic enough to be funny rather than frightening.
KS2 QuizSummaryPure comic invention on the Isle of Mulch. Each chapter is self-contained enough that children feel a sense of completion without having to read a long continuous narrative. The satisfying defeats of each horrible adult are like mini-rewards throughout.
KS2 QuizSummaryThe BFG's invented language is a unique hook for reluctant readers — it makes them feel smart for decoding the gobblefunk words, and creates the immediate sense that this story belongs to them. The comedy of the whizzpopping scenes reliably lands with every age group.
KS2 QuizSummaryVocabularyZoe's story is funnier and more emotionally real than most Walliams novels. The villain (the rat burger man) is brilliantly disgusting, and Gingersnap the rat is a surprisingly moving character. The short chapters make it very manageable.
KS2 QuizSummaryThe premise alone — a demon posing as a school dentist, leaving horrible things under children's pillows — is irresistible for the right reader. Fast-paced and funny with genuine horror-comedy moments.
KS2 QuizSummaryYes — extensively. Walliams is consistently cited by teachers and parents as the author who most reliably converts reluctant readers. His books are funny from the first page, have short chapters, and feature protagonists that children identify with immediately. Many children who have never voluntarily picked up a book have read every Walliams novel enthusiastically.
Reluctant reading affects both boys and girls, though research suggests boys are somewhat more likely to be reluctant readers in the early primary years. The most effective response is the same for all children: finding books that match their actual interests, rather than books adults think they should read.
Forcing reading rarely works and can create negative associations that last for years. The most effective approach is to remove barriers (keep books accessible, read alongside them, visit libraries regularly), follow the child's interests, and ensure the books on offer are genuinely enjoyable rather than improving.