Books About Reluctant Readers

The Best Reluctant Readers Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about reluctant readers? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 6 Favorite Books About Reluctant Readers

I Don't Want to Read This Book
Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2021

I Don't Want to Read This Book

By Max Greenfield, Mike Lowery (Illustrator)

A reluctant reader faces the ultimate challenge: a book filled with words and paragraphs. Can laughter change their mind?

40 pages· 599 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud
4.0 Goodreads · 964 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: A child who detests reading faces a daunting challenge: a book brimming with words and paragraphs. But this isn't just any book—it's a playful, fourth-wall-breaking adventure that promises laughter and surprises. As the pages turn, the child discovers that reading might not be as dreadful as they thought. Will humor and unexpected twists transform their view on books forever? Dive into this hilarious journey and find out if a reluctant reader can become a book lover.
I Hate Reading
Sale price
$1248
Picture Book · Ages 1–5 · 2020

I Hate Reading

By Beth Bacon · Book #1 in the Reluctant Reader series

A humorous guide for reluctant readers.

112 pages· 888 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud
4.0 Goodreads · 305 ratings
$12.99Save 4%
Hardcover
Summary: Struggling with reading time? This book is your secret weapon. Dive into a world where reading becomes a breeze, even if you dread it. With humor and clever tricks, it transforms 20 minutes of reading into an enjoyable escape. Perfect for those who'd rather do anything else, it promises laughter and a sense of accomplishment. Will you discover the joy hidden in the pages? Find out as you navigate this unique reading adventure designed to make even the most reluctant reader smile.
Robot Girl
Sale price
$1348
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2015

Robot Girl

Claire faces a dilemma when her father's secret project turns monstrous.

59 pages
3.6 Goodreads · 153 ratings
$13.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Claire's world shatters when her inventor father unveils his latest creation—a monstrous being. As she grapples with the horror of his work, Claire must decide whether to destroy it or let it live. Can she confront the consequences of her father's ambition, or will the monster change everything? Dive into a suspenseful tale where family loyalty and moral dilemmas collide in a futuristic setting.
Hunter's Moon
Sale price
$1069
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2012

Hunter's Moon

A skeptical writer learns the truth when bite marks turn up in a seaside city.

48 pages
3.2 Goodreads · 11 ratings
$11.25Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: John Logan writes books about the supernatural, but he doesn't believe a word of it. Rose Petal hunts vampires in Brighton, a seaside city with a secret. When a body turns up with bite marks, Rose is called in to solve the crime, and John is about to learn that the real world is stranger than anything he could make up.
Who's a Big Bully Then?
Sale price
$1259
Chapter Book · 2000

Who's a Big Bully Then?

A bully faces a massive bull. Who will win the showdown?

72 pages
3.5 Goodreads · 59 ratings
$13.25Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Darren Bishop, the school bully, is dared to confront Olly, a massive bull. As Darren stands up to something far bigger than himself, tensions rise. Will he back down or face the challenge head-on? Discover the unexpected twists in this gripping tale of courage and confrontation.
Sale price
$1348
Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2012

Pale

A serum revives the dead, but at a cost. Jed's fate hangs in the balance.

80 pages
3.1 Goodreads · 510 ratings
$13.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Jed despises the Pales, those resurrected by the Lazarus Serum, living as outcasts. But after a car accident, Jed faces a grim choice: remain dead or return as what he loathes. Can he escape this fate, or will he become the very thing he fears? The stakes are life, death, and something in between.