Boys Who Boo Books

Shannon Hale had a great piece about gender and books in the Washington Post, and it had me thinking about something happening in my K-4 school library this week . . .

The Scholastic book fair is an annual event in my school. Every year they send an author video so kids can find out about the books in the book fair and the authors and illustrators who made them.

My first year when I showed this video, something happened that I didn’t expect – kids booed the books they didn’t like. More accurately, some of the boys booed books that featured girl characters or topics they considered “un-boylike”.

I was furious. I stopped the video and talked with the class. Later that day, the same thing happened. I responded in the same way. I was beginning to dread showing the video if this was going to be the reaction.

I decided I should talk with students beforehand – address the issue before it became an issue.

So with the next class I talked with students about how we treat each other, and I looked every student in the eye and told them that whatever they like to read is okay. And that making fun of someone for reading what they like is not okay. And that putting down books is not okay because that book might be someone else’s favorite book.

And it felt good, but more importantly it helped. Boys cut it out. And, to be honest, I think (whether they realized it or not) they felt relief not having to put on a big macho show anymore. Because whatever anyone likes to read is okay. I have the same conversation with kids every year now – we’re having it again this week.

I don’t tell this story to say I’m some great person (we all know that is soo not the case). I say it because I think it’s rare when we get a good opportunity to talk about this with students. So take the opportunity (or make the opportunity), because, as Shannon Hale’s piece shows, this sort of discussion needs to be happening way more often.

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