How to get boys reading?

Simply expose them to interesting books (that they'll sure enjoy reading). 

The same way you get girls to enjoy reading; gender has nothing to do with it.

~ Read to your children from infancy.

~ Model what you want them to do. That means, turn off the television and get off the computer. Let your kids see you reading books or newspapers (not e-readers) on a daily basis and let them know you enjoy doing it.

~ Buy books as gifts (you can find great bargains at thrift stores or used book stores) and make use of the library. Don't limit yourself to popular books (such as book club selections, best seller lists, books based on television shows) because in my opinion, such books are usually not worth the bother.

~ Check out the classics (Wind in the Willows, Alice in Wonderland, Pippi Longstocking and so on) and read them with your child. Read perennial favorites such as the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew or Goosebumps. They are to literature what Twinkies are to homemade desserts, but they can be a good door into the world of reading.

~ Never be afraid to read something aloud which is beyond your child's supposed level or ability. If your child is able to read alone, never deny him or her a book s/he wants to read because s/he is "not old enough". As an example of the former, my grandson (who turned three last month) has already had chapter books read to him at bedtime. He's heard Alice in Wonderland, Pippi Longstocking, Mrs. Pigglewiggle, Brighty of Grand Canyon and Mary Poppins (and its sequels). He not only loves them, he asks for them by name.

~ Pay attention to your child's interests. Bugs? Sports? Machinery? Animals? There are books available on all of those subjects ~ and many more. It is up to you to set the example and open the door.

Lastly, if you're a reader, then there's no way your kids won't automatically follow in your footsteps. Pick up a book and get started.

JK Grandma offered excellent advice. I would try to find books witht hemes that interest them cartton characters, sports, etc. You can often times find books of favorite tv characters with pictures as well as a short story that might help to get you started.

jkgrandma is right and her suggestions are wonderful.

I have thought a lot about this and researched it over the last 10 years and would like to add one idea.

Read the Harry Potter books to the boys. Start at #1 and read a little bit every night. It might take until page 177 for them to get hooked. Be disciplined about your reading time so they'll look forward to this time with you and to hearing you tell the story.

In these books, the voice of the author is young, conversational, funny, and enchanting. JK Rowling has had an influence on a whole generation of readers with her books. I have read them many times, to myself and to children, and it never fails to get them reading by themselves.

Some boys are great readers some are not interested. The same thing goes for girls, but and I do not mean to sound sexist, girls seem to need less help enjoying reading. I work as a para educator and am in the process of earning my teaching degree. I also co-run a before school reading/homework club at my elementary school. I adored the Harry Potter books and many children loved them also.

The Rick Riordan series Percy Jackson and the Olympians brought many kids back to reading. They are exciting adventures that feature preteen to teenage kids in extraordinary situations. They even learn about greek mythology on the journey.

However, these are BIG books and a lot of kids are scared off by the sheer size of them. Some of them really have to be pushed to try them out. For students just coming into reading chapter books I recommend Louis Sachar's Marvin Redpost series. They feature a 3rd grade boy in many different situations. They are pretty funny and kids really seem to enjoy them. Another series that we have discovered is one by Gary Paulsen who wrote Hatchet. It is called World of Adventure and there are about 17 or 18 in the series. They tell about kids in many different situations and are pretty exciting. I have seen many kids start to enjoy reading by starting with theses and them moving onto Paulsen's other longer stories. Unfortunately they are out of print. We had a few and have been buying them off EBAY and other book sites. There are several series by Paulsena and our kids really enjoy them.

So, I guess I would say if you're going to start big read with them. But sometimes shorter books they can read themselves really get them interested in reading. Hope this helps.