Short stories are a terrific way to get your resistant readers to dip a toe in the water. Ditto for flash fiction and novellas, by the way! So, why short stories?
Custom-made for reluctant readers
- There is a single plot – no subplots.
- There are a limited number of characters – some of whom are not fully developed.
- There is a single theme/message – everything is moving to present one message.
- They can be read in one sitting – no long and plodding tome of a book.
Find them in every genre
You don’t have to pick a single genre. You’ll find short stories in mystery, fiction, action, kidlit … You can start here. Then check with your library for short story collections.
Easy to talk about with your kids
By definition,
- a short story is not complicated.
- there are not a ton of characters.
- there are no subplots or mixed messages.
- there is a single plot that proceeds from start to finish.
- you can read them in a short amount of time.
Bottom Line
Even if you start by reading a short story aloud with your kid, it will be a low-stakes way to enjoy a story together.