I didn’t know that Percy Jackson’s author, Rick Riordan, has a son who has ADHD and is dyslexic which is also true of Percy Jackson. I love how Riordan made ADHD and dyslexia part of the storyline that shows the gifts that also come with ADHD and dyslexia — fast reflexes, ability to read Ancient Greek, etc.
And what is really cool is that Riordan’s son Haley, now 16 years old, has written his own manuscript for a book that exceeds any manuscript produced by his famous dad. Not bad for someone who hated to read so much that he hid under the table. I can’t wait to read The Lost Hero. My oldest has squirreled away with it and is reading it at a breakneck pace. I also can’t wait to read the work of Haley Riordan! Like father, like son! I’m sure it will be a great read!
The full article is here. The advice from Rick Riordan to get kids with ADHD to read is below. I have more reviews on Rick Riordan’s chapter books here and here. I hear that The Heroes of Olympus (The Lost Hero is book 1) series is going to be a 5 book series and an extension of the Percy Jackson chapter book series. This latest series combines Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman mythology. The Kane Chronicles, (The Red Pyramid is book 1), series is going to be a 3 book series and is based on Ancient Egyptian mythology.
How to Get ADHD Kids Reading
1. Model reading at home
If the parents are too busy to read, it’s a safe bet the children will feel the same way. Set aside time for family reading each night. It doesn’t matter so much what the kids read, as long as you provide them space for reading and a sense that it is a valuable part of your daily routine. Sometimes the Riordan family will read books together. Sometimes we’re all reading different things. But we value books, and we have great conversations about our favorite authors and stories.
2. Match your children with the right books
By the “right” books, I mean the ones that will leave them wanting to read more. Every child’s taste is different. Don’t worry if they’re not reading “War and Peace” at age 12. First, build a good foundation and a positive attitude about reading by letting them pick the stories they enjoy. Make friends with a bookseller or librarian. They are a wealth of information on finding books that kids enjoy.
3. Create a productive environment for reading
Usually, this means few distractions. Reading with music or TV? Not such a great idea. On the other hand, many ADHD kids can focus better if they can have something to fiddle with like a stress ball, an eraser, or some other small object that absorbs their kinesthetic energy. Let your child participate in finding the most comfortable space to read – a chair, a sofa, a loft, a patio.
4. Most importantly, keep the long view
Your child will grow up to be a successful person. ADHD and dyslexia really are differences, not disabilities. A disproportionate number of millionaires are dyslexics. ADHD adults are valuable in the workplace because they can focus like a laser on things that really interest them. Kids with learning differences naturally become out-of-the-box thinkers, because they have to find different ways to solve problems. If we can get these kids through the school years, they will excel.
Take it from this dad. It seems like just yesterday my son was hiding under the table to avoid reading. Now, he’s writing books longer than mine!
For more on “The Heroes of Olympus” go here.
p.s. Related posts:
Top 10: Diversity Chapter Books Like Percy Jackson
Percy Jackson Book Club for Boys
Book Club for Boys: Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson Fan? Try Noah Zarc
Percy Jackson + Chinese Mythology = The Monkey King’s Daughter
Percy Jackson + Ancient Egypt = Red Pyramid
Percy Jackson + King Arthur = The Dark is Rising
Greek Mythology Picture Book today, Percy Jackson in a few years!
Percy Jackson: Add-On Books Get Rave Reviews
Harry Potter + Greek Mythology = Percy Jackson Series (ages 8-14)
How Ancient Greek Statues Really Looked
Percy Jackson GREEK HEROES Giveaway! #ReadRiordan
Percy Jackson GIVEAWAY #ReadRiordan
Percy Jackson Coloring Book GIVEAWAY! #PJColoringBook
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BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.