Reading is a fun hobby, but not for those who have a tough time comprehending the content of a storybook. Contrary to popular belief, reading as a hobby or a pleasurable activity is restricted to a tiny portion of the population. In fact, a vast majority of the population consists of reluctant readers.
Reluctant readers are not age restricted from school-going kids to older adults. You may spot many people who absolutely despise reading. The reasons that make a person a reluctant reader can be many and some of those reasons along with how Hi-Lo books can solve the problem, will be discussed in this blog post. However, if you want to make a reluctant reader interested in reading, you should learn more about Hi-Lo books here: https://www.sdlback.com/solutions-for-tweens-grades-4-8/hi-lo-books.
What Are Hi-Lo Books?
As the name suggests, Hi-Lo texts are high-content, low, low-readability texts. These texts are designed to encourage reluctant readers to fall in love with the content. Most people have a tough time understanding what makes a person detest reading. So if you appreciate the potential of Hi-Lo books, you must first understand the reasons why a person may not like to read.
Young children may not like reading if they find the text complicated or boring. Every person takes an interest in an activity that they enjoy. If a child fails to understand or comprehend a text, he will not want to continue reading. Likewise, older adults who were once prolific readers may lose interest in reading. Older adults face challenges like cognitive decline and poor eyesight, which makes reading a burden for them.
There are several ways in which Hi-Lo books pique the interest of those readers who find it challenging to read standard books and novels.
Here are some ways why Hi-Lo books are the best solution if you wish to encourage reading as a habit in reluctant readers.
Hi-Lo Books Use Shorter Sentences And Chapters
A complex novel that has long winding sentences that run into thirty to forty words is difficult to comprehend. A child who suffers from ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) will lose interest by the time he reaches the book’s second page. Likewise, an older adult who has started showing signs of dementia will probably forget what he read at the start of the paragraph by the time he reaches the end.
Most Hi-Lo books use short and simple sentence structures. They have short chapters that end in 1500 to 2000 words. At times the sentence structure is so simple that it may be a choppy read for a proficient reader, but for reluctant readers, they make reading simple and enjoyable.
Hi-Lo Books Contain Fun Facts And Interesting Details On A Specific Topic
A regular book that gives out scientific jargon every now and then will be appealing to a learned person. But if a book is to evoke the curiosity of a novice person, then fun facts and interesting detail on a specific topic attract new learners.
For instance, if you are reading a book about human life’s longevity, it may be of little interest to you. But if you have a little box on the side of the page that mentions that the oldest living person is a 122-year-old French woman, it is bound to capture your imagination.
Hi-Lo Books Pay Attention To Pictures And Infographics
It is often said that a picture says a thousand words, and Hi-Lo books do complete justice to this important saying. Scientific data suggests that the human brain is able to process an image almost 60000 times faster than a piece of text that conveys the same information.
Also, most humans make an image of the story or the characters that they read about. However, Hi-Lo books do not depend on a person’s ability to image and comprehend; instead, it presents an easy-to-understand graphic for the reader.
Hi-Lo Books Define Challenging Vocabulary
People do not like it when they have to use a dictionary or a thesaurus for every single line that they read. So Hi-Lo books have challenging vocabulary defined in the context of the text or in the glossary at the end of each chapter.
Hi-Lo Books Often Use Bolder And Bigger Fonts
Most dyslexic people prefer larger spacing between words and letters within a word. They are also more comfortable when the font is bigger, and the use of italics is minimized. Also, older adults who do not have great visual acuity prefer if the text is written in bold and big font sizes with adequate spacing between each word.
Hi-Lo Books Have Stories In The Genre That Interest The Child Or Older Adult
People like to read what excites them or what is useful for them. A journal filled with complicated scientific terms or Shakespearean English rarely intrigues a young child or an older adult. But if the stories are such that the older adults find them useful and young kids find them enjoyable, they will be drawn to the novel or journal instead of being intimidated by them.
Hi-Lo Books Create Exciting Plots And Engaging Characters
Everyone is interested in learning more about a relatable, intriguing, or engaging character. For instance, a young boy who is seven or eight years old will be more involved if the main character of a story is six or seven years old instead of an adult.
Likewise, a boring plot will seldom interest a person who does not like reading. So Hi-Lo texts make use of exciting, relatable plots and engaging characters to gain wider acceptance.
Conclusion
High-content, low-readability books help young boys and girls, as well as older adults, to build confidence over time. They improve understanding of story structure and make books and novels less intimidating. Moreover, they strengthen vocabulary and prevent struggling readers from feeling isolated when they are in a class full of enthusiastic kids. These books can also be great companions for older adults who are struggling with loneliness and boredom.
