When He Didn’t Feel Like Reading — and Why That Was Okay

Fantastic Mr. Fox: Chapters 3 & 4

Last night, my son didn’t feel like reading.

We’ve built a lovely routine lately — he reads a chapter before bed, and we talk about it in the car on the way to school the next morning. It’s been working really well for us. But last night, he just wasn’t in the mood.

At first, I hesitated. Part of me thought, Should we push through anyway? Should I insist? But then I remembered what matters most: consistency, connection, and keeping the reading experience a positive one.

So we compromised — we read a page each, taking turns.

And honestly? It worked beautifully.

“Is This Cheating?”

That thought did cross my mind. I almost felt like I was letting the routine slip. But then I realised something important — this wasn’t cheating. This was modelling.

By reading aloud to him, I was showing him:

• How to pause for punctuation

• When to raise or lower my voice for drama

• How to bring characters to life with expression

• The rhythm of good reading

He was still involved, still listening, and still engaged. He followed the story. He joined in. 

Chapters 3 & 4: The Action Begins

These chapters are where the real drama kicks off.

• In Chapter 3, the three foul farmers — Boggis, Bunce, and Bean — try to shoot Mr. Fox. He narrowly escapes, diving back into the safety of his hole. But they’re not giving up. Armed with shovels, they start to dig him out.

• In Chapter 4, Mr. Fox has to think fast. Hearing the farmers closing in, he tells his family they must start digging downward to escape. It’s quick, suspenseful, and packed with action.

Despite reading less than usual, we’d covered more ground — and enjoyed it together.

Keeping the Routine Going (Just Flexibly)

The next morning, I used our regular car journey to talk about what we’d read. I didn’t have a worksheet. I didn’t make it feel like a quiz. I just asked a couple of questions while we drove:

• “What do you think is going to happen next?”

• “Was digging down a clever plan?”

• “What would you do if you were Mr. Fox?”

He thought about it for a while. He liked being asked. He shared a few ideas. And just like that, we were talking deeply about character, plot, and problem-solving — all before 8:30am.

Sometimes it’s not about getting them to read more — it’s about helping them think more about what they’ve read.

Final Thoughts from a Fellow Page Keeper

We won’t read like this every night. And I won’t always step in when he doesn’t want to read. But last night reminded me: it’s okay to share the load. It’s okay to be flexible. And it’s more than okay to read to your child — even when they can do it themselves.

Because the goal isn’t just reading practice. It’s reading connection.

Your Page Master might not always feel like reading. But with a little creativity, patience, and a page-shared moment, the habit keeps going — and the love for stories stays alive.