[Charles]

I am 21 right now and I started reading at about 19, when I started college and was bored with video games. Seriously reading that is. I read books for school, but those were forced upon me otherwise I would fail the classes. I started reading mostly because of Role Playing games and because my younger brother told me about the books he read (he is only 2 years behind me). I started reading some of the books which he had already finished. I think the first book I read, once I started seriously reading, was Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. I really enjoyed reading that book, then I moved to Dragonlance, and now I read anything, from contemporary literature like what you would find in a literature class to comic books.

To get them started on reading don't force them, rather mix what has been said previously like leaving the books around for them to see, let them play roleplaying games, give them books for their birthday or other holidays along with what they want(paperback books that are only 6 or 7 dollars), and also get them something like comics that actually have depth. If these don't work, then wait, they will probably pick up books later and then they will see what they are missing.

[Ragnarok Knight]

I suggest that you let them start out with rather small books. The size of The lord of the Rings/The Hobbit might have put them off, try giving them books like The Hatchet,
and the Zagor Chronicals..they're small but very good reads,

[wynnyelle]

Give them time...whatever you do, don't force them; they'll come to view reading as a punishment/chore. Reading magazines might not be the same but it's a start. Lots of kids are uninterested in reading these days with all the other media out there esp. video games, but as long as they're doing well in school, etc. I wouldn't worry. May take a few years, but some people don't get into reading until they're adults. Give'em time.