Reading is a skill. Like any skill, the more you do it, the better you get. Studies show that for every 100,000 words read, the reader's vocabulary grows by 50 percent. It's no wonder that teens who read for fun score significantly higher on standardized tests.

Motivating reluctant readers can be quite a challenge, but all it takes is the right book and a little encouragement.

To help teens discover the joy of reading, the Young Adult Library Services Association offers the following tips for parents:

-- Set an example. Let your teen see you reading, visit the library often and take time to browse through your local bookstore as a family. Talk to your teen about the books you are reading -- and be sure to ask about their reading selections.

-- Make it easy. Set aside time each day for reading. Provide a quiet, comfortable, well-lit space for reading. Keep books, graphic novels, newspapers and magazines within easy reach to encourage reading over other activities like television and video games.

-- Set realistic expectations. Don't expect your young adult to read Feodor Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment" while you're poring over the latest thriller from Dean Koontz or a steamy Danielle Steele novel. Let your teens read about the topics that interest them. If they enjoy the book, they are more likely to keep reading.

-- Explore the options. Don't forget that reading comes in many forms. Encourage your teen to look through the daily newspaper, peruse one of the hot teen magazines or look through the latest graphic novel.

-- Visit the library. Make sure your teen has a library card and regular transportation to the library. Be sure to check out the various young adult programs while you're there. From weekly discussion groups to summer reading programs, your local library offers ample opportunities to inspire reluctant readers.

-- Give the gift of books. When their next birthday rolls around, give your teen the gift of reading. A gift card to your local bookstore or a subscription to their favorite magazine is sure to be a hit.

-- Check the list. Not sure which books will appeal to your teen? Each year, the Young Adult Library Services Association releases a list of the top picks for reluctant readers. Whether it's an absorbing teen drama, a science fiction fantasy or the latest young adult romance, these page-turners are chosen to appeal to teens who don't normally read for fun. For 2007, some of the top nonfiction titles include:

-- "Pick Me Up: Stuff You Need to Know," By Jeremy Leslie and David Roberts (DK Children, $30)

Billed as a reference-book revolution, this modern approach to random facts caters to teens of the information age. With an eclectic assortment of unusual and useful information on history, science, nature and culture, this book has a bit of everything, from how to confuse an angry sea gull to why the Roman Empire is like McDonald's.

Inspired by the Internet, the information is presented in easy-to-digest snippets with plenty of photos and illustrations.

-- "My So-Called Digital Life: 2,000 Teenagers, 300 Cameras, and 30 Days to Document Their World," edited by Bob Pletka (Santa Monica Press, $25)

In a project organized by a school administrator, 2,000 high school students in California were given digital cameras and one month to document their daily lives. The resulting photos comprise the bulk of this book, which presents an in-depth look at the day-to-day experiences of the American teenager.

-- "Optical Illusions: The Science of Visual Perception," by Al Seckel (Firefly Books, $25)

From well-known optical illusions like the face/vase illusion to dizzying op art, this book offers a comprehensive collection of more than 275 mind-bending images, hidden figures and eye-opening graphic patterns. Explanations of the illusion behind each image and a look at the science of visual perception offer readers insight into how optical illusions are created.

-- "PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives" by Frank Warren (Regan Books, $27)

The result of a community art project, author Frank Warren unveils a collection of postcards from strangers, each revealing a secret. Warren handed out postcards to strangers and left them in public places with instructions to write down a secret they had never told anyone and mail it to him, anonymously. From the profound and provocative, to the humorous and heartbreaking, the postcards and the secrets they contain are sure to captivate readers of all ages.

YALSA compiles several lists of recommended teen reading. To view the entire list of Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers or other top teen titles, visit www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists.