If you’re reading this column, you probably enjoy reading books. But some concerning news came out just last month: our society isn’t successfully passing on that enjoyment of reading to younger generations.

Annual figures released by the National Assessment of Reading Progress rank the reading proficiency of Oregon’s fourth graders as the third worst in the nation.

Students in Washington score somewhat higher, but the Evergreen State’s reading statistics reflect a discouragingly consistent downward trend since the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week’s book

This week’s book

“Dog Trouble” by Kristin Varner

First Second Books — 304 pp — $22.99

There are other worrisome numbers: boys’ reading skills lag well behind that of girls. And family income plays a significant role in how well students might be expected to score on reading tests.

Students from financially unstable backgrounds tested 20 to 30 points behind their classmates who come from families regarded as middle-income or higher.

We can’t be complacent about this. Think about how you might do more to promote the pleasure of reading to the kids in your own life. Can you get them to the library and bookstore more frequently? Can you ask them more about the stories that they’re reading?

Can you volunteer as a reading buddy at your local library or school? That’s a gift that can enrich a lifetime.

And this leads up to the book featured in today’s review. Sometimes graphic novels are a good way for kids to transition from picture books to more text-dense middle-grade books.

Bainbridge Island author and illustrator Kristin Varner has a new offering out that might fill the bill. It’s aimed at readers ages 8 to 12, and Varner gets extra points for featuring a boy at the heart of the story.

Although the book’s title is “Dog Trouble,” it’s also clear from the outset that the boy, Ash, is having some trouble of his own.

His parents have split up, which means that he has to divide his time between two households, and he’s beginning to lose focus in school. His mom is busy working and taking night classes, so Ash has plenty of unsupervised time on his hands. This has led to some poor decision-making — for instance, when he and some friends break into an abandoned warehouse to perform skateboard stunts, they end up breaking some windows, too.

They get caught, and it’s left to their parents to decide on suitable disciplinary action. In Ash’s case, he’ll be sent off to spend the entire summer with his dad, stepmom, and stepsister. He’s also expected to perform community service to keep him from getting into any more mischief.

Ash winds up volunteering at the local pet shelter. His first tasks involve dirty work like cleaning out the kennels, but gradually he’s entrusted to take the dogs on walks.

Varner’s engaging illustrations depict the personalities and abilities of different dogs at the shelter and the socialization they’re acquiring. And without being too preachy, the story also reflects the progress that Ash gradually makes in his own decision-making and consideration of others.

“Dog Trouble” is a relatable story that will appeal to square-peg-in-round-hole kids.