When I'm in a school, I often say "put your hands up if you've ever started a reading book you think you'll like, got half way through it and thought 'This is boring. I don't want to read any more of this'" The children look really nervous, hands hovering, not sure if they're allowed to admit to this. I then put my hand up firmly and say, "I have." I then tell them this is perfectly okay - that I do it all the time, and I bet all their teachers have, too. (I glare at the teachers until they nod. To their credit, most teachers have already put their hands up before I have to start glaring.) The children then put their hands up with a visible sigh of relief. I find it very sad.

I do the same with asking them if they've ever read a book more than once. They're more happy to admit this without being prompted, but even then, some look guilty.