The consensus among the commenters on this blog is that there are some differences in the way boys and girls learn.  Joe (o) defended the idea of single sex education. 

As much as we think that boys should read books that have girls like, they really have their own tastes.  You can’t really force them to read Caddy Woodlawn or Laura Ingalls.  (For more ideas on great books for boys and for girls, see Kathleen Odean’s Great Books for Boys and Great Books for Girls

With the kids all feverish, I’ve been breaking up extended TV viewing with boy book time. In heavy rotation in our home:

I Stink! — A stinky, city garbage truck tells his story.  "Who am I? I’ve got lights.  Ten Wide tires. No A.C., not me.  I’ve got doubles: steering wheels, gas pedals, break.  I am totally DUAL Op.  Know what I do at night while you’re asleep? … East your TRASH, that’s what."  We know all the words to this.

Green Eggs and Ham — Good for little boys who think that yucky things are really funny.

No, David! — Bad boys are funny.  (Older girls will like this book, as well.)

Nate The Great — Nate likes pancakes and doesn’t like girls and finds things.