By Annie MartinThe Daily Northwestern

At first glance, the Boys to Men Book Club is a typical boys’ night out, complete with sports, pizza and ice cream sundaes. The seven boys sit in a circle with their fathers, exchanging stories and laughing as the boys make faces and dribble basketballs without standing up.

But after the snacks are gone and the last joke has been made, the members of the book club at Dawes Elementary, 440 Dodge Ave., prepare to delve into the serious themes they encounter in their monthly reading.

“I love the opportunity to connect with my kid,” parent Elliot Frolichstein-Appel said. “He’s a reading animal, and I was a reading animal as a kid, too.”

This month the club read “Travel Team” by Mike Lupica. “Travel Team” tells the story of a 12-year-old who is cut from the seventh-grade travel team and plays on a team coached by his estranged father.

At first the group discussed what they liked and didn’t like about the book, but as the conversation continued, the boys discussed disappointments and relationships they have encountered in their own lives.

Dawes parent Craig Garfield, who started the group last fall, said his work as a pediatrician was his main inspiration for creating the group. Garfield said he always tells parents one of the best things they can do for their children is to read with them. Unfortunately, Garfield said, boys are less likely to read outside of school than girls, so he wanted to start a group that would allow boys to bond with their fathers, as well as encourage them to read.

“The boys get to act like boys, but when it’s time to talk about serious things, they will,” Garfield said. “Most dads say the group is something they look forward to each month.”

Garfield said many of the fathers already read regularly and wanted to share this activity with their sons, but others told him they never read themselves. Garfield said one father told him he really didn’t enjoy reading but wanted to get involved in the club because his son loves to read.

Garfield said he consults with the Dawes librarian, Sue Jicha, each month for suggestions about books the group could read. Although the group read a book about basketball this month, Garfield said this is the first sports book the group has read. He said he tries to pick books on a variety of topics.

Many parents, particularly fathers, already spend time doing athletic activities with their sons, and the group tries to get fathers and sons talking about things other than sports, Garfield said.

“We try to pick books with a bit of an adventure and a real-world problem,” Garfield said. “Sue is a phenomenal librarian. She’s been so helpful with picking the books.”

Parent Peter Niedbalski said he hopes the group helps make reading a life-long habit for his son.

“It promotes good quality time and promotes things other than sports,” Niedbalski said. “When we meet as a group, it’s not just like Dad is telling him to read.”

Niedbalski’s son, Adam, 9, said he thinks the meetings are fun and that “Travel Team” was the best book the group has read so far.

“I like the food and the fact that you can talk about books,” Adam said.

This fun atmosphere seemed important to the fathers, who said they hope it will encourage their sons to keep reading.

“I like the fact that it gives him a chance to discuss a book he likes outside of the classroom,” Frolechstein-Appel said. “I also get exposed to books I wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to.”

Reach Annie Martin at [email protected].