Reading aloud to your kids is a great way to…

• connect as a family

• promote language and literacy development in your home

• de-stress

• decrease screen time

• increase conversations and discussions

• discuss and relate to good and bad decisions characters make

• have fun and make memories with your kids

How do you Read Aloud?

• Do what makes it fun for you!

• Preview the book, look at chapter titles or look through the pictures.

• Add drama and voices for characters.

• Stop during a story to…

  • make a prediction

  • figure out a confusing part

  • retell the story

  • discuss what is happening

  • answer a question

• Don’t be afraid of those great picture books that have LOTS of words, just use a bookmark and treat it like a chapter book… go back to it later.

• Reread favorite books…over and over and over!

Kids of all ages love to enjoy books with the family…including babies! Start the reading habit early! Check out this video of a read aloud with a baby. Who is having more fun?

During a read aloud, babies…

• relate to their parents voice

• hear the rhythm of speech

• feel the physical closeness of being held

• observe emotions and characteristics of human communication

When I taught 1st grade, parents often asked if they should stop reading to their kids, so the kids could get the practice they needed.

No!

Do both!

Read to them and listen to them!

Kids can comprehend and discuss stories with more complexity than they are able to decode words in, so break out those great classic chapter books!

When kids begin to enter into middle school and beyond, take on more of a book club feel for sharing books with them.

If they are reading a book for class, get yourself a copy and see if they would like to chat about the book at different parts. Be prepared to revisit Shakespeare! If your kids are not keen on reading or talking about books at this age…they may change their tune if the books are complex!

I LOVE books, and have unapologetically “invested” (splurged) on books for my kids and my classroom! Where do I get my books?

• Libraries

• Thrift shops

• Charming neighborhood stores

• Amazon

• Gift shops

• Where ever I can get my hands on books!

Need a few recommendations for great read aloud books???

My good friend Maureen sent me a list of her favorites read aloud books! She works in the Children’s Room at the Wayland Free Public Library in Massachusetts!

1. Animal Colors or Animal Shapes by Christopher Silas Neal

2. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

3. The Book with No Pictures by BJ Novak

4. Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

5. Dragons Love Tacos by Zach Rubin

6. Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

7. Polar Bear’s Underwear by Tupera Tupera

8. Castaway Cats by Lisa Wheeler

9. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

10. Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

Need a few more? Here are some favorites I read to my classes and my own kids at home…

1. Mouse Mess by Linnea Asplind Riley

2. Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann

3. Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies

4. Recess at 20 Below by Cindy Aillaud

5. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

6. Bear Snores On by Karma WIlson

7. The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola

8. Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo

9. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

10. The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle

11. Stuart Little by E. B. White

12. The Witches by Roald Dahl

13. The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling

14. Any non-fiction books your kids are interested in! You will learn new facts right along with them!

15. Remember magazines can be fun to read together! Here are some recommendations and links to their websites…

    1. Highlights This magazine contains stories to share, art work, poems and puzzles.

    2. Ladybug Stories and poems to share with early readers.

    3. National Geographic Kids Read about animal facts!

    4. Sports Illustrated Kids Check out sports interviews and news!

       
       
       

I could go on…

but instead, please share some of your favorites with other parents on

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