Reading Aloud: Magic for Readers and Listeners

Mem Fox’s Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever explains the importance of reading aloud to children to help them develop their own reading skills. She describes some of the benefits:

“Children who realize in their first few weeks and months of life that listening to stories is the purest heaven; who understand that books are filled with delights, facts, fun, and food for thought; who fall in love with their parents, and their parents with them, while stories are being shared; and who are read aloud to for ten minutes a day in their first five years, usually learn to read quickly, happily, and easily. And a whole lot of goodness follows for the entire community.”

Fox details the simple techniques she recommends for reading aloud to children, the benefits they reap in speaking skills, and the three secrets that help readers “get the message.”

I have such fond memories of reading with our kids that some of their favorite books are still on my bookshelves today. After all these years, I could probably recite long passages by heart from gems like these:

Jamberry 

 Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear

Grandfather Twilight 

 The Salamander Room 

Oh, the Places You’ll Go  

 John Henry

Reading with our two sons was a magical experience for me, too. Thinking of them, I’m posting a favorite poem from a collection I remember enjoying together, The Llama Who Had No Pajama: 100 Favorite Poems by Mary Ann Hoberman.

  

Brother

I had a little brother
And I brought him to my mother
And I said I want another
Little brother for a change.

But she said don’t be a bother
So I took him to my father...

Read the rest of the poem (and others) on the Poetry Foundation site.

April began this Teaching Authors series with a post about the joys of listening. Bobbi’s contribution focused on imagination. Be sure to check them out, too, if you haven’t yet. Also be sure to Like our Teaching Authors Facebook page.

Elizabeth Steinglass is hosting today’s Poetry Friday Roundup. Enjoy!

JoAnn Early Macken