Rating: Loved It!
Source: Library
Description: Connecting deeply with our kids can be difficult in our busy, technology-driven lives. Reading aloud offers us a chance to be fully present with our children. It also increases our kids’ academic success, inspires compassion, and fortifies them with the inner strength they need to face life’s challenges. As Sarah Mackenzie has found with her own six children, reading aloud long after kids are able to read to themselves can deepen relationships in a powerful way.
Founder of the immensely popular Read-Aloud Revival podcast, Sarah knows first-hand how reading can change a child’s life. In The Read-Aloud Family, she offers the inspiration and age-appropriate book lists you need to start a read-aloud movement in your own home. From a toddler’s wonder to a teenager’s resistance, Sarah details practical strategies to make reading aloud a meaningful family ritual. Reading aloud not only has the power to change a family—it has the power to change the world.
Genre: Nonfiction
Why I Picked This Book: Life Between Words on YouTube recommended it, this is a subject I've been interested in, and my library had it so it was a bit of a perfect storm.
My Impression: One of the things I've really enjoyed discovering through homeschooling is that why the Tornado (age 10) isn't the most enthusiastic reader he does really enjoy being read to. This has lead to a fascination with all things read aloud and a search for read aloud suggestions. So I was already pretty on board with the whole read aloud concept but that didn't stop me from feeling that I got a lot out of the book.
Sarah talks about her journey from overwhelmed mom of a one year to still overwhelmed but with better grip on things mom of 6 who also happens to home school. The information is interesting and while I was already on board with reading aloud as I'm trying to hook my 10 year old on the stories reading all the extra benefits was a nice bit of confirmation. As well I thought she gave some practical advice on how to incorporate reading aloud into regular busy life. She's good about emphasizing that it doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't have to be large chunks of time or any of the things that keep us from fitting in a chapter when we can. She also includes personal stories about her own experiences to help emphasize her points. She does a good mix of showing what to do and what not to do through her own life. While she is a home school mom her advice would work for any parent.
The last section of the book is read aloud recommendation section divided by ages and by types of books. Some of her recommendations I had never heard of but will definitely be adding to our family To Read list.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely! I've already added her 2nd book to my TBR and have enjoyed exploring her website - Read-Aloud Revival
Would I Recommend this Book? If you are a parent or have children in your life this is definitely a book worth picking up.
This sounds interesting, especially given that so many are currently homeschooling, and storytime for primary grades in particular is always popular.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts
I do like the sound of this one! Whatever works; we need all the help we can get to turn our kids into readers...and to connect with us. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI am a big advocate of the read aloud - as a teacher I always read aloud every day to my classes for 40 years! Probably sent some of them to sleep. My middle sister in the family read to younger family members and they loved it. (I'd left home by that stage). This sounds like a really helpful book.
ReplyDeleteI have it on Goodreads from the first time you talked about it. I think I will enjoy it too. 👍✨
ReplyDeleteI have it on Goodreads from the first time you talked about it. I think I will enjoy it too. 👍✨
ReplyDeleteI don't think that I read aloud to my kids once they were able to read on their own. Maybe I should have. My kids are 5 1/2 years apart and I loved it when my oldest would read to my youngest. This really does sound like a worthwhile book!
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge believer in reading aloud to children. This sounds like an excellent read.
ReplyDelete