Comments on: Review: The Read-Aloud Handbook

By: tentaculistic

tentaculistic — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:44:16 +0000

Not a parent but grew up in an avid reading family with books everywhere, and was always put in the gifted classes for the humanities.

I loved Elizabeth George Speare’s books (especially but not exclusively for Christians – The Bronze Bow, Witch of Blackbird Pond, Calico Captive). Very positive messages but also deeply exciting.

By: Heather

Heather — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:43:18 +0000

Great review!!! I just stumbled across your website and happen to have this book sitting in my lap right now. I’ve been searching online for a printable list of these books that I can pull out as a reference when I’m in a hurry or on my way to the library. Do you know if there is a list available somewhere? I thought about making one, but it would save SO much time if there is already a list out there.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks for the great review and for so strongly advocating spending quality time with children.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:34:09 +0000

My parents were both teachers and read to me very frequently as a child. We always had books around our home, and as a result I was considered to be ‘gifted’ in elementary school – I had to go to a different classroom with a few students who were at the same level to do our reading in school, since we were reading more quickly and at a much higher level than a majority of our peers.

Some books I would recommend for elementary-school aged children are anything by Roald Dahl. Trent previously mentioned ‘Danny, Champion of the World,’ but some other favorites of mine by him include ‘The BFG’, ‘The Witches’, and ‘Matilda’. He is such a classic, humerous author of children’s books, and I loved his work as a child.

By: Sebastian

Sebastian — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:23:38 +0000

When my oldest son was about 2 my husband recorded Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire onto a tape. This was so that he would have a story from dad before going to bed, even when his dad was away on a trip. The story was recorded with my son in his dad’s lap. Within a month this two year old had memorized the entire book (including the “by Robert Lopshire” tag at the beginning).
My brother- and sister-in-law made recordings of some fabulous readings that my kids still play, years later.
There are also great books on tape and cd that a toddler would love to listen to while they go to sleep. Once these stories are familiar, they could be a great replacement for tv.

By: The Not Quite Crunchy Parent

The Not Quite Crunchy Parent — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:36:55 +0000

Great review of one of my favorite books! With more and more children favoring TV over books, this is important.

We buy lots of used books at the library…on a trip yesterday the cashier noted that the books looked hardly used…unusual for anything within a child’s reach. her sad comment- “guess they are watching TV instead”. When I mentioned we don’t, she was shocked…a sad commentary of our times.

Reading beats TV anyday…And…as you mention, reading aloud improves the parents skills as a presenter!

By: vh

vh — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 03:14:56 +0000

Unplug the television. Carry it out to the car. Drive it to Goodwill, and donate it for a tax deduction.

By: Pilar Manzone

Pilar Manzone — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:43:06 +0000

Thank you so much for your inspiring article. I also agree with what you say about television. However, what changes would you recommend to a single mother with a toddler and a full time job in order to see less television and more reading. The only time I have managed to engage her is just before going to bed. Thanks again!

By: Alison

Alison — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 03:41:41 +0000

Thanks for reminding me of a wonderful book I was introduced to during my college days.

By: Cheap Like Me

Cheap Like Me — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:07:11 +0000

We have read aloud to our daughter every night since she was a baby. Now she is 6.5 and we read chapter books. It’s a wonderful bonding time, and she has a terrific vocabulary because of it — not to mention how much easier it made her learning process once she began reading herself.

Our whole family loved the Little House series (by Laura Ingalls Wilder) — even Dad. They are fascinating historical books and are wonderful for engendering appreciation for our luxurious life today! And she is totally crazy about Brian Jacques’ Redwall series, as are many of the upper elementary kids my husband teaches.

When my daughter was very little she loved a 1950s Golden Book about Gene Autry (she was into cowboys), the classic Goodnight, Moon, and a book called Tumble Bumble by Felicia Bond, which we read so many times I could probably still recite most of it four years later.

By: Bjorn

Bjorn — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:59:52 +0000

Thanks for the suggestion. I am going to get this book!
Another similar book that we have used that recommends great books for you to get your children: “Honey for a Child’s Heart” by Gladys Hunt.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0310242460?tag=onejourney-20

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:27:44 +0000

As a librarian and a mom, I really appreciate your review of this book. I received a copy when my son was born and was astounded to think that I had never contemplated purchasing it myself when I had used it so much in my work environment. I have gone to it countless times since.

I think this post fits within your general theme because the best way to increase your child’s earning power is through education, not to mention the general money saved (on medical and other such expenses) when you bring up a happy, well-adjusted, well-loved child (all of which can result from spending time with them, reading aloud).

By: Jodi

Jodi — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:22:14 +0000

My mom had a theory that if books where available around the house that we would read them. She was constantly buying books second hand at garage sales and our basement walls were covered in book shelves overflowing with books. It worked for me. I’ve read almost every single book that she bought.

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:52:53 +0000

I stand by reading aloud to and with your children 100%.
When I was growing up my Mother and I were having trouble getting along so a counselor suggested that we do this and it drastically changed our relationship. Not only did we get to spend good quality time together while reading new and interesting books, but it was affordable for my single Mother. After all, the public library is free. And the trips to the library were always a great experience together. We would go and hunt for another book that we could dig into. So for the frugal minded, not only do you get free entertainment to share and enjoy with your family, you also get to enjoy the library as well.
I can’t imagine a better way to spend a Saturday with my kids that would not cost a dime.

By: Trent

Trent — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:11:58 +0000

“A worthy post, but I’m not sure what is has to do with the “mission” of this blog. I’m a fairly recent reader, and really like what I’ve seen so far as it relates to money, career, etc.
I just don’t get why this is in here.”

Wait until this Friday. I had been largely against reviewing this book on here until another personal finance book made a great case for this one.

By: vh

vh — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:15:14 +0000

Hey! It’s OK to not read the kid’s book perfectly…the kid doesn’t know any different. When she gets big enough to read, which she will very quickly if you get her interested in books, then you can have her “help” Mom read the book. :-)

We read _Lord of the Rings_ and _Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Universe_ to our son when he was pre-school age. He loved them. At the age of 6, he could read the front page of the _Wall Street Journal_ to me.

Look for real literature in addition to kiddie books, since few picture books come up to the level of Maurice Sendak.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:12:03 +0000

A worthy post, but I’m not sure what is has to do with the “mission” of this blog. I’m a fairly recent reader, and really like what I’ve seen so far as it relates to money, career, etc.
I just don’t get why this is in here.

By: Mrs. Micah

Mrs. Micah — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:22:30 +0000

I loved being read to as a kid. It made the whole thing come alive.

That said, I’m slightly dyslexic which makes it hard for me to read aloud. I tend to switch word or read them as different words. This is very embarrassing, since I’m bright, graduated summa, all those things…but I can’t perfectly read a children’s book (aloud).

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 10:45:31 +0000

Great post, Trent. You reviewed one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors. The TV issue brings to my mind this letter that was in the August issue of School Library Journal:

Balls, Blocks, Board Books

In the Letters section of your May issue (p. 15), Bonnie Briceno defends parking her children in front of the Baby Einstein videos when she is too busy to interact with them. She opines, “Although I still don’t like the idea of a toddler in front of the TV, I know that it is at times a necessity.” Oh? It may come as a surprise to her, but there are a goodly number of us still drawing breath who were babies and toddlers before there was TV who somehow managed to grow up more or less intact, even though our parents were not able to constantly give us their full attention; the sainted Einstein himself never had the benefit of TV as his amazing young brain was forming.

The world is full of safe things to play with and learn from that provide small ones the opportunity for actual interaction, coordination development, etc.—they are called balls, blocks, crayons, stuffed animals, crib toys, board books, etc. Will your child be better off (a) watching TV, even “educational” TV, in the other room or (b) playing with alphabet blocks in the playpen or magnetic letters on the refrigerator while you sing to her or teach her nursery rhymes while you fry the pork chops? I submit to you that the answer to this question is clear.

On occasion, TV can nicely augment the other tools in our box of helpful child-raising aids, but we do ourselves and our progeny a great disservice if we forget that there’s a whole delightful world for little ones, explorable with minimal assistance from us, which does not happen in front of the screen.

Chuck Schacht, librarian
Romeo District Library, Romeo, MI

By: Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD

Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:24:21 +0000

When it comes to reading loudly, I think of the biography of Abe Lincoln. He stated that when he read loudly he saw, read, heard and that was how he prepared his speeches that are even real now, the best of the best.

By: Andrew Stevens

Andrew Stevens — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:25:53 +0000

John, the study they are referring to is probably at http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=381045. There’s always a danger in reading too much into studies like this. Humans have an enormous number of confounding factors and it’s unethical to do controlled experiments on them. They did, of course, control for educational attainment, social class, and all the usual culprits, but there are always far more confounding factors than the scientists are able to think of and control for. The numbers don’t appear to me to be so compelling that I’d put a lot of stock in it. Having said that, a positive correlation is certainly evidence in favor of the position, but it’s a very long way short of proof.