Title: The Read-Aloud Family
Author: Sarah Mackenzie
Major Themes: Reading, Books, Homeschooling, Parenting
Synopsis: One of the best strategies for academically successful children and a happy family is to read aloud to them.
I don’t remember when I first came across Sarah Mackenzie’s podcast The Read-Aloud Revival, but it struck a chord in me. I started reading aloud to my children when my oldest was a small baby, and haven’t stopped yet (in fact, I read aloud to my siblings for a couple of years after I finished school, before leaving home). When someone offered a copy of her book, The Read-Aloud Family, for sale on a page I follow recently, I snatched it up, and then read it immediately.
Publisher’s description:
The stories we read—and the conversations we have about them—help shape family traditions, create lifelong memories, and become part of our legacy. Many parents can’t get their children to become book-lovers. Other parents lose touch with what their child is reading.
Reading aloud with your children not only has the power to change a family—it can help your children grow into thoughtful, intelligent, empathetic adults.
We all know that connecting deeply with our families can be difficult in our busy, technology-driven society. Reading aloud is one of the best ways to be fully present with our children, even after they can read themselves, but it isn’t always easy to do. In this book, Sarah Mackenzie—author and host of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast—will teach you how to:
- Prepare your kids for academic success through reading to them
- Develop empathy and compassion in your kids through books
- Find time to read aloud in the midst of school, sports, and dinner dishes
- Choose books across a variety of sibling interests and ages
- Make reading aloud the best part of your family’s day
SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:
- Index of family- and value-friendly books by title, author/illustrator.
- A separate index of appropriate books, separated by age group, from children’s board books to teen chapter books.
From a toddler’s wonder to a teenager’s resistance, you will find the inspiration you need to start a read-aloud movement in your own home that will bring your family closer together.
My thoughts:
I loved The Read-Aloud Family! In fact, as I read it, I kept reading lines to my mom or daughter if they happened to be around. This book affirmed to me what I have been telling people for many years. I have been convinced that reading aloud together has drawn our family together. Reading aloud has definitely helped to create a family culture, in which we often quote from favorite books we’ve enjoyed together. Sarah Mackenzie talks in this book about that result.
I loved chapter 7, “Debunk Five Myths.” One of those, especially, has often been told to me as if it is true—reading aloud works for our family because I am a fast reader. No, that is not necessary! As Sarah points out, reading aloud does not have to happen in quantity. Ten minutes a day will add up! And, audiobooks count.
One of Sarah’s points is that vocabulary and sentence structure are greatly improved in children who are read to a lot. I can attest to that; my youngest several children, who have heard all levels of books read aloud in quantity since before they were born, have had quite large vocabularies for their ages.
Over the past several years, when new homeschooling families have asked me for advice about homeschooling, I have told them to read aloud. Now, I will also point them to The Read-Aloud Family if they want something to read about homeschooling.
No warnings!
Age levels:
Reading Independently—Adults
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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