Special Offer from Multi-Talented Author
There’s one thing I can assure you about writers. They’re strong, supportive of one another, and nearly always fun people to be around. This is certainly true of my amazing fellow writer and friend, Margo Dill, who balances more roles than anyone I know. Margo has a wealth of experience as a talented children’s book author, editor, teacher, and an exceptionally savvy mom. I’m delighted to welcome her to my blog today with an important message for parents, grandparents, and anyone who has a child in their life. Take it away, Margo!
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When I went to graduate school twenty-five years ago, one of my classes was about teaching reading and literacy. One of the things I learned in that class was the importance of reading aloud to kids in our soon-to-be classrooms. So, I did almost every single day I taught elementary school, whether it was third, fourth, or fifth graders. Some kids loved it; some took it as a time to get in a nap.
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But I read aloud, regardless, because I know it is important for all readers—those who are ahead and those who are behind. It teaches them fluency, expression, new vocabulary, comprehension, and more. If you have a struggling reader, and they never hear how a story is really supposed to sound, they may never realize that reading is glorious, and stories are wonderful.
As a parent, I have a nine-year-old who does not love reading. (UGH, trust me, I’m still trying.) But she does love stories. She’s not a struggling reader—she is ahead, but there’s something about sitting alone with a book that she doesn’t love. So, instead of fighting this, I embraced my inner teacher, and now I read to her every night before we go to bed.
We’re currently reading the Harry Potter series, book six; but we have read picture books, five-minute princess and Disney character read-alouds, my own writing, A Wrinkle in Time, and Clementine and Junie B. Jones books, to name a few. I’ve been doing reading out loud since she was a baby. And as long as she will let me, I plan to continue. (By the way, she also loves audio books and music—so my guess is I have an auditory learner—if you have a kid fighting you to read, this may be what you have to. Feel free to email me at margolynndill (at) gmail.com if you want some help or resources!)
So, when Fred Olds, who is an octogenarian whom I’ve known since before my daughter was born because we were in a critique group together, asked me if I would consider helping him publish some of his children’s stories, I read them and thought: These are perfect for parents and grandparents to read aloud to their children before they go to bed—children from preschool to upper elementary. So, I did publish them (and because I like to “Go Big or Go Home,” I wound up starting my own publishing company!), and three of his stories became, Read-Aloud Stories with Fred, Vol. 1, available in ebook (currently only 99 cents through 7/31) and print book from Amazon (soon to be in other marketplaces, too).
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There are three stories for kids, complete with a few illustrations. Each story can lead to amazing discussions with kids about responsibility, friendship, consequences, kindness to others, and more. I am a total believer in literature opening up discussions that are sometimes hard to have with kids—but that’s a whole other blog post.
I appreciate Pat allowing me to bend your ear for a bit about reading aloud to kids. Of course, I would love for you to check out Fred’s book—for only 99 cents, you can see what it’s about and even read it right off the Kindle app to your little ones. But I also have two other historical fiction middle-grade novels available as ebooks either free or for 99 cents through 7/31, too. You can check out each one of those here and then follow the link to purchase them on Amazon or for free on the StoryOrigin website.
But whether you choose one of my books or Harry Potter or The Lightning Thief or The Very Hungry Caterpillar, I hope that you will think about reading aloud to your children and grandchildren at bedtime, mealtime, or even in the evening over a snack. If you already do read aloud to your kids or grandkids, let us know in the comments below what you love to read!
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Thanks so much, Margo. Years ago, I read to my little ones and now I do the same for my four-year-old grandson. It’s part of his nightly ritual to hear stories, and he loves them.
What about you? Do you read to the children in your life?
For more about Margo, please check out the following links:
Check out my books, classes, speaking, and writing
https://www.margoldill.com
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WOW! Women On Writing blog
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
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Pat Wahler is the author of Western Fictioneers’ Best First Novel of 2018 and Authors’ Circle 2019 Novel of Excellence Award winner for Historical Fiction, I am Mrs. Jesse James . She is also author of the award-winning Becker Family series of contemporary romance novels, and a Five-Star Readers’ Favorite Christmas collection of short stories, Let Your Heart Be Light: A Celebration of Christmas .