Monday is "Keep Reading Fun Day" (and what my kids learn from read-alouds)

Father's Day read-aloud on the ferry!I write children's books, I read children's books and I love children's books. I also care deeply about helping kids to love reading them too.

Since helping kids love reading and books is something I care so much about, I have decided to rename Monday on my blog. Instead of Monday, it is now "Keep Reading Fun Day," and every Monday, I will post about something I'm trying to do to keep reading fun for kids.

Especially as Mommy to a learning-to-read 6-year-old, these tips are super important for me to remember. I want my son  learn how to read. But I also want him to love reading once he has learned how. (And the same for my 4-year-old, once he is ready.)

So, for today's first  "Keep Reading Fun Day", I will focus on the power of Read-Aloud!


1. They learn that reading is FUN!

Both boys will ask for book after book (or chapter after chapter), loving this special time together reading their (current) favorite books.

2.  They learn loads of new VOCABULARY.

My 6-year-old is always asking "What does that mean?" and expanding his vocabulary accordingly. And my 4-year-old, who since birth has been loaded with a ton of diagnoses I wish I couldn't pronounce, knows the word "eiderdown" because of Mem Fox's beautiful picture book, TEN LITTLE FINGERS AND TEN LITTLE TOES.

3. They learn that they WANT to learn to read!

Trelease so wonderfully describes reading aloud as a powerful advertisement for reading.  This advertisement is definitely working as a motivator for my oldest. Right now he adores it when we read aloud "Boxcar Children" mysteries to him (we are going through several a week ), and he is willing to do the challenging work of learning to read, so that he will be able to read them on his own some day.

4. They learn that they are part of a COOL CLUB filled with wonderful inside jokes.

When my 6-year-old was at a birthday party recently, somebody mentioned "vermicious knids". His ears perked up and he gave me a big smile. Other people at the party loved CHARLIE AND THE GREAT GLASS ELEVATOR too!

These are just a few of the benefits I've noticed with my own boys. Reading aloud to my students when I was a classroom teacher was always a highlight of our school day and had loads of similar benefits!

***So, what benefits do you notice when you read aloud to kids?