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The Invisible Toolbox: The Power of Reading to Your Child from Birth to Adolescence
Reading aloud to your children is essential. Longtime elementary-school teacher Kim Jocelyn Dickson believes every child begins kindergarten with a lunchbox in one hand and an "invisible toolbox" in the other. In The Invisible Toolbox, Kim shares with parents the single most important thing they can do to foster their child's future-learning potential and nurture the parent-child bond that is the foundation for a child's motivation to learn. She is convinced that the simple act of reading aloud has a far-reaching impact that few of us fully understand and that the importance of that act has recently been further occluded by our nearly universal saturation in technology. In The Invisible Toolbox, Kim weaves her practical anecdotal experience as an educator and parent into the hard research of recent findings in neuroscience. She reminds us that the first years of life are critical in the formation and receptivity of the primary predictor of success in school—language skills—that infants begin learning immediately at birth. She also teaches and inspires us to build our own toolboxes so that we can help our children build theirs.
Audio CD
First published April 14, 2020
About the author
Kim Jocelyn Dickson
2 books5 followersKim Jocelyn Dickson (M.A. Princeton Theological Seminary; B.S. University of Missouri-Columbia), a parent, educator, writer, and lifelong lover of books, grew up doing all the things she currently does now in her adult life. She played school—somehow always getting to be the teacher!—read books, and loved to write. Books have always had a powerful influence on her, from inspiring her play as a child to inspiring her to become an author as an adult.
Kim has nearly thirty years of experience in the elementary school classroom, has taught in public and private schools in the east, Midwest, and west coast of the United States, currently teaches literature and writing in an independent school in Southern California, and frequently speaks on reading’s powerful impact on young lives. Kim is the published author of various articles in psychology, literature, biography, women’s issues, religion, and Gifts from the Spirit: Reflections on the Diaries and Letters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, a collection of reflective essays on the beloved author of Gift from the Sea.
Kim has long wondered: what if a longtime classroom teacher were able to meet her future students’ parents at the exit door of the maternity ward to share the single most important thing they can do to foster their parent-child bond and child’s future learning potential?
THE INVISIBLE TOOLBOX: The Power of Reading to Your Child from Birth to Adolescence (Mango Media, Inc., April 2020) is her answer to that question. Nearly thirty years teaching hundreds of elementary school-aged children has convinced Kim that the simple act of reading aloud from birth has a far-reaching impact that few parents understand and that our recent, nearly universal saturation in technology has further clouded its importance. THE INVISIBLE TOOLBOX aggregates research findings in neuroscience, education, and psychology along with practical anecdotal experience from the classroom and parenting to illustrate that the first years of life are critical in the formation and receptivity of the primary predictor of success in school—language skills—and that infants begin learning immediately at birth, or even before.
Kim has nearly thirty years of experience in the elementary school classroom, has taught in public and private schools in the east, Midwest, and west coast of the United States, currently teaches literature and writing in an independent school in Southern California, and frequently speaks on reading’s powerful impact on young lives. Kim is the published author of various articles in psychology, literature, biography, women’s issues, religion, and Gifts from the Spirit: Reflections on the Diaries and Letters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, a collection of reflective essays on the beloved author of Gift from the Sea.
Kim has long wondered: what if a longtime classroom teacher were able to meet her future students’ parents at the exit door of the maternity ward to share the single most important thing they can do to foster their parent-child bond and child’s future learning potential?
THE INVISIBLE TOOLBOX: The Power of Reading to Your Child from Birth to Adolescence (Mango Media, Inc., April 2020) is her answer to that question. Nearly thirty years teaching hundreds of elementary school-aged children has convinced Kim that the simple act of reading aloud from birth has a far-reaching impact that few parents understand and that our recent, nearly universal saturation in technology has further clouded its importance. THE INVISIBLE TOOLBOX aggregates research findings in neuroscience, education, and psychology along with practical anecdotal experience from the classroom and parenting to illustrate that the first years of life are critical in the formation and receptivity of the primary predictor of success in school—language skills—and that infants begin learning immediately at birth, or even before.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 15, 2023
10 dəqiqəlik çıxışa yerləşdirilə biləcək arqumentlər var, amma kitab özünü bir nöqtədən sonra təkrarlayır. Bununla belə mən mesajı aldım, qeydlərimi götürdüm. Oxumağa dəyər.
December 24, 2023
Çocukların hayatta asıl işine yarayacak olan görünmez alet çantasının onlara sesli okunan kitaplardan ileri geldiğini anlatan bu kısa eserde, Dickson, öğretmenlik tecrübesinden ve kendi çocuğuyla oluşturduğu ritüellerden de yola çıkarak faydalı bir tavsiye listesi hazırlamış. Bazı yerleri tekrara düşse de keyifle okunan bir hatırlatma.
April 17, 2020
While I always believed in the power of reading to children, this book validated and expanded my knowledge of the why of its importance.
A must read for all parents of young children, the author offers great suggestions for the how, when and what of reading at every age. She also talks about screen time and how it affects children at different developmental points. It is a very quick read; an important aspect for busy parents.
I can't wait to share this book with my son and daughter in law!
A must read for all parents of young children, the author offers great suggestions for the how, when and what of reading at every age. She also talks about screen time and how it affects children at different developmental points. It is a very quick read; an important aspect for busy parents.
I can't wait to share this book with my son and daughter in law!
June 30, 2024
A deep love of reading is a matchless gift that keeps giving. The Invisible Toolbox: the Power of Reading to Your Child from Birth to Adolescence spells out the lasting benefits afforded by this timeless asset. What parent wouldn’t want to enrich their children with its advantages?
Kim Jocelyn Dickson, a parent herself, draws on her decades of teaching experiences and established research data to encourage families to reap ongoing dividends from shared reading sessions. In her conversational style, she extols the virtues and benefits that reading with children provides. Those who already embrace such habits will be bolstered in their commitment. Even they will be enriched with a deeper understanding of all that ensues. But, if some had not realized the far reaching gains of reading together, they will be well sold on this message by the book’s end.
Readers will discover many tips on child development, relating to children, and inspiring a love of reading and learning (that love IS “the invisible toolbox”). Resources are named to help parents guide their children’s taking hold of and using their personal toolbox. There is a list of age appropriate books for kids of different ages included. Endnotes reveal the sources cited throughout the body of this compact book (123 pages). It is a complete package for equipping parents and children to collect hidden rewards for life. I recommend it to all who value reading.
Kim Jocelyn Dickson, a parent herself, draws on her decades of teaching experiences and established research data to encourage families to reap ongoing dividends from shared reading sessions. In her conversational style, she extols the virtues and benefits that reading with children provides. Those who already embrace such habits will be bolstered in their commitment. Even they will be enriched with a deeper understanding of all that ensues. But, if some had not realized the far reaching gains of reading together, they will be well sold on this message by the book’s end.
Readers will discover many tips on child development, relating to children, and inspiring a love of reading and learning (that love IS “the invisible toolbox”). Resources are named to help parents guide their children’s taking hold of and using their personal toolbox. There is a list of age appropriate books for kids of different ages included. Endnotes reveal the sources cited throughout the body of this compact book (123 pages). It is a complete package for equipping parents and children to collect hidden rewards for life. I recommend it to all who value reading.
April 18, 2020
Best Parent Gift Ever (Especially New Parents)!
If you are or know a soon-to-be new parent, new parent, or a parent of a school-aged child, then this book is the perfect gift for yourself or others! From her teaching, as well as her parenting experiences, author Kim Dickson shares how a child arrives on the first day of kindergarten with a brand new lunchbox in one hand and an "Invisible Toolbox" in the other. Her book explains what a parent can do to make sure that their child's "Invisible Toolbox" is as FULL as possible with 10 essential tools needed to maximize learning. Reading to your child from birth to adolescence is the greatest gift a parent can give to his/her child. Kim also shares other insightful information, additional tools for parents, and a practical guide to what and how to read to children through each developmental stage...plus additional resources. As a mother, grandmother, and speech/language pathologist, I highly recommend this book for parents, child caregivers, teachers, counselors, pediatricians, and OB/GYNs. Reading opens the world for all of us. Kim explains how starting consistent reading aloud activities with your child from birth, starts his/her adventures early and provides a child with those "Invisible Tools" needed for success at school and beyond!
Sue Rector, MA CCC-SLP
If you are or know a soon-to-be new parent, new parent, or a parent of a school-aged child, then this book is the perfect gift for yourself or others! From her teaching, as well as her parenting experiences, author Kim Dickson shares how a child arrives on the first day of kindergarten with a brand new lunchbox in one hand and an "Invisible Toolbox" in the other. Her book explains what a parent can do to make sure that their child's "Invisible Toolbox" is as FULL as possible with 10 essential tools needed to maximize learning. Reading to your child from birth to adolescence is the greatest gift a parent can give to his/her child. Kim also shares other insightful information, additional tools for parents, and a practical guide to what and how to read to children through each developmental stage...plus additional resources. As a mother, grandmother, and speech/language pathologist, I highly recommend this book for parents, child caregivers, teachers, counselors, pediatricians, and OB/GYNs. Reading opens the world for all of us. Kim explains how starting consistent reading aloud activities with your child from birth, starts his/her adventures early and provides a child with those "Invisible Tools" needed for success at school and beyond!
Sue Rector, MA CCC-SLP
August 30, 2020
Even with experience as an English teacher and school librarian, this book taught (and reminded) me why it's so important to make time to read to our children. Dickson speaks to readers like a friend, explaining that our children have a much greater opportunity to succeed in school (and life) if their "Toolboxes" are already full when they arrive at kindergarten. We, as parents, can fill these Toolboxes fairly easily--by reading to our children as early as possible and developing regular reading rituals. Dickson has wonderful suggestions for how to incorporate reading to children regardless of their age, and she provides a comprehensive list of "do's" and "don'ts" that are very timely as we navigate our increasingly digital world. This book is a perfect balance of theory and call to action, and it's an easy read; I finished it in one afternoon. It would be a great gift for a new parent, especially for one who needs a gentle nudge to read more him/herself.
September 2, 2023
Kısa ve öz anlatmış yazar. Sizi araştırma sonuçlarına boğmadan, içten bir şekilde ortaya koymuş öğrendiklerini ve tecrübe ettiklerini. Çoğu bildiğimiz şeyler ama elimizin altında durup hatırlatması bakımından elzem.
"Ne yazık ki bugünlerde çoğu kreş akademik yeteneklerin, çocuklara harfleri, sesleri ve yazmayı öğretmenin üzerinde duruyor; anaokulu müfredatlarıysa artık on yıl kadar önceki birinci sınıf müfredatlarına dönüştü. Ulusumuzun eğitim konusundaki kaygısı ve sınav takıntısı çocuklarımızın akademik gelişimlerini, gelişmelerine uygun olmayan bir şekilde hızlandırmaya zorluyor. Başarıyı öğrenme sevgisinin önüne koyduğumuzda önceliklerimizi tersine çevirmiş oluyoruz; öğrenme sevgisi birincil amaç olduğundaysa başarı doğal bir akışla geliyor."
"Ne yazık ki bugünlerde çoğu kreş akademik yeteneklerin, çocuklara harfleri, sesleri ve yazmayı öğretmenin üzerinde duruyor; anaokulu müfredatlarıysa artık on yıl kadar önceki birinci sınıf müfredatlarına dönüştü. Ulusumuzun eğitim konusundaki kaygısı ve sınav takıntısı çocuklarımızın akademik gelişimlerini, gelişmelerine uygun olmayan bir şekilde hızlandırmaya zorluyor. Başarıyı öğrenme sevgisinin önüne koyduğumuzda önceliklerimizi tersine çevirmiş oluyoruz; öğrenme sevgisi birincil amaç olduğundaysa başarı doğal bir akışla geliyor."
April 29, 2020
I love this book! I'm a student who loves reading, and I felt like the book was a reflection of myself. Nothing has ever brought me more joy than reading, and I highly recommend any new parents to start reading to their infants ASAP. That's what my parents did, and I am eternally grateful for it.
The book was well-organized and easy to read. It provided a lot of factual evidence from many different sources as well as anecdotes and stories sprinkled throughout from Ms. Dickson's career as a teacher. This book is interesting and informative, and I think everyone should read it.
The book was well-organized and easy to read. It provided a lot of factual evidence from many different sources as well as anecdotes and stories sprinkled throughout from Ms. Dickson's career as a teacher. This book is interesting and informative, and I think everyone should read it.
January 17, 2023
“Yerimizde kalmak zorunda olduğumuzda kitaplarımız bize gidecek bir yer sağlar.” Mason Cooley s.40
“Yalnız olmadığımızı bilmek için okuruz.” W. Nicholson s.95
“Varlığımız ve desteğimiz, çocuklarımızın büyüyüp dünyayı anlarken yaslanabilecekleri bir kayadır.” s.76
“Yalnız olmadığımızı bilmek için okuruz.” W. Nicholson s.95
“Varlığımız ve desteğimiz, çocuklarımızın büyüyüp dünyayı anlarken yaslanabilecekleri bir kayadır.” s.76
May 15, 2023
Quick easy read that reignites your drive to read to your kids! Full of good information about the effects of reading without shaming. Heavy talk about when kids ‘go to school’ but I was able to surmise that reading to my home school kids will be ok too. ;)
April 21, 2021
It's a must-read book for parents (or parents-to-be)!
November 22, 2021
A bit anecdotal, be interested to see how much research has been done on the claims. But intuitively they sound good
August 4, 2023
Made me feel all the feels and also so glad I read all those terrible Boba Fett books every night for several months. Worth it all! A great book to gift new parents!
July 4, 2025
memberikan kita cara membangun, mengubah dan memperbaiki kemampuan kognitif anak, diri kita atau orang yang kita sayangi.
April 29, 2020
I love this book! I'm a student who loves to read, and I feel like the book was a reflection of myself. Nothing has ever brought be more joy that reading, and I think parents should start reading to their children ASAP!
This book was very well-organized and informative. There was evidence from many different sources as well as anecdotes sprinkled throughout from Ms. Dickson's long career as a teacher. The Invisible Toolbox is also very persuasive. I highly recommend that any parent who wants their child to be successful should read it, especially in this age where screens can often take over one's life.
This book was very well-organized and informative. There was evidence from many different sources as well as anecdotes sprinkled throughout from Ms. Dickson's long career as a teacher. The Invisible Toolbox is also very persuasive. I highly recommend that any parent who wants their child to be successful should read it, especially in this age where screens can often take over one's life.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews