Reading Aloud Tips and Resources�

Reading aloud is the best way to help your child learn to read � and love 
it!As you consider what books to introduce your child, also consider these 
benefits to reading aloud with your child. 

Reading aloud... 
Helps a child enjoy reading 
Helps children develop a sense of how stories work 
Helps build a rich vocabulary 
Helps a child make predictions 
Helps a child acquire grammar 
Helps a child understand literary language 
Builds a child�s background knowledge 
Helps a child listen better 
Encourages children to read! 

Source: Massachusetts Reading Association


Read aloud tips�

Find a time to read when you can both relax and enjoy the story. 
Get comfortable. Find a cozy spot to read. 
Read the book yourself before reading it to your child. 
If your child doesn't like a book, switch to another. If he or she isn't in the 
mood, stop and try again later. 
Go to the library regularly with your children and have them use their own 
library cards. Ask the librarian for recommendations and book lists. 
Build a home collection of books. Trade books with friends. 
Encourage your children to look at books on their own, and encourage 
independent reading at bedtime. 
You don't have to be a great reader, just read from the heart. 
Make it fun. It's not a lesson. 
Talk about the stories with your child.� 
Read a variety of genres to help your child know that different kinds of books 
are read differently. 


Read Aloud Techniques�
Try These Strategies Used by Hardy Teachers

Make connections between the text and the real world. 


Support the reading of fiction with related nonfiction books. 

Hold the book up to show illustrations while listening to a CD or audio 
cassette of the text. 

Take a picture walk before reading to develop a sense of the story. 


Stop reading and make predictions about what will happen. 

Make connections with other stories you have read aloud. 

Model "thinking aloud": pause and let children know what occurs to you as 
you read. 

Stop at a descriptive passage and identify the stylistic elements the author 
uses. 

Ask children to visualize as you read. 

Read with expression and show emotion as you read. 

Summarize or paraphrase some parts of the story to maintain attention. 

Use different voices for characters in the story. 

Clarify vocabulary that is important to comprehension. 

Preread the book. 

Talk about how the illustrations support the text. 

Close the book when talking about it so children can differentiate what is in 
the story from your thoughts about the story. 

Make author to text connections. 

Tap relevant background with children to enhance comprehension. 

Ask children to summarize a chapter book before beginning the next part. Or 
reread a page or two before continuing the story.
Sources of Information and Inspiration�
Print PublicationsLucy Calkins, Raising Lifelong Learners: A Parent�s Guide. 
Perseus Books: 1997. 

Robin Campbell, Read-Alouds with Young Children. International Reading 
Association: 2001. 

Esme Raji Codell, How to Get Your Child to Love Reading. Algonquin Books: 
2003. 

Bernice E. Cullinan, Read to Me: Raising Kids Who Love to Read. Scholastic: 
2000. 

Mem Fox. Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children will Change 
their Lives Forever. Harvest Books: 2001. 

Judy Freeman. More Books Kids Will Sit Still For: A Read-aloud Guide. 
Bowker: 1995. 

Monty and Laurie Joy Haas, Read It Aloud! A Parent�s Guide to Sharing 
Books with Young Children. Reading Railroad: 2000. 

Betsey Hearne. Choosing Books for Children, Third Edition. University of 
Illinois Press: 1999. 

The Horn Book Journal. A monthly review of high-quality children�s literature. 
Available at the Wellesley library. 

The Horn Book Guide. A quarterly review of all the children�s trade books 
published in the U.S., with an excellent index for finding books by subject. 
Available at the Wellesley library. 

Valerie V. Lewis and Walter M. Mayes. Valerie and Walter�s Best Books For 
Children: A Lively Opinionated Guide. Avon: 1998. A fun guide to books that 
children really enjoy. 

Eden Ross Lipson. The New York Times Parent�s Guide To The Best Books 
For Children, 3rd Edition. Random House: 2000. A great guide to a wide 
range of children�s literature. 

Rath, Linda K. and Louise Kennedy. The Between the Lions Book for Parents: 
Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Child Learn to Read. 
HarperResource: 2004. 

William F. Russell, More Classics to Read Aloud to Your Children. Random 
House: 1986. 

Anita Silvey, editor. The Essential Guide to Children�s Books and Their 
Creators. 
Houghton Mifflin: 2002. A useful, alphabetically organized guide to classic 
children�s literature. 

Jim Trelease, Hey! Listen to This: Stories to Read Aloud. Penguin: 1992. 

Jim Trelease, The Read-Aloud Handbook. Penguin Books: 2001. 

Junko Yokota, editor. Kaleidescope: A Multicultural Booklist for Grades, K-8. 
National Council of Teachers of English: 2001. A dynamic guide to a wide 
range of multicultural books.