The Read Aloud Handbook

I received this book as a gift when my son, now 6, was born. It's BY FAR, the BEST GIFT I EVER RECEIVED. I have since bought the latest edition to update myself on the latest read-aloud treasury, and the updated information on how we can inspire reading in our children. I have relied on the treasury in the book to guide me through the morass of children's books available, and my children have come to love many of the books, and authors listed. (When I asked my six-year old what books he wanted to get at the library the other day, he told me "Maybe something by Shel Silverstein".)

Jim Trelease's words have inspired me to share my read-aloud experiences with my friends, and I have bought many of them copies of their own. His common sense approach to how we can garner interest in reading in our schools should be required reading by educators. I agree with another reviewer who said she wishes she had money to buy every teacher in her school this book (I've started with the Principal in my son's school.)

A must have for any parent. If most of these reviews read like the testimonials of people involved in a cult, it's because we really believe in Jim Trelease's ideas, because we've seen the results in our own families. If this book doesn't inspire you to remember your own favorite books, the joy you felt when your parents read to you, and to spend time reading with your children, nothing will.

One and a half years ago, my kindergartener was reading at a 3rd grade level but lacked "comprehension". While he could retell basic plot elements, he appeared to lack any ability to synthesize or think about what he had read.

So I dutifully bought several comprehension workbooks and was preparing to work with him all summer. Then I stumbled across Trelease's wonderful handbook, and the light went on. What a compelling message about the importance of reading aloud to kids! What a wonderful book list! And what a beautifully simple way to transform my son into a truly comprehending reader!

All I needed to do was read to my son abundantly, ENCOURAGE discussion, rejoice and respond if he spontaneously asked questions while I was reading (THAT was a paradigm shift), and surround him with great books. I could toss out the workbooks.

My son's reading comprehension greatly improved, my children LOVE our read-aloud times - as do I - and they love to read themselves. What's not to like? This book is a wonderful resource that I have referred to repeatedly.

The Read-Aloud Handbook came out in the eighties, at a time when reading to children had pretty much fallen by the wayside, replaced by television. It offered parents not only good reasons to read to children (developing language skills and imaginations, encouraging children to want to read to themselves), and lots of hints on how to start and keep up daily reading, but also a well-chosen list of books for kids of different ages and interests.

As far as I'm concerned, the luckiest break I got as a parent was that this book came out the year my first child was born. I bought my first copy then, I've bought subsequent editions of the book, and I've referred to it constantly, more than any other parenting book I have (Not even good old Dr. Spock comes close). I've recommended it to many friends, and they all come away raving about it as much as I do.

By now, I think most parents realize that reading to kids is important. It's just not always easy to do. People are busy, it's hard to find the time. And then, even if you do manage to find the time, kids may not like the books you pick. That picture book you remember fondly from childhood turns out to be a little stodgy and old-fashioned, and your child just won't sit still for it. Or you pick up the latest hyped children's book, and your child loves it, but you feel like you are going to go insane if you have to read this syrupy garbage one more time. Despite the best intentions, it's easy to let the habit fall by the wayside.

That's why every parent needs Jim Trelease's book. The first half of the book focuses on why you should read to kids and how to do it. Trelease is such an inspiring writer, that even when your best intentions flag, he will convince you to keep going.

But the heart and soul of the book is the list of read-aloud books. It's hard to explain what a great job Trelease has done with this. Not only are his choices almost universally excellent, but he gives enough of a description of each book so that a parent can really tell whether or not the book will be right for his child. Even better, Trelease follows each review with a list of other books that a child who liked that particular book will probably also enjoy. With Trelease's help, there's no reason for any child to be without a nice big pile of books from the library ready to enjoy.

I've looked at several other books that claim to help parents in reading to their children and offer similar lists, but none are a tenth as good. The descriptions are often skimpy and the book choices are poor (usually focusing on books that are more appealing to adults than children). Lots of them recommend books that are long out of print. I've rarely found any of of Trelease's recommendations unavailable.

One final note: This is not just a book for new parents, and parents of young children. Trelease also discusses how to get older children turned on to reading. And his list of chapter books to read to children is even better than his picture book list. If it's hard for parents to find good picture books to read to their children, it's even harder to find good novels to read to older children, because it takes so long to preview one yourself. I read to my oldest child until long after he became a proficient reader himself, but I cannot imagine how I could have found such good books to read without Jim Trelease's help.

So whether you're a new parent, or the parent of an older child who isn't interested in reading yet, you need this book.

The best thing you can give your child is the love of reading. Being a good reader will not only help your child in school, but your child will have a lifetime's worth of learning nad pleasure ahead of him!

My own children are in their late teens and early 20's and I was fortunate enough to hear Jim Trelease speak at a public library many years ago, probably soon after the first edition of The Read Aloud Handbook came out. We started reading to our oldest child when she was 4 months old and as the others came along, they were read to from birth since we were reading to the older one(s).

This book is incredibly inspiring - Jim gives so many great suggestions on what books to read to your kids, and how to interest kids who may be reluctant to enter into reading themselves.

Just the list of books alone would be worth the price of this book! I know that we wouldn't have known about some of the books we read to our kids without Jim's book.

Jim Trelease also covers the issue of TELEVISION in his book. He gives very convincing reasons for turning OFF the TV and reading instead. I had already made the decision for our family that we weren't going to allow the children to watch endless hours of TV (even though all they watched was Sesame Street and Mister Rogers!), but Jim's book confirmed my decision.

My kids all enjoy reading - and my husband and I have always been readers. For me, the book was just confirming what I already knew - and it gave me so many good titles to find at the library! I remember reading "Stone Fox" to our girls and what a great experience that book was.

Public libraries are a wonderful resource, but they don't take the place of having a child OWN some books of his own. Tell family members to buy your children books for Christmas and birthday gifts. When you can, buy hardcover as they will last a lot longer. Look up some of the books Trelease recommends here on Amazon - you can read reviews and make some good choices.

Children today are TOO BUSY - most kids have more activities than anyone could possibly handle and still have time to stop and just be! 10-15 years ago, kids would play a sport, or play an instrument, take dance lessons, or be in Scouts. They might do two of these things. But I know kids who do them ALL, plus more things I haven't mentioned. And one of the things that gets cut out with all the busy-ness is READING. Meals together as a family fall by the wayside and kids and parents are so exhausted from running around with all the activities that they don't read books and the parents are too tired to read to them.

If you have young children, please consider fighting this pressure to sign your child up for every available activity. Take time to enjoy your family - the kids grow up much too fast!

And give your kids the gift of reading - buy a copy of this marvelous book, consult it often, and you'll enjoy a richness of family life that your kids will remember forever!

I was desperate! My husband and I are readers. Our house if full of books. I started buying & reading children's books (aloud) while pregnant. I read aloud while she slept. I tried having my husband read while we nursed - my child was annoyed by the interruption. She never seemed to respond to the books & as soon as she was able, would grab them out of our hands. All of my lovely images of us snuggled together reading into the future were fading away, I was heartbroken. As a toddler the books were used primarily to work on her throwing practice. Then I found this book. She is 17 months old & I just a few days ago I read the book & followed his advice. He helped me to pick the appropriate books for her age, interest and activity level. She now will listen to me read a (/an appropriate) book. She is interested in books & "reads" them herself. Tonight when I asked her which book she wanted to read before bed, she picked up "Brown Bear" (Eric Carle), opened it and looked at every page, made the appropriate animal sounds, then looked at it again & showed me every animals eyes (she just learned how to say "eye"). She then gave me another book for me to read to her. I am overjoyed! There is also other wonderful information about developing your personal library, using the public library system, getting schools involved, etc. I did not need to be convinced about the joys of reading aloud, I needed the how-to and this book provided it for me.