Reading Aloud

Reading is a big part of our lives. Brian and I are always reading. (Is it any wonder we met when we both worked at the county library?) We feel it is important to pass our love of reading onto the kids. We begin reading to them as little babies. Now we have 3 read-aholics! I can rarely sit down without someone bringing me a book.

Sometime right before Gavin's fourth birthday, he went to the bookshelf and pulled down The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. He sat staring at the illustration on the cover and said in a half-whisper, "Can we read this?" It was a defining moment for me. I had never really thought of reading him a book with no pictures-- a book that certainly was above his recommended reading level-- but I decided to give it a try and he was enthralled! Even Maddie (who was only two at the time) sat and listened. I knew they were soaking it up and understanding because they began acting out the story with a rubber mouse and a plastic motorcycle. We ended up finishing the first book and moving on the other two books in the series.

Reading aloud "chapter books" is now a regular part of our life. We've read the first three books in the Little House series, four of the Grandma's Attic books, a biography of Squanto, The Hundred Dresses and quite a few more. Now we are reading Sarah, Plain and Tall. I think it is just as enjoyable for me as it is for them!