The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids

This practical guide contains a skillfully designed plan for parents to use in hopes of fostering a love of reading in their children. Book-lover Mackenzie found Jim Trelease’s The Read-Aloud Handbook when the first of her six children was one year old. In Trelease’s thesis, Mackenzie discovered not only a method but also her calling. She has produced a popular podcast, Read-Aloud Revival; it targets homeschooling parents, but her brainstorming and cheerleading will be a support to all parents who want to help their children read. The trick is to read aloud to them, she writes—even to small babies and truculent teens. In laying out her philosophy, Mackenzie addresses how reading encourages kids to be more attentive and nurtures compassion. She offers ways to connect kids to and through books: create a book club at home, match the child to the book, converse with substance, and ask leading questions. An inveterate list-maker, Mackenzie divides children into age groups for which she provides suggested reading lists (including Bibles), plus activities for children to do while adults read aloud. Although designed for Christians—brief sections address the power of reading for finding truth in Jesus—this enjoyable book will also be welcome to general readers. (Apr.)