Bringing Back the Family Read Aloud

Reading aloud together has gone by the wayside in our family for far too long. We were too busy. Too tired. Too hurried to get to bed, to wake up and do it all over again.

Now we have the time to slow it down. This is the perfect opportunity to spend time together lost in a good book. Let’s go on a grand and important adventure to lands unknown, if only in our imaginations.

I can remember how much I loved when my father read aloud to my siblings and me. I can remember how he would sit in his big reading chair, and we would loll about on the floor. It wasn’t long before visions of faraway lands and mythical creatures filled our heads. How wonderful, to build imagination in a young person? All we have to do is read wonderful stories!

Today I want to share with you one of our family favorites. My cousin gave this book to my son, Jack, for his third birthday. I read it to him and he immediately asked to hear it again. Over the course of time (he is now almost ten!), I’ve read it aloud to him over and over. We’ve loaned it to neighbors. I’ve read it to my students. He reads it to himself.

Here’s why this book makes a perfect read aloud in my opinion:

-the chapters are short enough to read in ten minutes

-There are several pictures. Let’s face it, kids love to see pictures!

-There is fun, new vocabulary to introduce seamlessly.

-It’s entertaining, even on my tenth read!

Here are some reasons my students and kids love this book:

-Adults are few and far between, and mostly clueless
-A kid is the hero

-Said kid outsmarts several villains

-There is a wild, fantastical adventure

-There are maps. Kids LOVE maps.

-It’s a long term riddle- we don’t know why the character has packed the items in his backpack until the moment he uses them in a clever way to outfox a villain.

Are you ready to give it a try? Grab your own copy here:

Thanks for reading. Keep the adventure alive for your kids.