There’s one thing I can assure you about writers. They’re strong, supportive of one another, and nearly always fun people to be around. This is certainly true of my amazing fellow writer and friend, Margo Dill, who balances more roles than anyone I know. Margo has a wealth of experience as a talented children’s book author, editor, teacher, and an exceptionally savvy mom. I’m delighted to welcome her to my blog today with an important message for parents, grandparents, and anyone who has a child in their life. Take it away, Margo!
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When I went to graduate school twenty-five years ago, one of my classes was about teaching reading and literacy. One of the things I learned in that class was the importance of reading aloud to kids in our soon-to-be classrooms. So, I did almost every single day I taught elementary school, whether it was third, fourth, or fifth graders. Some kids loved it; some took it as a time to get in a nap.
But I read aloud, regardless, because I know it is important for all readers—those who are ahead and those who are behind. It teaches them fluency, expression, new vocabulary, comprehension, and more. If you have a struggling reader, and they never hear how a story is really supposed to sound, they may never realize that reading is glorious, and stories are wonderful.
As a parent, I have a nine-year-old who does not love reading. (UGH, trust me, I’m still trying.) But she does love stories. She’s not a struggling reader—she is ahead, but there’s something about sitting alone with a book that she doesn’t love. So, instead of fighting this, I embraced my inner teacher, and now I read to her every night before we go to bed.
We’re currently reading the Harry Potter series, book six; but we have read picture books, five-minute princess and Disney character read-alouds, my own writing, A Wrinkle in Time, and Clementine and Junie B. Jones books, to name a few. I’ve been doing reading out loud since she was a baby. And as long as she will let me, I plan to continue. (By the way, she also loves audio books and music—so my guess is I have an auditory learner—if you have a kid fighting you to read, this may be what you have to. Feel free to email me at margolynndill (at) gmail.com if you want some help or resources!)
So, when Fred Olds, who is an octogenarian whom I’ve known since before my daughter was born because we were in a critique group together, asked me if I would consider helping him publish some of his children’s stories, I read them and thought: These are perfect for parents and grandparents to read aloud to their children before they go to bed—children from preschool to upper elementary. So, I did publish them (and because I like to “Go Big or Go Home,” I wound up starting my own publishing company!), and three of his stories became, Read-Aloud Stories with Fred, Vol. 1, available in ebook (currently only 99 cents through 7/31) and print book from Amazon (soon to be in other marketplaces, too).
There are three stories for kids, complete with a few illustrations. Each story can lead to amazing discussions with kids about responsibility, friendship, consequences, kindness to others, and more. I am a total believer in literature opening up discussions that are sometimes hard to have with kids—but that’s a whole other blog post.
I appreciate Pat allowing me to bend your ear for a bit about reading aloud to kids. Of course, I would love for you to check out Fred’s book—for only 99 cents, you can see what it’s about and even read it right off the Kindle app to your little ones. But I also have two other historical fiction middle-grade novels available as ebooks either free or for 99 cents through 7/31, too. You can check out each one of those here and then follow the link to purchase them on Amazon or for free on the StoryOrigin website.
But whether you choose one of my books or Harry Potter or The Lightning Thief or The Very Hungry Caterpillar, I hope that you will think about reading aloud to your children and grandchildren at bedtime, mealtime, or even in the evening over a snack. If you already do read aloud to your kids or grandkids, let us know in the comments below what you love to read!
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Thanks so much, Margo. Years ago, I read to my little ones and now I do the same for my four-year-old grandson. It’s part of his nightly ritual to hear stories, and he loves them.
What about you? Do you read to the children in your life?
For more about Margo, please check out the following links:
10 Responses
Thank you, Pat, for the many kind words. 🙂 I appreciate your support!
My pleasure, Margo! I’m always in awe of your talent and accomplishments. 🙂
I read to my son all the way through fifth grade. He started learning to read at age 3, but preferred me to read to him. However, he didn’t want me to read to him after he started middle school. But, he has since become a reader. Granted, most of the volumes he reads are developer books or Doctor Who – he has a collection of all the original episode books and most of The New Adventures books. But, he was resistant to reading too until middle school.
Denise, I think any reading is better than none at all. It makes me sad how many kids avoid reading. Videos and video-games seem to rule the day.
Thanks, Denise! Maybe my daughter will like it more once she gets in high school too. 🙂 She does love the books we read together and talks about them all the time, so that gives me hope!
My parents read to me all the time when I was young and I read to my children every day and every night when they were little. My kids love to read when they can find just the right book, but they have so many other interests that sometimes reading, unfortunately, is relegated to the bottom of the list. My son recently expressed interest in a Rick Riordan book, and it was all I could do to be cool about it. What I wanted to do was jump up and down and shout for joy.
It’s such a wonderful feeling to see a teenager and even an adult child pick up a book. I wish my kids would read more than they do, but it seems they’re always busy, busy, busy.
Oh yeah, we totally have to be cool or then they might not read just to spite us. 🙂 LOL
When I was in college I learned three ways to read to children of different ages: for infants and babies point to pictures and tell the story simply using key words to teach vocabulary. For toddlers start by shortening the words on the page, retelling the story in your words but keeping the story authentic. Preschoolers read the story word for word and use voice inflection and hand motions. Reading to children leads to independent reading. Margo is dynamic.
Great suggestions, Linda! Anything that leads children to become readers gets an A-plus in my book.