Book Suggestions and Tips for Reading Aloud to Young Children
Early reading is always a hot topic of conversation when it comes to educating our preschoolers. As a teacher I can agree that not all children love reading but I can assure you, all children enjoy being read aloud to. As a child, being read to is a completely different experience than reading yourself. It takes the pressure off children to decode the words and it allows them to focus on their comprehension and listening skills. Most children I have taught who said they didn’t like books meant that they didn’t like the act of reading – but they loved stories and relaxing while listening to someone else read a good book. Reading aloud books to young children is asking them to engage their listening skills and to use their imagination in endlessly creative ways.
Why should I read aloud to young children?
Reading 
books aloud to young children is the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading. Of all parent-child activities, reading aloud provides the richest exposure to language, and in doing so strengthens children’s school readiness which lays a strong foundation for future educational success. (1)
Reading aloud to your child and having books in the home has been proven to:
- Improve a child’s reading performance.
- Cause children to read more and for longer lengths of time.
- Produce improved attitudes toward reading and learning among children. (2)
How to get started with reading books aloud in the early years?
So how can you incorporate reading aloud into your household routine? Try to find time after school following a short break/snack or if that is impossible, make time at bedtime to sit down together. Keep in mind the age of your child and their attention span – even when doing fun activities, very young children will struggle to concentrate on a sustained activity for more than 10 minutes.
Keep a selection of books at home and if you have space, display them in a library type setting with a cozy space to curl up together. Source books from your local library or second-hand book shops.
Most importantly, let your child choose at least one of the books you read each day. Children need to be involved in decision making if they are going to take ownership of their learning. Talk about the book, the characters, the plot or the pictures and enjoy the discussion. Children love to ask questions about the stories so make time to answer and discuss. Instilling a love of stories, imagination and creativeness is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child.
Reading aloud book suggestions by age group:
2 – 3 year olds:
Picture books at this age work best. Attention spans are short and children want to find out the conclusion to the story immediately. Look for bright, colourfulillustrations, engaging text – especially rhyming stories and easy to follow plots. There are so many to choose from!
4 – 5 year olds:
By the age of 4, most children are ready to make the transition from picture books to short chapter books. Try to find chapter books with short chapters and illustrations to accompany some of the text. This will engage your child as they are listening to the story. These are some popular, short chapter books which will help with this transition:
6 – 7 year olds:
As children gain more experience as a reader themselves and a listener, they expect more from literature. If you are looking for classics, there are so many to choose from for this age category. Children can handle more complicated plots and understand more complex characters so choose something they will be interested in – animals and fantasy are always popular topics at this age.
Remember to talk about the books as you read them. Ask questions, discuss the characters and examine the plot. Make predictions about what will happen next. All these simple techniques will ensure your child is engaged and focused on the story. Whether after school or at bedtime, always make time for reading to your child, the benefits will last a lifetime!
Sources:
- (Source: Reach Out and Read, Reading Across the Nation: A Chartbook, 2007)
- (Source: Reading Is Fundamental, Access to Print Materials Improves Children’s Reading: A Meta-Analysis of 108 Most Relevant Studies Shows Positive Impacts, 2010)
