I know that The Blonde is so hip and “with-it” that you probably think I’m in my 20’s and hang out at all the “in” clubs dancing with my peeps.  In reality, I’m a wee bit older than 25 and I tend to spend more time at home with my Tweeps than in bars with my ”peeps”.  Also, most nights at 7:30pm you’ll find me upstairs reading aloud to my three children.
Our family cherishes our books and our children have had books in their hands since the day they were born. Â My husband and I enjoy reading aloud to our children just as much as they enjoy being read to. Â As they learn to read on their own they still love to have books read aloud to them. Â
According to the NEA (National Education Association) site:
Motivating children to read is an important factor in student achievement and creating lifelong successful readers. Research has shown that children who are motivated and spend more time reading do better in school.
In my post a few weeks ago I talked about how easy it is to forget that reading aloud inspires and motivates our children even as they mature and develop into independent readers.Â
My husband and I were recently discussing the books that we remember having read aloud to us as children. Â The books that inspired us, shaped us, and made a lasting impression on us. Â Many of these are the books that we have gone on to share with our own children.
One of the books that my husband likes to read to our children is Sports Star:  ”Mean” Joe Greene  - Written by S. H. Burchard .  As parents, we try to stay away from idolizing celebrities and sports stars, but in his day Joe Greene was a true role model for my husband.  He was the toughest guy on the field but was a respectful, hard working and honest person.  Later in his career Joe had a bad back and was unable to play, but he was always on sidelines cheering his team on.  This fact always impressed my husband.  He enjoys the conversations about football, sports, team work, honor, honesty, etc. that come up when he reads this book aloud to our children.  This is a special book for all of them because it is one they know their Dad loved as a child.  This is a book that they may share with their own children some day.
Book freak that I am, there are many many books from my childhood that I share with my children. I can’t claim to have the same star reader status that Daddy has, because when he reads aloud the characters take on voices that are more creative than even The Blonde can compete with. Â Let’s just say that Daddy Blonde is a huge hit when he is reading parent at school.
I love the silliness of the original Amelia Bedelia books written by Peggy Parish. Â This silly housekeeper that takes things literally sparks conversations with my children about how words have different meanings. Â I was amazed at how my children laughed and came up with other homonyms they knew. Â The series was continued by Peggy Parish’s nephew, although, I prefer the original books.
At the risk of dating myself, I have compiled a list of just a few books that I enjoyed as a child and now read aloud to my children. Â These are books that fueled my imagination and sparked an early love for books. Â
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible No Good, Very Bad Day ~ Written by Judith Viors, Illustrated by Ray Cruz, 1972
Where The Wild Things Are ~ Story and Pictures by Maurice Sendak, 1963
The Berenstein Bears and the Spooky Old Tree ~ Written and illustrated by Stan and Jan Berenstain, 1978
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble ~ Written and illustrated by William Steig, 1969
Just a few of the many books from my childhood that I now read to my own children.
What books from your childhood do you, or will you now read aloud to your own children? Â
This post was inspired by my friend Susan, The Book Chook, who is hosting Day 3 of Share a Book – Shape a Future: A Blog Tour For Literacy. Tomorrow the focus is Reading Aloud so visit The Book Chook, she even has Mem Fox as a guest!!! The Blonde is impressed and will be sure to remind you all again tomorrow when I share a few more of my favorites!!
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