Skim the main text and instead pour over the treasury of read-aloud books. Great list of books to read to kids of all ages. ( )

If you are a parent or an educator, get this book from the library. I read the 7th edition. The first 172 pages pertain to reading, the importance of, etc. I've long been convinced that it's critical to read, read, read to your kids -- and I still learned a lot from this section. Some ideas reinforced, some expounded upon.

The second half of the book contains titles that would make good read-alouds. Sorted by type, and then sorted alphabetically by title within that.

I haven't evaulated many of these titles yet, but I'm writing down a few and will add these to our library list. I feel like it would be a more useful list if books were grouped by age vs. alphabetically.

One thing to note: a good book doesn't necessarily translate to a good read-aloud. Some books are better read to yourself, silently. This book focuses on the ones that are great aloud. ( )

I used this book a lot when my kids were growing up. Great resource. ( )

Every now and again when I receive new books to shelve, I come across one (or quite a few) that I pull aside to read for myself. That's how I stumbled upon today's book. The Read-Aloud Handbook (7th Edition) by Jim Trelease immediately caught my eye for no other reason than I'm a giant nerd for my profession. :-D The first half of the book is a discussion about the importance of reading and more specifically reading aloud to children from birth to...forever. This is not just Trelease's personal opinion but is backed up by extensive research and a plethora of data on the topic. However, it's not all technical jargon replete with charts and numbers. He uses examples from his own childhood which he describes as 'print rich' with a father who modeled reading habits as well as read to him on a regular basis. He was also fortunate to have a teacher that read aloud to the class each day. (This is a rarity in schools because of the rigorous standardized testing schedules and something I strongly contest.) He also received encouragement from a teacher who sent a note home to his parents praising his behavior and writing capability. (That really can make all the difference, folks!) Trelease also talks about the rearing of his children and their nightly routine of book reading. Perhaps the most compelling parts of this book are the firsthand narratives of the significance of reading aloud throughout childhood and the benefits gained from it. It is chock full of anecdotes from principals, teachers, parents, and librarians and how they did their part to guide the children in their lives to become lifelong learners and readers. I've used quite a few of the 'tips and tricks' that he discusses like using ebooks and audiobooks for visually impaired and illiterate parents in the workshops and one-on-one discussions I've had with parents in my community. (P.S. Wordless picture books are another great resource.) Whether you're a professional in the field of library sciences or education or simply trying to create a love of reading in your own children this is a must have. I bought a copy for myself before I'd even finished reading it! 10/10

Oh and did I mention that the second half contains a Treasury of books subdivided by reading comprehension, age group, genre, and best books for reading aloud? WHY AREN'T YOU READING THIS YET? ( )