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363 reviews for:
The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids
Sarah MacKenzie
4.31 AVERAGE
363 reviews for:
The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids
Sarah MacKenzie
4.31 AVERAGE
Loved this treatise, and it encouraged me to keep on the read-aloud path as my kids grow.
The audio was fantastic. It was like listening to an extra-long version of the podcast. It's a great book that is full of fantastic suggestions. It left me feeling a renewed love for children's literature and an increased excitement for connecting with my children over literature.
I was very skeptical of this book. I’d heard rave reviews. I already know it is important to read to my kids. So I doubted I would like it. But for reasons I can’t fully explain, I loved it. Such a good read.
The first half was a little too idealistic for me ,reading aloud to your kid is NOT a walk in the park for every family) but the seasons half has some fantastic resources and ideas.
I first heard Sarah Mackenzie as a guest on the What Should I Read Next? podcast and loved what she had to say about reading aloud to children of all ages. I immediately subscribed to her podcast and her book was released shortly after that.
I think her ideas are fabulous and she makes excellent reference to The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease and some other books on the topic. Even though myy oldest just graduated from high school and my youngest is finishing her sophomore year in high school, I plan on beginning this to help improve my youngest's comprehension skills. We read together all the time as a family when they were younger and then fell away from it the older and more independent in their reading they became.
The reading lists are also fabulous to reference to and I agree that audio books are a great option when in the car often as we are in our rural area. The only thing I would caution readers about is Mackenzie's injection of religion quite often. Listening to her podcast, she does not mention religion very often, but it is far more present in her book. If you are someone is not necessarily religious or has alternative beliefs, don't let the basic concept of this book pass you by just because of that as one reviewer did. You don't have to read the synopsis for what bible she recommends for each age group and you don't have to believe in "God-given insight and instincts" just because she does. Take with you the important parts in that you are helping your child(ren) devlop better reading skills, comprehension and sense of other people and places they may not otherwise meet or visit.
I think her ideas are fabulous and she makes excellent reference to The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease and some other books on the topic. Even though myy oldest just graduated from high school and my youngest is finishing her sophomore year in high school, I plan on beginning this to help improve my youngest's comprehension skills. We read together all the time as a family when they were younger and then fell away from it the older and more independent in their reading they became.
The reading lists are also fabulous to reference to and I agree that audio books are a great option when in the car often as we are in our rural area. The only thing I would caution readers about is Mackenzie's injection of religion quite often. Listening to her podcast, she does not mention religion very often, but it is far more present in her book. If you are someone is not necessarily religious or has alternative beliefs, don't let the basic concept of this book pass you by just because of that as one reviewer did. You don't have to read the synopsis for what bible she recommends for each age group and you don't have to believe in "God-given insight and instincts" just because she does. Take with you the important parts in that you are helping your child(ren) devlop better reading skills, comprehension and sense of other people and places they may not otherwise meet or visit.
Great book. I loved all the book suggestions throughout and the book lists at the end.
Some good insights, but nothing new. I'd recommend Jim Trelease's "Read Aloud Handbook" over this one though.
First off: I’ve never listened to the podcast but I did wait six months for this book to come off the holds list from the library to read it.
I’m glad I waited rather than buy it myself.
It’s not that this is a bad book nor does it contain terrible advice, although part 1 was dreadful boring and very drawn out. Part 2 had some shining moments but it, too, was bogged down by personal stories and metaphors dragged on too long. I did get a couple of books from the recommendation lists but an internet search would have been better. It also deeply bothered me that there wasn’t a true closing to this book. It just ends abruptly.
All this to say: I enjoyed the idea (hello, Read Aloud Handbook) but not the execution.
I’m glad I waited rather than buy it myself.
It’s not that this is a bad book nor does it contain terrible advice, although part 1 was dreadful boring and very drawn out. Part 2 had some shining moments but it, too, was bogged down by personal stories and metaphors dragged on too long. I did get a couple of books from the recommendation lists but an internet search would have been better. It also deeply bothered me that there wasn’t a true closing to this book. It just ends abruptly.
All this to say: I enjoyed the idea (hello, Read Aloud Handbook) but not the execution.
Loved this book. Positive with great ideas to do right away. Loved that the author narrated the book.
This book will stay with me for a long time...lots of gems about parenting in general ("We don't go all in for our kids because we are promised excellent results. We're doing it because they mean more to us than anything in the world") and using books to bond with our kids.
"I read aloud to my kids because I know that my years with them are short. Because I long for a deep, soulful, real connection with each of them."
"I read aloud to my kids because I know that my years with them are short. Because I long for a deep, soulful, real connection with each of them."