This groundbreaking text offers a fresh perspective on how to implement children’s literature into and across the curriculum in ways that are both effective and purposeful. Honed over years of experience and reflection in classroom settings and rich with real examples of teachers implementing critical pedagogy, it invites multiple ways of engaging with literature that extend beyond the genre and elements approach and also addresses potential problems or issues that teachers may confront.
The book is structured around three ‘mantras’ that build on each other: Enjoy; Dig deeper; Take action. The practical strategies for taking a critical approach focus on issues that impact children’s lives, building from students‘ personal experiences and cultural knowledge to using language to question the everyday world, analyze popular culture and media, understand how power relationships are socially constructed, and consider actions that can be taken to promote social justice. This book teems with pedagogical purpose. It is smart, principled, and useful. Its freshness and currency will resonate with readers and inspire their teaching. (back cover text)
Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever
Best-selling children’s author and internationally respected literacy expert Mem Fox reveals the incredible emotional and intellectual impact reading aloud to children has on their ability to learn to read. With passion and humor, Fox speaks of when, where, and why to read aloud and demonstrates how to read aloud to best effect and get the most out of a read-aloud session. She discusses the three secrets of reading, offers guidance on defining and choosing good books, and-for this new edition-includes two new chapters on boy readers and phonics, a foreword, and a list of Twenty Books That Children Love.” Filled with practical advice, activities, and inspiring true read-aloud miracles, this book is a turn-to classic for educators and parents.” (back cover text)
By Jim Trelease – The Read-Aloud Handbook (7th Seventh Edition)
For three decades, millions of parents and educators have turned to Jim Trelease’s beloved classic to help children become avid readers by awakening their imaginations and improving their language skills. It has also been a staple in schools of education for new teachers. This updated edition of The Read-Aloud Handbook discusses the benefits, the rewards, and the importance of reading aloud to children of a new generation. Supported by delightful anecdotes as well as the latest research (including the good and bad news on digital learning), The Read-Aloud Handbook offers proven techniques and strategies for helping children discover the pleasures of reading and setting them on the road to becoming lifelong readers. (back cover text)
Hey! Listen to This: Stories to Read Aloud
Jim Trelease has created a compilation of stories for all parents! This book is a wonderful collection of folk tales, short stories, and book excerpts to read aloud to children. Before each story, and whenever possible, Trelease provides background information about each story and its author. Its interesting to learn that Beverly Clearly struggled with reading as a youngster and that Roald Dahl was sent to boarding school when he was 8 years old where he felt very unhappy. Trelease writes about a significant time in Roald Dahl’s life while attending school on page 299:
“At last there came a ray of hope. One Saturday morning the boys were marched to the assembly hall. The masters departed for the local pubs and in walked Mrs. O’Connor, a neighbourhood woman hired to babysit the boys for two and a half hours. Instead of babysitting, Mrs. O’Connor chose to read, talk about, and bring to life the best of English literature. Her enthusiasm and love for books were so contagious and spellbinding that she became the highlight of the school week for Roald Dahl. As the weeks slipped by, she kindled his imagination and inspired a deep love of books. Within a year he became an insatiable reader, and Dahl credits Mrs. O’Connor–a comparative stranger–with turning him into a reader.”
Kim Benson - Writer and Educator 