Sarah Mackenzie

RAR #19 Reading Aloud to Toddlers- the Why & How

We know we should start reading aloud to toddlers when they are still small, but somehow the logistics of doing just that are really difficult!

Today I’d like you to meet Haley & Sarah from Aslan’s Library– a blog I love.

Haley and Sarah focus most of their blog writing about beautiful and true theological books for kids, but in this conversation, the three of us discuss:

the nitty gritty of reading aloud with toddlers- a formidable age group to approach with a read-aloud, no doubt. :)
how to power through the rocky spots
why it’s worth it

I’ve got a pack of toddlers in hand at the moment, so this episode is especially relevant to me.

Be inspired and encouraged. Click the play button below and let’s get started!

Click that play button below to hear the podcast!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Want the transcript?
Download the transcript from this episode
of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast
Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.
Email Address

Powered by ConvertKit

Books we talked about during the show:

(All links are Amazon affiliate links.)

Episode 19

Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book

The Princess and the Goblin

Five Children and It (Puffin Classics)

Each Peach Pear Plum board book (Viking Kestrel Picture Books)

The Hobbit

The Seven Silly Eaters

Pancakes for Breakfast

The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings (the Hobbit / the Fellowship of the Ring / the Two Towers / the

The Folk Tale Classics Keepsake Collection

The Frog and Toad Collection Box Set (I Can Read Level 2)

Boynton’s Greatest Hits : Moo, Baa, La La La!, A to Z, Doggies, Blue Hat, Green Hat

Little House (9 Volume Set)

The Maggie B

Pilgrim’s Inn (The Eliots of Damerosehay series Book 2)

The Amazing Bone

Gossie: A Gosling on the Go! (Gossie & Friends)

The Alphabet Room

Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go

The Complete Brambly Hedge (Brambly Hedge)

Edward Eager’s Magic Tales [Boxed Set] Half Magic, Magic by the Lake, Time Garden, Knight’s Castle, Magic or Not?, Well-Wishers, Seven-Day Magic

Kristin Lavransdatter: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

The Bird in the Tree (Eliot Family Trilogy) (The Eliot Family Trilogy)

The Heart of the Family (Eliot Family Trilogy)

Other links from this episode:

Haley’s blog post on Owning the Library.
Sarah’s blog post on the value of Reading Over Their Heads.
Haley’s blog post on Toddlers and Stories.
Get The Hobbit (or any other audio book) for FREE by signing up for a 30-day trial at Audible.
Find scores of fantastic Jim Weiss audio recordings at GreatHall Productions.
Listen to Jim provide tips, tricks, and encouragement on reading aloud and story-telling in Episode 4 and Episode 5 of the RAR.
In Episode 1, Andrew Pudewa explains why kids need to listen to reliably sophisticated language patterns — found more frequently in read-alouds and audio books rather than in everyday conversations.
In Episode 10, Heidi Scovel raves about the sophisticated, yet understandable, language in William Steig’s books.

SaveSave