RAR #19 Reading Aloud to Toddlers- the Why and 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 and 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.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- 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 the play button below:
Books from this episode:
(All links are affiliate links.)
![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](https://readaloudrevival.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/61kMwUDTdcL.jpg)
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 audiobook) 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 audiobooks rather than in everyday conversations.
- In Episode 10, Heidi Scovel raves about the sophisticated, yet understandable, language in William Steig’s books.
Here is an article about the two different translations of Kristin Lavransdatter. I have read the Archer and Scott and loved it. I haven’t read the Nunilly. But I thought this article was interesting. It gives a different perspective. http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/literature/kristin-lavransdatter.html
Sarah, thank you so much for this episode! I have a 4 year old and an 18 month old. I love reading to them, we do quite a bit of it every day, but I’ve been frustrated lately by all the lovely books that we are just not quite ready for yet. So it was refreshing to hear a whole conversation and OODLES of recommendations for little people. Thank you!
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for your podcasts. With your home library, how are your books organized? Are they organized by author, subject matter, story types, etc? I’d like to organize our books in a way that would make it easy for our kids to pick out a book that they are in the mood for. I’m curious what others have done and what systems work best for them in encouraging their child to pick out a book. Perhaps a future podcast idea?
Thanks,
Michelle
San Francisco, CA
I am a first time listener. I want to incorporate reading aloud to my children 5, 8, 9 yo’s. I never know what books are the ones to read…so I avoid the library, it is too overwhelming. I hope I can start making a list of the one’s suggested and get to reading. Would you recommend 5 top books for: an 8yo son who loves maps, legos, travel and chickens. An 8 yo daughter who loves imagination play and aniamals. An 5yo son who is fascinated with everything.
First– you need this! The Read-Aloud Revival FREE booklist
My top recommendation for you is going to be Kate DiCamillo’s The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, but I think you’ll find a pile of great books in the booklist. :)
This was a great episode and I would love to see the list of books mentioned, but it only shows up as green lines. Does anyone know how I can fix that or get a copy of the list? Thank you!
Never mind, I missed the previous question and answer! Sorry! :)
What happened to the list of books mentioned on this podcast? It only shows up as a bunch of lines in the show notes.
Hi Janinne! :) You have to turn off any ad-blockers to see the booklist, as I use Amazon-generated image links to create those, and your computer probably thinks they are ads. :)
Fantastic episode! I’m so inspired to read more for myself and for my kids – thank you for the hope you’ve afforded and your encouraging example, ladies!!
That was a lovely episode, thank you ladies. I just love Elizabeth Goudge, she is my very favourite author, I always feel richer after reading her books, inspired, almost purer! If you haven’t read her do yourself a favour and start, the three mentioned are good places to start.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoy when I have errands to run without the kids so I can listen to your great podcasts in the car. This podcast gave me some great book titles that I’m looking forward to looking for on our next library visit, even though we have no toddlers on the house. But I k ow my 6, 8, and 10 yr old will enjoy them all.
Your podcast has become my favorite and that’s really saying something. I have 2 young children and I treasure a good book list nearly as much as the time we spend snuggled up reading together. Books are a huge part of our family culture and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Thank you for the time you spend on this site and podcast, it has my book list full up to the top! Keep it going!
I love this episode! We, too, have six children and listening to this podcast reaffirms what I know to be true about reading aloud with toddlers. There are seasons when we read with a toddler snuggled on our laps and seasons when we read with a toddler jumping on the couch next to us:) The most important thing is to keep reading and not to kill the joy! This reiterates that in reading aloud, it’s all about relationships no matter how old the listener is. Thanks for another inspiring episode! Blessings!
I have long admired the ladies of Aslan’s Library and enjoyed your interview with them so much that I promptly listened to two more episodes of your show. That led me to tell my husband over dinner that I had found my people–“they talk about books the way I do!” He pointed out, quite rightly, that he and the three little girls at the table were my people–but he knew what I meant. I know he did :)
Next up: your interviews with Jim Weiss. Or the one about talking about books with your kids? It’s a tough call.
Oh my word! I am loving this podcast so much. A friend pointed me here, and I’m so glad she did. I am not much of a podcast person, but I have been listening while doing housework and it is making me look forward to that time, so I thank you!
My kids are 6, 4 and 1 and we love books around here. Are you familiar with Purple Hill Press? It is a company that I am loving lately, because they are putting out of print books back into action. Every book we have read so far from them has been so fun.
It makes me sad when the library purges old (possibly wonderful!) titles because they need to make room for new ones, and it makes me even more sad when the new ones aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.
Anyway. Thank you for this podcast! So well done!
Thank you for this wonderful conversation! Great, great ideas and perspective.
This was awesome! I just discovered you and your site today from Kat’s How They Blog podcast. I’m so glad I did!
Loved the great ideas and book suggestions! There were several I’ve never heard of, and I look forward to checking them out!
This was a fantastic episode (well, they all are, but this one hit me right where I am right now!). I have been wondering how to apply some of the read-aloud tactics with active toddlers of different ages. Thank you so much to you and your guests for all the great info!
I am always looking for lovely new read-alouds for my kids, ages 4, 2, and 1 month. Thanks for all the great suggestions!
I just found your podcast today and really enjoyed it. I’ll definitely be listening to future episodes. I have a 6yo, 4yo, and 18m twins. Reading out loud is a struggle with such small children but just this week I’ve been making a point of reading to the oldest. We started “Little House in the Big Woods” and she’s loving it! I’m going to look into some of the ones mentioned!
As always, another knock-out podcast! A wealth of information and my book list has expanded. Again. :)
I loved this episode…I almost didn’t listen because I don’t have toddlers and didn’t think (from the title) that it would be relevant. But I enjoyed it so much and am filling my amazon cart with titles that were referred to.
Another great podcast! Wish money grew on trees so I could buy everything mentioned. ;)
As usual, a little late to the party here:) My littles love Holy Heroes Glory Stories. Thank you for this AWESOME list. Off to the library I go….
Wow, such a great podcast–once again! My list of books to find is OVERFLOWING! I loved hearing about so many new ones and I’m excited to plunge in with my toddlers/preschoolers. Thanks so much to all of you!
I always try to request any new books from the library right after I listen to the podcast. I had never heard of Shirley Hughes and immediately requested them. What a treat!!! Thank you so much for sharing!! We are loving this new-to-us author!
I’m so happy that I stumbled upon this today! I’ve been struggling with reading with my lower elementary aged daughter, her preschool sister and a baby (soon to be toddler). I’m actually hoping that the reading get’s easier when she becomes a toddler and will toddle off and play while I read to the olders, she is currently making any reading almost impossible during her waking hours!
I’m going to be subscribing to these podcasts, they are excellent! And of course checking out the recommendations over at Aslan’s Library. Thanks so much!
I love your podcasts! I have discovered so many new books through it that my family has enjoyed! Thanks so much for what you are doing here!
I absolutely love your podcasts. Even though we won’t be homeschooling I feel there are still so many take aways and I am always so inspired after listening.
I love the owning your library post link. We really enjoy Eric Carle in our family.
Pick me! :) I loved listening. My 18 month old loves all flap books and has recently added “book” to her vocabulary. She likes the Spot books.
I absolutely enjoy The Read-Aloud Revival podcast!! Such an encouragement and delight! Thank you for your hard work
Great episode! I have 3-year-old triplets, and we LOVE reading out loud together. Thanks for all the great recommendations and encouragement.
Can you feel the stretching and groaning of my growing wishlist? Thanks for all the recommendations and encouragement ladies!
I always enjoy your podcast and feel encouraged and inspired after listening! Thank you!! My Amazon wish list is nice and full after this episode:):)
I am loving the podcasts! I didn’t realize the amount of twaddle I was letting my children read until I came across your podcast. You have inspired me to bring more beautiful books into our home. Thank you!
Such a great episode! Loved when they started rattling off all their faves! So many new-to-me titles! Can’t wait to get my hands on them.
This was one of my favorite podcasts! I have adopted little ones and LOVE all the book recs! My amazon cart is full!!!
Wonderful podcast (as always!). So looking forward to checking out the plethora of books mentioned. I especially loved the comment about making sure we as parents put as much emphasis on what our children are reading as we so concerning what they are eating. So true!
LOVE the podcast. I’m always learning something new and finding new book treasures. We recently moved and I really realized how many books we have. I guess there are much worse things to have a lot of (lol). I can’t wait to check out their site for some new theologically based books to add to our favorites. Thanks so much for sharing you passion for books and reading aloud with us.
I listened to this on a long drive with my kids and enjoyed it so much! I had not heard of Aslan’s library and I will check it out as well as their book lists! Thank you!
I loved hearing about the books! My kids are all grown now, so I’m looking forward to grandchildren. But I read aloud so much in their growing up years! I loved it!
Another wonderful podcast. Thank you for more resource ideas! I also have to say I’m excited to hear you speak at the Homeschool Conference in Cincinnati, Sarah. Dr. Perrin is one of my ‘usual’ speakers I just love to hear, so I’m excited that this year will be twice the fun!
Thanks for another great podcast! So many great book recommendations for little ones…added to my library list.
I was wondering how did you create the graphic of books with the hyperlink to Amazon. Would love to know how to do that! Is there a tutorial somewhere? Thanks!
This was so inspiring- especially in the middle of winter when curling up with your child and a good book sounds perfect! I love the book list with the visuals of the book covers. Thanks!
I LOVE the Read Aloud Revival podcast and relish every new episode. It’s been a great read aloud inspiration for our family.
Such a great podcast! I am so thankful for all of the book recommendations in this episode! I’m excited to have ideas to fill our home library with rather than the latest fairy book :)
I didn’t think I would learn much in this podcast. I mean, how much about reading to toddlers is there to know that a book loving parent doesn’t know? But as usual I was wrong! I especially loved all the book suggestions!
So many good books to find! I’m going to a library book sale tomorrow, hopefully I can find a few of these.
Loved this podcast (but I love all of them)!!
So many great book recommendations on here. All my children love to be read to, and I know the little’s will be thrilled with the new books coming from the library and Amazon, though my hubby might not be as excited as me with the latter, haha!
I love your podcast and have recommended it to a couple of friends. I am so excited when there is a new one. I already listened to it twice! Great stuff!
I seriously think every episode you do is my new favorite! Having a newly turned 5 year old and a 2 year old, I really enjoyed this one! We just discovered Alphie and are also enjoying them, they are so sweet!
What fun! This podcast was so encouraging for reading and being exposed to new stories. So thankful that I took the time to listen. I need to remember to read to the little ones and the oldest ones. :)
My kids love to listen to your podcast with me (thank you for using the term “twaddle” – now they know it’s not just something I made up!) and this episode had them agreeing left and right with a chorus of, “We love that one too!” I hadn’t heard of Aslan’s Library but am glad to find the resource.
This was another wonderful podcast….I’m just sad it’s over and I have to wait 2 more weeks for another. Thank you for all you do Sarah.
I so enjoy listening to theses podcasts, and this one was no exception! I was wanting to buy a little something for my kids for Valentine’s Day, and after listening to this podcast, and thanks to the handy dandy show notes, all five of my girls, ages 2-15, have a book on the way! What fun to have an “excuse” to buy some new books :) Thanks for all the effort you put into these podcasts, they are such a blessing.
I am just loving these podcasts! They’re wonderful reminders of how good literature truly leads our children to truth, goodness, and beauty. They’re also a great distraction when doing chores I don’t care for like dishes and laundry ;)
I just found the Aslan’s library blog a couple days ago as I was thinking about a book to gift my children for Valentine’s Day. So great to find them on your podcast today!! So many good book recommendations.
As a mom of ten children in a wide range of ages (14, 12, 11, 9, 7, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 3 months), I’m always looking for good books and helpful hints for our read aloud times! We have times when I read aloud to younger children (think My Book House as our spine!), when I read aloud to older children for a banquet of beautiful school subjects, and when I read aloud to our entire family when Dad’s home in the evenings.
Kristin Lavransdatter is one of my all-time favorite books. I read it with a book club many years ago. The newer translation is wonderful. I think all older teenagers, particularly girls, should read it before leaving home!
Thanks for the idea of Owning the Library! I just turned our library book list and our library family movie list into picture menus for my kids to look over and choose their favorites for check out. Now the little kids can participate in the choosing better when they can see the options. (Shows the power of illustrations and graphics!)
As always, the podcast is one of the highlights of my week!
Thank you Sarah for another great episode! I can’t resist your podcast, but the size of my Amazon cart might speak otherwise ;)
Wow! This was my first listening of your podcast and I am just so excited to have this as a resource for my family as my husband and I try to impart our love for books and stories and language to our two year old and three month old! From this one podcast I have about ten pages of mental notes of ideas, book suggestions and goals. Thank you so much for your beautiful blog and this podcast series. As a new, young mom I am still adjusting to the demands and changes of motherhood, I have struggled with how to maintain my own intellectual life and pass it on – this is just what I needed for a boost of energy and encouragement!!
Wonderful! I often get ahead of myself because my kids are only 3 and 7 mos…this was perfect!
Julie- you won the $25 Amazon giveaway for leaving a comment! :)
I love this podcast!! I am not a mom yet, but I am getting tons of great ideas for the future. Thank you so very much!!
On a rough day, this podcast was an encouragement! My daughter listened along as she played and I folded her baby brother’s diapers. We were glad to hear some favorites mentioned and look forward to more new treasures with our next library visit. Thanks for the inspiration :)
So great! I’ve enjoyed these podcasts so much and was inspired to seek out many of the book recommendations from this particular podcast. Filling our home with GOOD books has become a passion of mine. Thank you so much for sharing your time to help encourage others!
Just checked out Aslan’s Library! What a great resource. Thanks for the wonderful podcast!
I loved this post. Thanks for your podcasts, I like to hear what other mommas are reading and recommending. Blessings-Julie
Another fabulous episode, Sarah! Thanks for reminding me about the toddler. As a homeschooling mom of 6, it’s easy to forget to nourish the littlest ones with the same quality material as my big kids. As I am working on book lists for the older kids for next school year, I now have ideas and inspiration for the 2-year-old as well. I can’t say enough good things about your podcast. I appreciate all your hard work. Keep it up!!
Wonderful podcast! I love this podcast, my kids are 2.5 years old and 10 months old twins. I have listened to every episode trying to make a mental of all the books to read when they are a little older. This episode is just what our family needs right now. Thanks Sarah!
Oh my, so wonderful! This episode is so helpful and relevant to my life right now, and my struggle to not BUY EVERY BOOK lol. I have a 4, 2.5, and 8 month old. The reminder to link joy to reading is very timely. I will be listening to this one over and over.
Love the idea of a list of loved books from the library!
What a perfect show for me to hear today–my oldest is a toddler, and while I love and collect so many books, I am guilty of over-thinking what I should be reading to him! Thanks for the excellent show!
I absolutely love this podcast! I think I have told everyone I know to listen. Each episode I look forward to all of the fantastic book suggestions and can’t wait to read them with my children. Thank you so much for creating such a magnificent resource.
Every time a new episode comes up, I feel like a kid at Christmas. I always tell myself: “Don’t listen to it all at once. Save some for tomorrow and the day after that.” But I just. can’t. help. myself. And this episode was no exception. I was so inspired by all of Sarah and Haley’s ideas (I especially loved the one about having different relatives record themselves reading favorite picture books). Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now to anxiously await the next episode (since I have no willpower and listened to the whole thing today).
Oh my heck– this comment just made my whole week. :)
Another great podcast, Sarah. So glad you brought my attention to Aslan’s Library – what a great resource. Thanks again!
Oh my goodness! Great episode. I now have even MORE books that I want to read with the kids. But, I will restrain myself and keep to one at a time (at least for the longer books). :)
I love that I can jump on these recommendations right away instead of tucking them away for when my kids get a bit older. Thank you, Sarah, for taking the time to write up the show notes. I can listen while cleaning my kitchen without having to scramble to jot something (everything) down.
This was such a great episode. Thank you!!
Loved this episode of the podcast. I love them all though! Seriously this is my favorite podcast. I just love learning more about children’s literature and I love knowing that I”ll have some new recommendations with each episode. The Alfie books are seriously a family favorite. I’ve been slowly buying all of them on Amazon used so I can get hardcover. My kids just love them.
I loved the book recomendations and insights! Thanks for another great episode!
What a fun podcast! Haley and Sarah were so interesting and I love all they shared. Now I have a whole list of new-to-me book titles to check out (thank goodness for the library!).
Loved this episode. I especially liked when you discussed not worrying too much about picking the perfect book. Reading through comments of previous episodes, I’ve come across a lot of mom’s a very young children (babies and toddlers really) who are worrying too much (at least that’s how it seems) about their babes not wanting to sit and listen to the “perfect” book. It’s important to begin your family culture by making reading pleasurable. Currently, our 17-month-old’s favorite book is a generic board book called, “Let’s Go!”. It has pictures of other babies and has maybe 10 words total. Not exactly high literature, but she brings it to me saying, “Let’s go! Let’s go!” I read it to her because she loves it. It’s just important to spend that time and make reading something these kiddos go to.
And it looks like it’s high time I look into a Elizabeth Goudge. I think this is the 5th or 6th time I’ve come across the mention of her recently after never having heard of her before. Excited for the library later this week (well, the taking the books home part…lol!)
Great podcast, Sarah! Thank you for this great resource!
This is a great podcast, can so relate to so much said in this cast. I liked the comment of “at least they are reading.” I heard that from a principal and informed her that there were better books for “hesitant readers” and that my child better not touch a variety that they had there.
I like the idea of putting the covers in a binder to choose from. I discovered that the library can be so overwhelming to some little ones.
I have found that sometimes to read questionable books with kids and then discussing what might not be good about the book.
I keep a variety of books for all the kids at different levels and sometimes those books change with their age.
Thank you for a great podcast.
And for the books that would make the cut for the island would be the Bible, Lion Witch and Wardrobe and Swiss Family Robinson.
Wonderful episode. My Amazon Wish List has exploded since I have started listening to the podcast. I’m really interested in the Kristin Lavransdatter book, I’ve never heard of it before…. added to the wish list.
Kristen Lavrensdatter is an amazing book! I am on the 2nd book. These books have truly made me think about our faith and how to make it come alive.
I loved this episode! I have a 5-month old little boy, and I’m already reading him Frog & Toad because I just can’t wait! :-) Loved all the suggestions in this episode. Thank you for a wonderful podcast!
Andrea,
So with you! I want to read the Wizard of Oz to my duaghter, but she’s only 1.5. So what the heck I’ll read it to her, but more because I want to read it. :-)
Sarah,
I’m in agreement with everyone that I too get excited when a new podcast comes out!
We love the Alfie books by Shirley Hughes. Great stories and illustrations. And I just finished The Bird in the Tree at the end of last year.
Loved this episode! Let me add my voice to the recommendations of Kristin Lavransdatter — a worthy time commitment!
I love your podcast! I have a 3-year-old and a 3-month-old and am gobbling up all of the info., inspiration, and resources you provide. I enjoyed this episode so much and also liked the mention of Goudge books there at the end. I just started reading her after Sarah Clarkson recommended her. Wow. Such a great writer! I can’t wait to read more of her works.
love the podcast! have a soon to be one year old so it is hard to read aloud to this age. I find she babbles on with me! checking out alfie books and frog amd toad as well as aslams library!
I just discovered your podcasts. I am thoroughly enjoying them! Thank you! We are Charlotte Mason Homeschoolers and there’s a lot of reading going on in our home during school lessons, my goal is to implement more free reads in the evening and begin reading aloud as a family just for fun on a regular basis.
This was FABULOUS! I love Aslan’s Library; I first discovered it when I was pregnant with my first son and Haley and Sarah’s recommendations have heavily influenced the theological books I have included in our home library for my two little boys! My nearly 4 year old is really enjoying the Alfie stories right now! Thank you for bringing such wonderful guests to your podcast Sarah! I get a little bit giddy when I see there is a new episode available.
What a wonderful podcast! It was a breath of fresh air to our library reserve order and my thinking about read-alouds with small children.