RAR #95: The Lowdown on Reading Aloud to 4-7 Year Olds
Kids who are 4-7 years old often love stories and can even begin to enjoy chapter books. Reading aloud to kids this age can be such a delight!
You’re also able to have great conversations about what you’re reading together.
There’s a whole chapter in The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids Through Books about reading with this age group, but today…
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- what you are really going for at this stage (you’ll like the answer!)
- what to look for in books for this age group
- just a few book recommendations 😉
Click the play button below:
Listener Guide
Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast:
- 1:14 A common question we’re hearing
- 3:26 Reading aloud with 4- to 7-year-olds
- 5:48 It’s OK to still read picture books!
- 6:50 Safeguard delight
- 8:01 Should you do extension activities?
- 9:17 What to look for…
- 13:58 Book recommendations
- 17:29 Other resources for this age group
- 18:47 Let the kids speak
Links from this episode:
- Order The Read-Aloud Family now anywhere books are sold
- Get the audio version of The Read-Aloud Family (read by Sarah Mackenzie) right here
- Use the hashtag #readaloudfamily to share photos on social media
- RAR #94: The Lowdown on Reading Aloud to 0-3 Year Olds
- RAR #50: How Books Spark Easy Projects and Play
- RAR #45: Our Favorite Picture Books
- The Most Important Part of Teaching Kids to Read
- Links for those with late readers:
- The Work of a Child by Andrew Pudewa
- Signs of a Reading Problem by Marie Rippel
- Andrew Pudewa on the RAR podcast (skip to about minute 20:00 for the discussion on late readers)
- Early Reader/Late Reader: Does it Matter? at ThoughtCo
Books from this episode:
(All links are affiliate links.)
I just finished listening to this episode for the 2nd or 3rd time, and I always get something new out of it! Only my oldest currently falls into this age category (at 5, she’s devouring everything I’ve offered so far), but the other two will be soon too, so I’ve been stocking up on books that I hope they can one day enjoy all together.
As a low-engery introvert mom who’s been struggling with low-iron levels for the past year, I really appreciate what you said about not feeling pressured to do a lot of add-on activities, that the book is enough. My 2 oldest are in morning pre-school, so that really leaves me with limited time to read to them, although we’ve been creative about fitting it into our day – as soon as we wake up, mealtimes, etc. I always feel like there’s more that I could do, and once I’m feeling better physically, I most likely will. But for now, I’m satisfied that just exposing my kids to beautiful language and illustrations will be a enough – and I’m seeing the signs that it is!
Hi Sarah,
I really enjoy your podcast. But English is not my first language and I’m listening from France.
I’d love if you write in the article the titles the kids are talking about. I have no difficulty to understand you, but it’s a bit hard to understand the title and author name said by the kids. Not specially for this podcast, but a suggestion for the next ones.
Hello!
I am currently a 2nd grade teacher and I love following you and your recommendations for books. However, I am surprised that you don’t mention the “branches” books from Scholastic. Particularly, the “Dragon Master” series, the “Firehawk series and “Eerie Elementary” series. I have taught for over 20 years and these books have caught on faster than any “Magic Tree House” series (even though there are always 2-3 kids who love those) or books similar to them. My students are always begging for the next book in the various “branches” books. I would say that 2/3 of my class are hooked on these books. I am surprised that Scholastic rarely has them in their book orders. I usually order them on Amazon. Just wondered what you thought about this.
Thank you so much for all the knowledge you share! I would also throw out the illustrator/author Chris Van Dusen for “pictures you look at longer than necessary.” My children, almost 4 and 6 years old love his beautiful illustrations in “If I build a house”, If I build a car”, Mercy Watson collection and many others!
Sarah! I love your podcast and blog! I’ve found so much peace and reassurance in your words. I’ve started to type a question many times and each time, I have answered myself with your words of reassurance that what I am doing is good and to keep with it.
Still I could use some extra reassurance if you have any to give—my kids are currently 4, 3, and 2. I’m sure you can imagine the reading challenges I face. Currently we read aloud while the kids are eating breakfast, which works relatively well. Any other general tips?
And, I have a couple of specific questions.
1. How do you “read” picture books with kids that have very few (if any) words (such as some of Jerry Pinkney’s books)? Our first Jerry Pinkney book was Three Billy Goats Gruff and we LOVED it. I proceeded to request all of his other books I could find at my library, but I struggled to share them with my kids.
2. I was recently reading your post about tips for homeschooling in the early years and I loved the simplicity of your recommended approach. But then I started to wonder…how exactly do you go about teaching “life skills” to kids? Is there a workbook for that?!? 😉 But seriously, any tips would be appreciated.
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your passion for reading and books. I prefer to use the word passion over obsessed to describe myself, too! I love the book lists. I think April is national poetry month. Do you have recommendations for books of poetry to read with ages 4 to 7 as well? Or certain poets?
I love Robert Louis Stevenson’s A Child’s Garden of Verses! The newly published version with illustrations by Alice & Martin Provenson is very sweet. We have a half dozen good ones and this is the one we come back to the most!
I love to read “The Water Horse” by Dick King-Smith to this age group. A chapter book with short chapters and a few pictures here and there, it held the attention of my 6 year old (who is a very busy little boy). He also enjoyed “My Father’s Dragon”.
Dear Sarah,
Reading your new book inspired me to read to inner city kids in Chicago in an after school program called By The Hand. They are excited for me to come and read to the lowest performing students in Chicago. Any good suggestions to really engage the African American students 1st-3rd grade (many of these students below grade level)? I am hoping they are so excited for me to come back every week until summer break.
Thanks!
Louise
Louise, there are some great selections on our Diverse Books to Celebrate the Everyday list! https://readaloudrevival.com/diverse-picture-books/
Happy reading!
Thanks!
Also, thank you for the recommendations Sarah. I have a 5 year old that would probably live My Father’s Dragon.
It’s so good!
I am in love with the kid at the end who talked about The House at Pooh Corner. Can he come over and play with my kids? 😉