The Read-Aloud Handbook: Whys and Whats of Reading to Your Children

Whether you’re new to reading aloud with your kids or a seasoned pro, take the time to peruse Jim Trelease’s Read Aloud Handbook.

First published in 1982 and now in its seventh edition, The Read Aloud Handbook includes an in-depth, research-based discussion of the benefits of reading aloud. Trelease addresses common parent questions, such as when to begin reading aloud with your children (spoiler alert: today!), when to stop reading aloud, and how reading aloud changes as our children grow. He also offers support for parents when their children struggle to sit still for reading, and in this newest edition, he examines the role that technology plays, for better or for worse, in the lives of young readers.

The real heart of this book is Trelease’s 100-page treasury of books to read aloud. Blending the indispensable classics with fresh new titles,   Trelease has spent thirty years compiling and revising this list. His suggestions are organized by age level and accompanied by descriptions of their unique merits.

Like me, you’ve probably stood in the children’s section of the library wondering, “Are any of these books any good? Where do I even start?”