Sarah MacKenzie, who spreads her infectious enthusiasm for reading aloud to children of all ages, narrates the audiobook she wrote to accompany her blog and podcasts. Her briskly paced reading is filled with energy and warmth, gently conveying her Christian faith along with excellent reasons for reading aloud to children: bonding, delighting in a good story, enjoying time together without distractions, and building a solid reading habit. MacKenzie makes it clear that audiobooks “count” as reading aloud and discusses using them in her own reading life with her family. The audiobook ends with a diverse list of suggested titles for sharing with children from birth to teens. This is an audiobook that will set families on the road to loving literacy. S.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

04/09/2018
This practical guide contains a skillfully designed plan for parents to use in hopes of fostering a love of reading in their children. Book-lover Mackenzie found Jim Trelease’s The Read-Aloud Handbook when the first of her six children was one year old. In Trelease’s thesis, Mackenzie discovered not only a method but also her calling. She has produced a popular podcast, Read-Aloud Revival; it targets homeschooling parents, but her brainstorming and cheerleading will be a support to all parents who want to help their children read. The trick is to read aloud to them, she writes—even to small babies and truculent teens. In laying out her philosophy, Mackenzie addresses how reading encourages kids to be more attentive and nurtures compassion. She offers ways to connect kids to and through books: create a book club at home, match the child to the book, converse with substance, and ask leading questions. An inveterate list-maker, Mackenzie divides children into age groups for which she provides suggested reading lists (including Bibles), plus activities for children to do while adults read aloud. Although designed for Christians—brief sections address the power of reading for finding truth in Jesus—this enjoyable book will also be welcome to general readers. (Apr.)

Sarah MacKenzie, who spreads her infectious enthusiasm for reading aloud to children of all ages, narrates the audiobook she wrote to accompany her blog and podcasts. Her briskly paced reading is filled with energy and warmth..MacKenzie makes it clear that audiobooks ‘count’ as reading aloud and discusses using them in her own reading life with her family. The audiobook ends with a diverse list of suggested titles for sharing with children from birth to teens. This is an audiobook that will set families on the road to loving literacy. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”

Sarah MacKenzie, who spreads her infectious enthusiasm for reading aloud to children of all ages, narrates the audiobook she wrote to accompany her blog and podcasts. Her briskly paced reading is filled with energy and warmth, gently conveying her Christian faith along with excellent reasons for reading aloud to children: bonding, delighting in a good story, enjoying time together without distractions, and building a solid reading habit. MacKenzie makes it clear that audiobooks “count” as reading aloud and discusses using them in her own reading life with her family. The audiobook ends with a diverse list of suggested titles for sharing with children from birth to teens. This is an audiobook that will set families on the road to loving literacy. S.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine