An Old Favorite-Reading Magic, Why Reading Aloud to our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by

Fox, M. (2008). Reading magic : why reading aloud to our children will change their lives forever / Mem Fox ; illustrations by Judy Horacek. Orlando, Fla. : Harcourt, c2001.

A reflection:

I spent the evening re-reading this old favorite by Mem Fox. In this book, Fox shares thoughts on the importance of reading aloud to children. It seems like such a simple concept, yet often, I've seen teachers eliminate it from their schedule when they don't have enough time in the school day. After reading it again, I've decided to require it in my reading courses for pre-service teachers-perhaps the children's literature course. Below is a brief summary of the text.

Fox shares thoughts about the importance of the early years in a child's development, along with the ways reading aloud helps development of language and vocabulary in young children. One story I love in this book is that of Moreen Fielden, the headmistress of a private elementary school, who "believed so strongly in the enormous educational benefits it (reading aloud) bestows on her students that she used to read aloud to the whole school every day" (p. 26). I wish all administrators would do this. Wouldn't it send a wonderful message about the value of reading if all teachers and administrators took time each day to read aloud? -To read aloud with expression, with different voices for different characters, with dramatization of fun or scary events, in whispers to create suspense?

Fox suggests that parents begin reading aloud to their children at birth, and often. I found it interesting to read her thoughts about children attending to books at a young age. She notes that if we start early, children learn to listen and learn to love books and stories. Perhaps if we did this more consistently, and helped children love reading (instead of test preparation), we wouldn't have to worry about building "stamina" for children to read so they could pass state assessments!

Finally, Fox shares her 3 secrets to help readers make sense of the text: 1) provide children knowledge with and of print 2) offer multiple and varied experiences with language and 3) expand their knowledge of the world. She concludes the book with thoughts on television, and ideas for helping children who struggle to learn to read. Fox asserts, " ...pressure should be taken off the child entirely" (p. 152) and then notes, "The aim should be to make reading seem as fabulous as it is for most of us: fun, hilarious, thrilling, useful, interesting, amazing, essential, and desirable" (p. 152).

My heart's desire is that all children would love to read, that they would find joy in meeting new characters, in going on new adventures in the books they choose, in reading stories about children like themselves, and about children that are different, and learning about the world around them in books!