Informative, helpful and interesting - that's what this book is all about. I'm so convinced that I'm definitely getting a copy. Right now, I'm really frustrated with Goodreads. You see, I own two copies of this book, one is the seventh edition and the other is the first edition. They are almost like completely different books! I've also read the sixth edition, and each one of them is distinct in its own way. At the moment, I'm currently engrossed in reading the seventh edition. However, I'm facing a problem. I can't seem to make a separate entry for it on Goodreads. It's really bothering me as I want to be able to track and share my thoughts on this specific edition with others. I hope there's a way to sort this out soon so that I can properly document my reading experience of the seventh edition.

I will consider looking up a more recent version.

I firmly believe that there was a 7th edition in 2013. However, I am not entirely sure if there will be a subsequent edition or when it might be released.

The possibility of a new edition always intrigues me as it could potentially bring updated information, revised content, and new perspectives.

It is essential to stay informed about the latest editions of relevant materials, especially in fields that are constantly evolving.

Whether it's for academic research, professional development, or personal interest, having access to the most current version can make a significant difference.

While I wait to see if a new edition emerges, I will continue to explore and make use of the existing 7th edition to gain as much knowledge as possible.

I hope that a subsequent edition will be published soon, providing me with even more valuable insights and information.

Until then, I will keep my eyes open and remain eager to discover any new developments in this regard.

My initial thoughts about this book were rather dismissive. I already knew that it's beneficial to read to children, so I questioned why I needed yet another book to tell me the same thing.

However, now I'm extremely glad that I took the time to read it. For starters, it's not only interesting but also highly informative and engaging. The author cites numerous reports, studies, and articles, yet presents the information in an accessible way.

Occasionally, some of the conclusions might seem a bit overgeneralized. But all in all, this book is certain to inspire and encourage anyone to read to children and even to keep reading as they grow older.

Even better, it serves as an excellent resource for finding appropriate books to read, classified according to the listening level of the child. Since children can listen to books that are too challenging for them to read independently, their listening level is always higher than their reading level.

Highly recommended for every parent and teacher! It's a valuable addition to any collection related to child development and education.

This is by far one of my most favorite books of all time.

I never thought I'd be saying this, but it's true. I devoured it every time I picked it up.

This will be my parenting bible until my two kids - now 8 and 5 - move out of the house.

It will be added to every baby shower gift I give from now on.

The knowledge, research and case studies that the author, Jim Trelease, shares are incredibly thorough.

I chose this book when my son started 'falling behind' in reading at school.

Immediately, I started using the tools in the book and reading the books from the treasury.

To my surprise, there was instant improvement at home.

In a matter of two weeks, we've gone from tears/fights/frustration to excitement, pride and wonder during my son's reading practices.

Now, we have family reading hour every day.

My kids only cry if it's time to put the books up.

I love this book so much!!

This is an extremely informative book.

It encompasses a plethora of data and statistics that vividly illustrate the significance of reading aloud with children and just how crucial it is for their academic achievements to have access to excellent books.

I am most definitely a firm believer in the practice of reading aloud to children, and this book has further solidified that conviction within my heart.

However, it wasn't the most effortless read as it incorporated an abundance of information, data, and stats. At times, it could be rather dry.

Nonetheless, the book lists provided at the end of the book are an outstanding resource to have at one's disposal. I have saved numerous of the suggestions as ideas for my own children.

Overall, despite its challenges, this book offers valuable insights and practical resources that can greatly benefit parents and educators alike.

I want to say first of all that I don't think Stuart Little is a three-inch boy who just happens to look like a mouse. Admittedly, I am going to go check it out from the library here in a minute to reread it. However, Trelease makes this claim a few times in this guide to reading aloud to children/teens.

I firmly believe that the premise of this book, which states that we should be reading aloud to children from the earliest possible moment and throughout their lives, is of utmost importance. They are never too young or too old, and it's never too late to start. When I saw that this book was originally published in 1979, I was afraid it would be terribly dated. But the 2006 edition I read was beautifully updated and current, with the obvious issue of whether or not Stuart Little was a mouse or just a really small boy.

As a resource, I feel it is extremely valuable. It is supported by great research and is still reader-friendly. I struggled to finish it, but I will keep it around for a while as I use it to look up books that I could be reading aloud to my students or nieces and nephews. It provides a wealth of information and suggestions that can enhance the reading experience for both children and adults alike.

I was well aware that this book was going to advocate for reading aloud even before I delved into it.

Consequently, the information it presented was more or less what I had anticipated. However, it was still worthwhile to read for the sake of confirmation.

I obtained an older edition from our library, and some of the examples it contained were rather amusing as they had become outdated. Nevertheless, with a bit of mental recalibration, the advice remained sound.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book, along with Sarah Mackenzie’s The Read Aloud Family and Meghan Cox Gurdon’s The Enchanted Hour. These three works offer valuable insights and practical tips on the importance and benefits of reading aloud to children, and can serve as excellent resources for parents, teachers, and anyone interested in promoting literacy and a love of reading.

The first part of this book was truly fascinating, albeit a bit on the dry side. To be honest, the frequent Oprah-worship did start to get rather annoying.

However, the second part, which consists of the book lists and summaries, was a real gem. I discovered numerous new stories that I'm eager to track down! It's interesting to note that while he did list quite a few books that I have read and didn't particularly like, clearly indicating that we have some differences in taste and standards, there were also many that I read and absolutely loved.

Overall, it's a great list to get you started on your reading journey, even if you don't plan on reading every single book on it. And based on the descriptions, there are definitely some that I will not be reading. But that's the beauty of such a diverse list - it caters to a wide range of interests and reading preferences.

This book truly had a profound impact on me, bringing me to tears on more than one occasion.

It is an outstanding piece of work that delves deep into the significance and joy of reading to your children.

The author beautifully articulates how reading aloud to kids not only enhances their language skills and imagination but also creates precious bonding moments.

It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of instilling a love for reading from an early age.

Whether it's a bedtime story or a weekend adventure through the pages of a book, the act of sharing literature with our little ones is truly a magical experience.

This book is a must-read for all parents and caregivers who want to give their children the gift of a lifetime - the love of reading.

Love this book!

Reading has always been of great significance to me. It is not just a pastime but a source of knowledge, inspiration, and relaxation. I firmly believe that it should be given a high priority in my home environment.

The treasury in the back of the book is an added bonus. It contains a wealth of valuable information, interesting facts, and thought-provoking ideas. I can't wait to revisit it and explore its contents in more detail.

By making reading a priority, I hope to instill a love for books in my family members as well. I believe that it will not only enhance our intellectual growth but also strengthen our bond as a family.

Overall, this book has truly captured my heart, and I look forward to many more wonderful reading experiences in the future.

I have three great loves in life: reading quietly to myself, reading aloud to my children, and creating lists of things. So, a book about reading aloud that also contains a list of further books to read should have been absolutely perfect for me. However, here's a spoiler! The Read-Aloud Handbook was anything but.

Trelease begins with some rather inspirational but somewhat dubious correlation!=causation studies, along with anecdotes. But when it comes to providing useful advice for parents and teachers with reasonably normal instincts, there isn't very much. I have to confess that I started skipping large sections of the material. Finally, it was time to look at his list of recommended books. Each book comes with a nice blurb, and many of them say "if you like this, you might like...".

As lists go, it's not terrible. But it suffers from a severe recency bias. About 90% of the books were first published between 1964 and 1980 (my edition was published in 1982). As one can tell from my own "read/to-read" lists, I tend to have a much wider range of interests. Therefore, I'm rather suspicious of the recommendations of someone who seems so firmly attached to his own era.

I did hope that his list would jog some memories. After all, I'm old enough that most of these books would have still been on the bookshelves when I was growing up. But the books he lists that I remembered are the ones I already knew, and the ones I didn't remember, I still don't. There were no sudden "oh, that must have been the title!" epiphanies.

Maybe later editions of this book have been improved (I'm reading the first edition, and the Handbook is now up to the seventh). But for now, I'm not putting much faith in Trelease as a useful recommender.

Jim Trelease’s “The Read-Aloud Handbook” is far more than what its title implies. It not only details what to consider when choosing storytime materials (beginning with no dialect, obscenities, or weak plots), but its true power lies in a brilliant and captivating explanation of why parents should read to their children early and frequently, starting from infancy.

Trelease firmly believes that raising a lifelong reader is the single best investment a parent can make. A passion for reading guarantees the breadth of knowledge and learning ability that kids require to confront challenges in school and in life beyond. Importantly, he urges parents to offer reading inspiration rather than formal reading instruction. In his opinion, parents don't have to master the intricacies of phonics and phonemic awareness or even conduct alphabet drills to lay the foundation for their children's academic and life success. Quite the contrary, Trelease contends that parents' first and most crucial task is simply to introduce their children to the world of print in ways that make them eager to read. This means snuggling up every day and enthusiastically reading great books. No specialized training or elaborate curriculum is needed.

In fact, the book argues that much of what kids need to learn about reading from their parents is more "caught than taught." That is, it comes through consistent exposure rather than explicit instruction. Our efforts during the thousands of hours before children enter school and outside of school in later years set the tone for their lives. A regular diet of read-aloud time at home can ignite sufficient reading inspiration to render much of the school-time remediation we call reading instruction unnecessary. He writes, "Contrary to the current outcry that blames teachers for almost everything wrong in schooling, research shows that the seeds of reading and school success (or failure) are sown in the home, long before the child ever arrives at school."

As evidence, he presents academic research and anecdotes of parents who inspired their children to read through daily reading and role-modeling. Kids who are read to, encouraged to discuss books, exposed to a wide variety of printed materials at home, see their parents reading, and have easy access to pencils and paper fare better than their peers raised without an emphasis on literacy, he claims.

Now in its seventh edition, the book has become more in-depth and includes stories of people who have implemented Trelease's ideas and achieved remarkable results. Stories like that of Erin Hassett, whose parent started reading to her on Day One in 1988 (and documented the books and her reactions), enhance the book. These real-life examples remind us that raising a reader is a years-long process and give parents a vision of the outcomes they can achieve with dedicated daily reading.

To prompt readers from contemplation to action, he devotes the latter half of the book to a collection of carefully vetted books to read aloud to children from infancy through high school. Authoritative yet not definitive, it aims to jumpstart reading aloud by highlighting some appropriate and accessible titles, including picture books, novels, poetry, and folk tales. Each entry includes a recommended listening level to give you an idea of the text's difficulty and suitability for your child.

While much of the book's content was not new to me, I finished the book with a sharper focus on what I should do with the information as both a parent and a citizen. My commitment to daily reading with my daughter was strengthened, as was my motivation to advocate for libraries and community-based family literacy programs. “The Read-Aloud Handbook” provides persuasive arguments that reading begins at home and serves as a welcome wake-up call for us all to spread the word.