Your Read Aloud Magic Newsletter

"Improving children's lives through Read Aloud."

As the holidays approach, I hope you will consider books as you pick out some gifts for those special children in your lives. Ask their parents for suggestions, or ask the children what book they would love to have. Be sure to write a special note in the front of the book and then wrap and include a bookmark in the bow!

I'm excited to announce that the “second edition" of Read Aloud Magic is now available at Amazon.com. Also, I will be doing a book signing on December 5, 2009, at Wild Hare Books on Signal Mountain, TN. And last but not least, perhaps you've already noticed that my website has a colorful new look. This is all just a dream come true for me. Special appreciation and love goes to my husband Paul, for helping to make it all happen.

I would love to hear from you about some great read aloud suggestions, read aloud experiences, or comments about my website or book. Send me an email at Susan@Read-Aloud-Magic.com.

Happy Holidays!

To Your Read Aloud Success,

Susan Frankenberg
Read Aloud Coach and
Author of Read Aloud Magic

Helping to Connect Your Child to Books

Along with all your traditional holiday decorations, begin a new tradition that will encourage lots of snuggly read aloud time during the upcoming season. Get a basket, put a ribbon on it, and set it out with all your children's holiday books in it. (These can be books you own or books that you've borrowed from the library.)

If relatives ask for gift suggestions, suggest a new Christmas book to put in the basket. Be sure to tell them that year after year the book will become part of the Christmas basket. One that I really love is Winter's Gift by Jane Donovan (ages 4 and up).

Any version of The Night Before Christmas is a must have book for your Christmas basket. And, the basket could be the first thing to go under the Christmas tree. It would certainly be a special part of the holiday focus as little eyes marvel at their tree.

My Current Read Alouds

At Home:
On our last visit to our local library Lucy (7), Emma (5) and I came home with 20 books! One that stands out is Hello Ocean by Pam Munoz Ryan. Lucy will quote the first page every so often. It reads: "Hello, ocean, my old best friend." I have no doubt that phrase will someday be incorporated into something she writes.

Emma’s favorite right now is The I LOVE YOU Book by Todd Parr. Lucy gave it to her one birthday, so it is an ongoing loving message from her sister. It is a very sweet book to show someone just how much you love him or her, no matter what!

Our little Lily is shown on my website (at the age of 4-months) and she is totally engaged in a book with me. She loves to read and is now trying to turn pages herself. We gave her At Home with Maisy by Lucy Cousins on our last visit. Maisy seems to be a real favorite of these little readers.

In my Classroom:
We just finished reading The Thanksgiving Treasure by Gail Rock. It’s a touching story about a young girl named Addie, who befriends an old man in order to ride his horse. However, this story turns as Addie shows the true meaning of the season. This book celebrates the season beautifully, and it is the perfect Read Aloud for now. If it isn't available from your local library, buy it used through Amazon.com. It is not too late to read it! Thanksgiving or not, it's terrific! Ms. Rock also wrote The House Without a Christmas Tree

I am now reading The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare. I can't go a year without reading this to my 4th grade classes. It is a story of survival, friendship, courage, and family. I absolutely love it more each time I read it.

In my writing class, we are reading All the Places to Love by Patricia Maclachlan. It is a beautiful story showing the favorite times and places of each member of a family.

Specific Read Aloud Suggestions

Tiny Ones
Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks from A to Z by Richard Scarry is one of the “chunky” books that little hands will love to hold and look at. It is silly and full of pictures that the tiny truck lovers will want to read over and over again. Roger Priddy also has chunky books in sets of 3. They’re great for a basket in the car or having one in your purse for those times when you have some extra time while you're out.

Preschoolers (about 2-4)
Christmas Farm by Mary Lyn Ray grabs you right from the cover! This beautiful book celebrates friendship, nature, and the joy of Christmas.

Primary children (K-3rd grade)
Emma and I just bought The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown. (All of her books are wonderful.) This one is perfect for the season with a little fir tree that serves as joy and hope to an ill child. Later, the healed child then visits and rejoices with the tree. We had to read it several times on the first day!

Intermediate children (4th-6th grade)
One of my favorite read alouds for this group is There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar. It’s a terrible title (and cover) for such an amazing book! You will laugh and cry at Bradley Chalkers as he discovers his self-confidence. I have yet to meet someone who has not loved this book!

A Family Read Aloud Idea

Why not begin The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson? This is a book that families like reading over and over again. It’s both funny and touching, showing the true spirit of Christmas. The first time I saw this book as a play was while I was teaching middle school. The "star" of the play was a beautiful and talented young lady in the eighth grade. She was hilarious! Now, she is now one of my amazing daughter-in-laws (and mother of Lily!) This book is another one to keep in your Christmas basket.

A Book Suggestion for Parents

Recently, I was given a book by a friend, The Blessing Of A Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children by Wendy Mogel, Ph.D. I will go as far as saying, "I think this is the best parenting book I have ever read, and I've read quite a few!" You’ll see that her ideas come from Jewish teachings. At first, I thought it might not work for me, as I am not Jewish. However, as I got into it, I realized this book is a blessing no matter what religion you embrace. If you go into the table of contents (which you can do on Amazon.com) you will see the basic themes. I highly recommend that every parent read this book. It is full of healthy, sound, family centered advice.