Read to Me: Raising Kids Who Love to Read

by Bernice E. Cullinan, Jim Trelease (Introduction)

152 pages Raising Readers; Why Reading to Your Child Matters; Getting Started; Tips for Busy Parents; Preschoolers; Five and Six Year Olds; Seven and Eight Year Olds; Nine and Ten Year Olds; Eleven and Twelve Year Olds; A Final word

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Education, Childrens

152 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 1992

About the author

Bee is a professor emeritus of reading and children's literature at New York University, and since 1990 she has served as editor in chief of the Wordsong poetry imprint at Boyds Mills Press. She has served as president of the International Reading Association and on numerous award committees, including those for the Caldecott Award and the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award.

In addition, Bee has received many awards and honors of her own. In 1989 she was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame and received the Arbuthnot Award for Outstanding Teacher of Children's Literature. She is the 2003 recipient of the NCTE Outstanding Educator in Language Arts award. Bee is the author of the classic text Literature and the Child, as well as many other books, including Read to Me: Raising Kids Who Love to Read.

Reviews

[Loralee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little old-fashioned, pretty good book lists.

[Caroline Shelatz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was alright. It was a bit repetitive and a lot of the facts the author points out (kids who are read to do better in school) I felt were just common sense.
The book had some helpful advice but I was disappointed with the overall content.
However if you did not grow up in a reading home this book would probably be helpful in encouraging your children to enjoy books.

[Shelby Rollenhagen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather interesting and informative. It is so important to foster a love of reading in your children. Read to Me: Raising Kids Who Love to Read is meant to help you do that. It is a stepping stone for adults who might not know how best to accomplish that goal.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this at the library. Was a good refresher but not as good as other books I've read on this topic. Did pull out a few new things. 1 time read for me...krb 4/26/19

[Linnéa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's basic, maybe even common sense but that doesn't detract from this book's value.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good book about reading to children. 3 stars because it was rather dated and also not a lot of new content that hasn’t been mentioned in other books about the subject.

[Sarah Santarelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with the overall concepts of the book, it is written from the viewpoint of children being away at school each day, but easily applied to those who homeschool

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You may have tangible wealth untold:
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be -
I had a mother who read to me."
Strickland Gillilan

"Read me a story,
Please read to me to sleep."
"But what kind of story my dear?"
"Read any story
And I'll go to sleep,
As long as I know you are near."

I love these quotes in the book. They get me excited.

Bernice Cullianan has some neat thoughts about reading. I have heard ideas like it before, but they hit me harder this time. "Reading allows us to live more lives than the one we have. We can face fear and loneliness without leaving the safety of our home. We can sail around the world without fear of shipwreck, or suffer blindness without the loss of sight, while still probing the emotions of the moment. We can rehearse experiences we might someday have: We can find a friend or lose one, or climb a mountain in the Himalayas."

"My years as a teacher, mother, and now grandmother have shown me what loving to read does for a child. Children who read are confident, alert, and in charge of their world. They don't need to depend on others to do their thinking for them; they can find out what they want to know by themselves. The feelings of independence and self-esteem make a marked difference in children assuming responsibility for their actions and in shaping their attitude toward life. Good books may not save the world but they are one of the reasons the world is worth saving."

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit that I only read the last four chapters as my son is already nine years old. There is a lot of common sense info that most parents will already know but that does not make this a bad book. Most books about helping your child to read, or helping your child to fall in love with reading, are too general. I like that this book is broken down by age range and within each chapter there are ideas for making better readers, making better writers and reading suggestions. Yes, the reading suggestions are not recent books but that does not make them bad reading suggestions like other reviewers mentioned. Many of these books are classics that kids will still enjoy. Last, but not least, this book just reassured me that my child's reading patters are right on target for his age group.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great resource for new parents that are overwhelmed with the idea that their kids are going to need to read and hopefully enjoy it. Reading books together and sharing a love for language with your child is essential for academic success and an enriched life.

My hesitation with this book is the titles it provides. The titles are out of date. The books they mentioned are great, don't get me wrong, but check with your child's teacher or local librarian for more current titles to hook your kids. Bring these out after they're hooked.

[Momma Aimee · Rating 2 out of 5]

so "nothing new" ANY of us could have written it, gladly it only took a hour to read.

The author did not challange herself, nor did she add anything to the 'collective' thought process about reading and reading kids.

Her over all 'advice' -- to have kids that love to read, they need to be read to AND given access to things the LIKE to read independantly. REALLY!!!??? I am so glad she authored this book to tell me that, i never ever thought of either of thoese facts before -- such an eye opner!!

[Marguarite Markley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting look at raising kids as readers. What I like about this title, is the "tips for busy parents" sections. It has some great games/activities parents can do with their children if they are pressed for time. For example, one that I found exciting and am eager to try is the tip to write messages to your kids. Leaving notes/poems in your childs lunch box or coat pocket are an interesting way to build their literacy skills.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I read these books to make sure there's not something I'm missing out on, but in reality, these books should have "For Dummies" after the title. Clearly, anyone who is willing to read an entire book on raising kids to love reading knows the basics, and while this book had a few reminders of good tricks and a few books that might be fun to add to the shelf, I found it dated and a bit obvious.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cullinan's helpful insight is about what different ages of children like and are looking for in books. I noticed while looking up her book that she has a 2000 edition. I should read that since it is post Harry Potter and the internet boom. My edition is 1992 and the world of reading has vastly changed since then.

[Atika · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me an hour to finish this book. It is kind of books that gives tips to do something and suggests ideas. What I like about this book that parents need not read the while book, they can read what they want to know . In other words , this book divied in to chapter according to the children's ages . The writer concentrate more on reading aloud strategy.

[Cortney]

Another book that I'd like to add to my growing shelf of parent resources...

[Lydia Feliciano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent advice to create children who love to read!

[Karla Osorno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful!