Desa Rae’s Reviews > The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids > Status Update

Research shows that even when children reach primary grades, repeated picture book reading of the same book (at least 3 times) increases vocabulary acquisition by 15 to 40%

10 Questions to Strike up Convos about Books
1. What does the character want and why can’t he/she have it?
2. Should he/she have done that?
3. How is X like/different from Y?
4. Who is the most __ in this story?
5. What does this story or character remind you of?
6. What is the character most afraid of?
7. What would you change about the setting or main character if you were writing the book?

The 5 keys of conversation
1. Don’t talk about every book
2. There are no right answers
3. Compelling questions > compelling answers
4. Plant seeds and step aside
5. Use reading journals

What is a good book? A good book appeals to all ages and fills the reader with hope

5 myths about sharing books with our kids
1. If you want reading aloud to make a difference, do a lot of it
2. It only counts if you do the reading yourself
3. Light books don’t count
4. My kids should sit still while I read
5. If it doesn’t look like I imagined, something is wrong

3 benefits of reading aloud to kids:
1. Increased vocabulary and highly sophisticated language patterns
2. The ability to make connections (reading comprehension)
3. A love for reading