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Da Poppins is a regular contributor to the NANNY SHECANDO blog, covering the very important topics of reading, book reviews, and the importance of children's literacy.

4 Components Of Good Read Aloud Books

  1. Why You Should Read Aloud To Your Child
  2. 4 Components Of Good Read Aloud Books
  3. 8 Tips To Selecting Good Read Aloud Books
  4. 6 Tips To Develop A Reading Routine

Get ready to delve into the wonder of story time again as we continue with Part 2 of the Read Aloud series. If you missed Part 1, you can find it here.

Read Aloud - Part 2

I believe that a nanny should have a good grasp on children’s literature and be able to introduce all sorts of books to their charges. But I do know that this can seem a little daunting. I walk into the children’s section of the library and think, “so many books, so little time.”

The best way for a nanny to find good books is to spend time in the library or the bookstore and just browse through what is available. I do it as an activity with the children, but I also do it on my own when I can have more time to really research. Story time isn’t just something I do now and then as a nanny, it is part of a skill I bring to the family. While some nannies are better at outdoor activities, and some are better at planning and doing crafts, I am really good at reading stories and inventing stories to entertain. Because of this, it’s an area and particular skill to being a nanny that I personally emphasise.

Story time isn’t just something I do now and then as a nanny, it’s a skill I bring to the family.

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4 Components Of Good Read Aloud Books

A good read aloud book has repetition. The best books for children, newborns to at least first graders, will have some sort of repetition. Readers will notice a repetition in the words, or theme, or even character actions. Repetition is what helps to make the story memorable.

Think about some of the classic stories: Goldilocks and The Three Bears, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and The Three Little Pigs. All of these stories have stood the test of time so well that they are constantly being reproduced. Why? Because it’s not only that parents want to share a beloved tale from their childhood with their own children, it’s that together with a clear but simple plot, and clear but simple characters who each have defined personalities, you get the repetition that grows young minds.

A good read aloud book opens vocabulary doors. Language is interesting. Kids love learning new and interesting words. All kids, not just those who naturally like to sit still, but active rambunctious children love exploring language and new words just as much. Who hasn’t witnessed that cheeky-proud grin when a four-year-old says a three syllable word the first few times?

Read aloud books should not be confused with early reading books. Early readers have short, simple sentences like Mo Willems, “Elephant and Piggie,” series, or Dr. Seuss’s, “Hop on Pop”. Early readers are books designed for kids to sound out words or recognise sight words. While early reader books can and should be read aloud, these books by definition limit vocabulary choices.

“When we limit kids to what we think they might understand, instead of just providing everyday opportunities to learn new things, we just simply limit kids.” – DA Poppins

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Key Points To Remember:

1. Look for books that have great illustrations, but also that the illustrations don’t dominate the story.

2. Look for books that have interesting, rich vocabulary.

3. Look for books that use writing devices like: onomatopoeias, consonance, assonance and alliteration, metaphors and similes.

4. Look for books that are fun for you to read. If you like a book, it’s that much easier to share!

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Next time you have the chance, go and do some research. Find a handful of new books and share some new treasures with your nanny family. Parents will notice and appreciate the positive outcomes of consistent, daily story times.

A good read aloud book opens vocabulary doors. Kids love learning new and interesting words.

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>>> How do you chose the read aloud books for your kids?

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Dana, Da Poppins, is a professional career nanny based in Vancouver, Washington, a graduate of the prestigious Northwest Nanny Institute and has over 20 years experience in the industry. Dana is a strong advocate for the benefit of reading and children’s literacy, is a talented scrapbooker, and writes the blog Da Poppins.

This was Part 2 of the Read Aloud series. If you missed Part 1, you can find it here. Plus Part 3 + Part 4.
You might also like Connect To Reading and our review of Hervé Tullet’s “Press Here”.

Why You Should Read Aloud To Your Child

  1. Why You Should Read Aloud To Your Child
  2. 4 Components Of Good Read Aloud Books
  3. 8 Tips To Selecting Good Read Aloud Books
  4. 6 Tips To Develop A Reading Routine

Despite not having a great deal of spare time on my hands these days to escape into as many books as I’d like, I am a keen book-worm. So it’s no surprise that I’m a big supporter of reading and of the importance of nurturing children’s literacy. I also try my hardest to encourage the same love and appreciation for books in my charges, and artfully schedule reading time into our regular routines. To kick off this Read Aloud series, I’m excited to have guest contributor Da Poppins here again (who featured in the first column of the Nanny Spotlight series).

Reading Aloud To Your Child, Nanny Shecando, Da Poppins

The Importance + Why You Should Read Aloud To Your Child

I’m so glad Hope asked me to write about the benefits of reading, and of the value in reading aloud to your children. I find it has such a positive effect on children of all ages, with many encouraging results. Over the years most of the families I have met as a nanny had a routine that encouraged reading aloud. Incidentally, all of those children went on to excel at reading in later school years. Plus, I’ve also seen the positive influence of reading aloud in my own kids.

In my opinion (and shared by many others; Jim Trelease, Pam Allen, Dr. Pamela High, Norah Colvin), reading out loud is one of the most important keys for success in school, and is the best way to facilitate good reading skills in your children.

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” – Emilie Buchwald.

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The benefit of reading aloud is that it not only dramatically enhances their development and education, but that it also entertains. Another bonus to this entertainment is also that it’s free, especially if you have a library membership. And if your child is anything like me, a good book only becomes better each time it’s read!

It’s recommended that you should read aloud to your children for a minimum of 15 minutes each day. That’s 15 minutes for every child, every parent, every day. Mem Fox, author of Possum Magic and other memorable children’s books, expands on this in her ten commandments for reading aloud and suggests to start reading books to babies the moment they are born, and to keep reading numerous books every day. For babies, toddlers, and infants, it’s best to start small when reading aloud. You can break up that 15 minute block into smaller chunks between each little “That’s Not My…” book throughout the day.

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So What Does Reading Aloud Achieve?

Reading aloud to your children generates an interest in books, and fosters a love for stories and the magic of reading. As Jim Trelease puts it, reading aloud to your children is an early advertisement for books. It gives your child;

Bonding Time
The joy of reading aloud to your child is that if incorporated into the nightly bed-time routine, you can leave the events of the day behind and settle into a good book. Their freshly cleaned, pajama clad bodies can snuggle into you whilst their eyes grow heavy, and listen to the sound of your voice weave a magical story from words on the page.

Vocabulary Building
Reading aloud helps children build a stronger foundation for school success. Almost all teaching in the younger years at school, particularly in the kindergarten level, is oral. So it’s natural then that children with a larger vocabulary will benefit greater. A good read aloud book opens vocabulary doors!

Empathy
Reading aloud is a proven method to help children cope with stress and tragedy. A good story also helps draw attention to the feelings of others by bringing characters emotions, feelings and thought processes into the story line and allowing children to align themselves with their character of choice.

Knowledge Skills
A good read aloud book will not only introduce new vocabulary, but also introduce new concepts. It can help to establish a sturdy foundation for how children deal with and process issues. For example, with younger children we often rely on books to aid with the introduction of new concepts such as potty training, religious beliefs, and the rite of passage that is ‘going to school’.

Pre-literacy Skills
Reading aloud stimulates language development even before a child can talk. It also assists children in the development of wider social skills, and builds motivation, curiosity and memory. Plus, reading aloud gives children the opportunity to practice their listening skills, which is fundamental to the school environment.

A Love Of Reading
Reading aloud helps children to develop a positive association with books and reading. If you foster and environment in where your children possess a persistent hunger for knowledge, their growth, education, and acquisition of knowledge can only be enhanced. The best overall achievement in my opinion!

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They may learn to read better, think better, imagine more richly, and become a passionate and lifelong reader. But perhaps most of all, it’s that benefit and enjoyment of spending time with them! In other words, that evening story you find yourself having to read every night, the one that’s more than likely seen better days and showing signs of over use, that book is doing your child a favour. No matter the age, or how tired they are, or how busy you are, always make time in your day for reading.

Even if it’s simply to read The Gruffalo out loud for the 100th time to the four-year-old who could recount if by rote herself, do it anyway. Your kids will thank you for it when they’re older.

Reading aloud to your children is an early advertisement for books.

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>>> Do YOU read aloud to your children each day?

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Dana, Da Poppins, is a professional career nanny based in Vancouver, Washington, a graduate of the prestigious Northwest Nanny Institute and has over 20 years experience in the industry. Dana is a strong advocate for the benefit of reading and children’s literacy, is a talented scrapbooker, and writes the blog Da Poppins.

The Read Aloud Series:

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4