25 Reasons to Read Aloud!

We all know that we should be reading to our children daily. But, lets face it, when bedtime rolls around and you have a mountain of laundry, a sink full of dishes, and your house looks like a toy-spouting tsunami has blown through it, the temptation to try and skip story time can be pretty high. Prolific childrens' book author and literacy advocate, Emma Walton Hamilton, provides twenty-five compelling reasons not to give into that temptation.

Readers are more likely to... (Hamilton, p.138)

1. Do well in school
2. Communicate effectively
3. Have confidence
4. Be productive
5. Concentrate well
6. Solve problems
7. Seek out and develop new ideas
8. Be lifelong learners
9. Utilize technology
10. Get ahead in their chosen career
11. Earn a higher salary
12. Get a promotion or a raise
13. Cope well with life's challenges
14. Know how to relax and unwind
15. Be creative
16. Be well-rounded
17. Attend cultural events
18. Volunteer or do charity work
19. Be better conversationalists
20. Achieve rewarding relationships
21. Find common humanity
22. Be thoughtful, engaged citizens
23. Vote
24. Live longer, healthier lives
25. Be happy

Even if only half of these are true, this list should provide the added incentive to commit to a few minutes of read aloud each evening. After all, the laundry pile will still be there tomorrow. I promise....

For great book ideas to help enhance story time visit Laughing Giraffe Books.



Hamilton, Emma Walton. Raising Bookworms: Getting Kids Reading for Pleasure and Empowerment. New York: Beech Tree Books, 2009.