Reading with Children

Local parents, grandparents, professionals, community and faith leaders, and government officials serving as Guest Readers are an integral part of Diversity Rocks the Book.

While the pandemic is preventing us from sending Guest Readers into the schools, we hope to reinstate this project component as soon as schools reopen to visitors.

In the meantime, check out these resources for how to engage children when you’re reading to them. Great suggestions for teachers, parents, grandparents!

Reading with Children Resources

More Read Aloud Tips

This 3 minute video by our own Erin Davison, Herrick District Library, offers great pointers on reading to a classroom!

Even More Read Aloud Tips

• Preview the book before you read it so you can anticipate questions or reactions.
• This also helps you consider questions you might want to ask during the reading
• Introduce the book to the group. Point out the title and the author. Point out the cover and back art. What do you think this book might be about?
• Read with expression. Don’t read too fast. Vary your pace to pause for emphasis.
• Explain vocabulary that might be unfamiliar to younger children.
• Encourage interaction with the book. “Why do you think the character said that?” “How do you think that character feels?” “How would you feel if this happened to you?”
• Encourage predictions. “What do you think will happen next?” Honor all responses not just the “correct” answers. Say things like “That’s a possibility. Let’s see what the author thinks.” Or “That’s an interesting idea. How did you think of that?”
• Leave time at the end for open ended questions. What did they like or dislike about the book?

Guest Readers in Action

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