Hints for Reading Out Loud to Children
(even to older children)

1)  Love the book yourself before you read it to the children.
     *You will read with more expression and can anticipate questions.
2)  Choose a book that lends itself to reading out loud.
     *Folktales, funny or spooky stories, tales with surprise endings and
      stories in which children can join in are always fun!
3)  Have high expectations.
     *Make it clear that you expect school-age children to look, listen and
      demonstrate consideration while you are sharing a wonderful book.
4)  Make Read-Aloud time special.
     *Gather around.  Turn off the lights and turn on a cuzy lamp or light a
      candle.  Flop on pillows. Be comfortable.  Be intimate.
5)  Introduce the artists.
     *Always say the name of the author and illustrator before you begin
      reading, so children can make the connection that books are
      created by real people.  It also sets the stage for discussions about
      style and creativity.
6)  Show the pictures while you read.
     *This may seem obvious, but a lot of people forget!
7)  Read with expression!
     *Listen to yourself.  Be dramatic.  Louder or softer speech?  Funny
      voices?  Don't be shy.  They won't remember that you sounded
      silly...they'll remember an interesting book.
8)  Read aloud every single day.
     *Consider it your intellectual vitamin.  You and the children both
      deserve it!  You can read aloud from a book, the newspaper, a
      poem, a diary, a play...You choose to make it interesting.
9)  Leave them asking for more.
     *Leave them groaning at a cliffhanger, laughing at a joke, crying
      along.  Then say, "More tomorrow."  And then...DELIVER!
10) Applause, applause!
     *Especially if you are reading to a group, clap when the reading is
      done as a way of sending thanks out to the artists, wherever they
      may be, and to encourage you, the reader!

Good Job!
[Excerpted from How to Get Your Child to Love Reading by Esme Raji Codell. c2003.