I love reading my picture books aloud to children

Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination, extends their attention spans, and helps build their comprehension.

Whenever I am in a bookstore, children’s hospital, school, kindergarten or restaurant, kids gathered around me, excitedly awaiting for me to open my book and begin reading – that moment when the prattle turns into silence, and they are all ears, is a greatly gratifying moment for me.

Books have that incredible transformative power, especially when read aloud. Clinging to every word coming out of my mouth, completely immersed in the story and the plight of the characters, even energetic kids calm down and listen.

Once I turn the book around to show them the picture that corresponds to the storyline, they lean forward, sometimes step forward, eyes wide open, pointing, discovering, murmuring - engaged.

After reading each book I cannot wait to receive their feedback and questions; when kids start discussing, assessing, commenting, talking to each other about what they just heard, I know, I created a memorable experience for them.

I simply love that feeling and it is my greatest reward.

Psychology professor, Dominic Massaro, from the University of California in Santa Cruz found in his study that reading aloud to children, more than talking, builds literacy. “Reading takes you beyond the easy way to communicate, it takes you to another world and challenges you”, he stated. Massaro continued: “Reading to children also teaches them to listen, and good listeners are going to be good readers”.

Massaro’s study found that in particular reading picture books is important, as picture books include more uncommon words than conversations among adults.

The official guideline by the American Academy of Pediatrics is to start reading to your newborn, as research confirms, much development of the brain occurs in the first three years of a child’s life.

And even when they are older, and can already read on their own, it is important that you continue to read to them.

Follow my hashtag #ReadToKids on social media.

Reading aloud to kids has widely established cognitive benefits but it also strengthens children's social, emotional, and character development.