Book List: The Read-Aloud Handbook
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Jim Trelease’s Read-Aloud Handbook, first published in 1982, has sold over one million copies and gone through six editions. Trelease traveled extensively for the next 25 years, speaking to American educators and parents about how to promote a love of reading among children. He emphasizes reading aloud with parents and other adults, and his arguments for reading are focused on preserving culture, as well as benefiting children educationally and emotionally.
This book consists of ten chapters, the first nine of which a case for reading aloud to children, discussing when to begin reading, and treat other topics related to childhood literacy. Chapter three is especially helpful, describing the stages of reading aloud to children. Trelease follows children them through their maturation process, suggesting specific reading strategies and kinds of books for different stages of maturity. The tenth chapter is an annotated list of recommended readings.
Because of his secular approach, Trelease’s primary criteria for selecting books are suitability for reading aloud, writing quality, and appeal to children. His emphasis is not on moral formation, and his moral criteria seem representative of our mainstream culture, especially the increasingly liberal educational culture. Still, this collection is highly respected, and contains many classic books. I have used it primarily to see what books might be popular with children in more secular circles.
The sixth edition is extensive, with over 1000 titles, more than in previous editions. Just over one-fifth of these appear in my book lists from Christian sources. Rather annoyingly, many titles are only suggested in topical unannotated lists such as “Fairy Tale Parodies” and “Sports Stories.” If you use it, I recommend the final edition because it is more up-to-date and thorough than previous ones.
Jim Trelease has a web site listing many of his educational resources, excerpts from his book, as well as a page for reviews of books that were published since the last edition of the book.
Click here for reviews of titles recommended by this list.
Categories: 3 Stars, Reviews of Book Lists
Tags: Book Lists
Posted on May 20, 2009
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Imagination is one of the keys to virtue. It’s not enough to know what’s right. It’s also necessary to desire to do right. Desire, in turn, is directed to a large extent by imagination.
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