Listen up kids, read an audiobook
30 Nov | 2 Comments »Take this short quiz to see if you and your child need audiobooks in your reading lives.
Are you busy?
Always on the go?
Does your child resist reading every night?
Do you want some peace and quiet for a few minutes?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, I have the answer for you.
Audiobooks.
Listen up – here’s all you need to know.
- Choose a book at the right reading (listening) level.
- 2 – 4 years: short picture books.
- 5 – 6 years: beginning chapter books.
- 7 + years: chapter books
- Teach your young kiddos how to listen for the beep and turn only one page.
- Get kid headphones with LONG cords and listen on a cd player.
- Download your child’s books to his or her iPod or your computer.
Benefits.
- It counts as reading.
- It is quiet.
- It helps (struggling) readers because . . . it builds vocabulary, increases background knowledge, engages visualization, improves listening skills, and it’s really quite enjoyable.
Convinced yet? Sure you are. Now for some suggestions and resources . . .
Preschool – Kindergarten: My all time favorite picture audio books are Doreen Cronin’s. The farm (Click, Clack, Type) series’ narrator’s voice twangs with a southern drawl and it fits perfectly with the story. Plus, the sound effects are great!
Kindergarten – Second Grade: Kids love the Magic Tree House books. Parents love the history the kids learn. Fantastic stories!
Third Grade – Sixth Grade: Harry Potter of course! Drama, intrigue, magic . . .
Tweens and Teens: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is a slightly scary but imaginative mystery and The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak will give you plenty to ponder.
Travel Savvy Mom’s List gives more suggestions.
Playtime Books offers hundreds of children’s book titles like Bob the Builder, Matilda and the Chronicles of Narnia.
AudibleKids free downloads (Gordon from Sesame Street)
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Great list! Thanks for sharing.
Hi there:
This is a great list. One option you may not know about is brand new, and the only one that does video as well – it’s called A Story Before Bed (www.astorybeforebed.com).
The site is designed to let parents and grandparents record video of themselves reading children’s books to kids when they can’t be there for bedtime. Kids can watch the recordings synchronized to the pages of the book on screen anytime they like, as often as they like.
We’d love for everyone to check it out. You can see a demo at: http://www.astorybeforebed.com/demo/grandpa
Thanks!
–hillel