Waiting is not easy read aloud

Best Back-to-School Books for the First Days of School

The first days of back-to-school can truly set the stage for the entire school year with students. And read-aloud books are a perfect way to get to know one another, encourage class discussions, and figure out which values will define your class’s identity. Here are 46 of our favorite back-to-school books plus follow-up activities for each one.

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1. Harry Versus the First 100 Days of School by Emily Jenkins

An energetic, funny book that follows Harry through the first 100 days of first grade—from name games to making friends to learning how to be a friend. It’s broken into short chapters, so add this to your list of back-to-school books for a fun way to start your first days of school.

Buy it: Harry Versus the First 100 Days of School at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Start a 100-link paper chain to mark your first 100 days together, or try one of these fun activities.

2. The Circles All Around Us by Brad Montague

When a child is born, their circle is very small. As they grow, the circle around them grows to include family, friends, and neighbors. This sweet story is perfect for back-to-school to set the tone for enlarging our circles to include new friends and experiences.

Buy it: The Circles All Around Us at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Watch this video, adorably narrated by the author’s children.

3. Principal Tate Is Running Late! by Henry Cole

Looking for funny back-to-school books? When Principal Tate is running late, the students, teachers, parents, and visitors at Hardy Elementary School must come together to keep school running smoothly.

Buy it: Principal Tate Is Running Late! at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Try one (or more) of these fun team-building activities with your students.

4. Hello World! by Kelly Corrigan

Everywhere we go, we can meet interesting people who add value to our lives. This charmingly illustrated book is a great conversation starter to help your students get to know one another.

Buy it: Hello World! at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Try one (or more) of these icebreaker activities with your students.

5. A Letter From Your Teacher on the First Day of School by Shannon Olsen

In this heartwarming book, a teacher writes a love note to her students. She shares all the things she is looking forward to for the school year and all the fun things they will share.

Buy it: A Letter From Your Teacher at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Ask students to turn to a friend and share what they are most looking forward to this school year.

6. Butterflies on the First Day of School by Annie Silvestro

If you’re looking for the best back-to-school books to ease your students’ butterflies, try this sweet story. Rosie gets a new backpack and can hardly wait for school to start. But the first morning, she’s not so sure. “You just have butterflies in your belly,” her mom tells her.

Buy it: Butterflies on the First Day of School at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Play a game of toss-around. Form a circle and begin by telling your students how you are feeling about the new school year. For example, “I was nervous, but now I’m excited.” Toss the ball to a student so they can share how they’re feeling. Play continues until every student who wants to has had a chance to participate.

7. The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi

An inspirational rhyming book that teaches kids the power of “yet.” We all have a lot to learn in life, and sometimes skills we wish we had just aren’t there … yet. A book about perseverance and having faith in yourself. Add this to your list of back-to-school books that teach growth mindset.

Buy it: The Magical Yet at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Ask students to write an entry in their journal about something they are hoping to learn or get better at this year.

8. My Wild First Day of School by Dennis Mathew

This humorous book by the author of Bello the Cello encourages kids to be brave, take a risk, and try something new.

Buy it: My Wild First Day of School at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Brainstorm a list of “what if” questions with your students. Tap into their hopes and wishes and set the stage for an amazing year.

9. Most Marshmallows by Rowboat Watkins

If you’re looking for best back-to-school books about individuality, you’re going to want to check out this quirky tale. It’s all about marching to the beat of your own drummer. What would happen if you dreamed big?

Buy it: Most Marshmallows at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Ask students to write in their journals about what makes them unique.

10. If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen

Hover desks? Robo-chef in the cafeteria? Field trips to Mars? The main character of this school story has some out-of-this-world ideas about what his ideal school would look like.

Buy it: If I Built a School at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Ask students to draw a picture, with captions and explanations, showing what their perfect school would look like.

11. Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

A young girl learns the musicality of African, Asian, Black American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names and returns to school eager to share with her classmates.

Buy it: Your Name Is a Song at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Go around the circle and ask each student if there is a story behind their name.

12. Our Class Is a Family by Shannon Olsen

Back-to-school books like this one show your class that they are a family, no matter whether they meet for online or in-person learning.

Buy it: Our Class Is a Family at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have each student draw an image of their family and “extended family.”

13. Tomorrow I’ll Be Kind by Jessica Hische

Sometimes the smallest gesture of kindness goes a long way. Reading sweet back-to-school books like this one teaches young ones how to be good friends and classmates.

Buy it: Tomorrow I’ll Be Kind at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Ask students to share what is the most important thing about being a good friend.

14. I Got the School Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison

Students will love the rhythm and sounds in this book about back-to-school spirit. VROOM, VROOM! RING-A-DING! 

Buy it: I Got the School Spirit at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Ask students to share the sounds they identify with school!

15. Waiting Is Not Easy! by Mo Willems

Mo Willems has written some fantastic back-to-school books. In this one, when Gerald tells Piggie he has a surprise for him, Piggie can hardly wait. In fact, he has a hard time waiting all day! But when the sun goes down, and the Milky Way fills the night sky, Piggie learns that some things are worth the wait.

Buy it: Waiting Is Not Easy! at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Ask your students to turn to a partner and share a time that they had to wait for something.

16. Sorry, Grown-Ups, You Can’t Go to School! by Christina Geist

If you’re looking for back-to-school books for students who are having a hard time leaving their parents, this sweet tale is a good pick. Perfect for the child who is feeling a little nervous about going to school, this story features a family that doesn’t want to be left behind.

Buy it: Sorry, Grown-Ups, You Can’t Go to School! at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Draw a picture of what school would look like if students’ moms and dads came to school with them.

17. The Pigeon Has to Go to School! by Mo Willems

Want more back-to-school books by Mo Willems? This silly picture book addresses many of the fears and anxieties that little ones feel as they get ready to go to school for the first time.

Buy it: The Pigeon Has to Go to School! at Amazon

Follow-up activity: This one will get kids riled up, so after reading, have them stand up and shake their sillies out.

18. School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex

There are books about children, parents, and teachers being nervous for the first day of school. This adorable book examines the first day of school from the perspective of the school itself.

Buy it: School’s First Day of School at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Project a photo of your school onto the board as inspiration as kids draw and color in their own image of school.

19. Brown Bear Starts School by Sue Tarsky

Sweet little Brown Bear worries about the first day of school, but soon he realizes he is more capable than he thought.

Buy it: Brown Bear Starts School at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have students turn and talk about one worry they had before school started.

20. Pirates Don’t Go to Kindergarten! by Lisa Robinson

Need back-to-school books for kindergartners? Ahoy, mateys! Pirate Emma has a hard time transitioning from her beloved preschool captain to the new captain aboard the S. S. Kindergarten.

Buy it: Pirates Don’t Go to Kindergarten! at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Ask students to share their favorite things about preschool, which you can record on a piece of chart paper. As you list them, tell students something that will be just as fun about kindergarten.

21. The Cool Bean by Jory John and Pete Oswald

Once “peas in a pod,” poor chickpea doesn’t fit in with the other beans anymore. Despite having grown apart, the other beans are always there to lend a hand when chickpea is in need.

Buy it: The Cool Bean at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Ask students to write about a friend from whom they have grown apart.

22. How To Read a Book by Kwame Alexander

Back-to-school books can inspire students with beautiful illustrations about the miraculous pleasures of reading that will inspire the book lover in all of us. One reader gushes, “Every page is a wonder as the words and art melt into one.”

Buy it: How To Read a Book at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Ask students to write one colorful sentence in praise of reading.

23. The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley-Newton

The bubbly main character of this sweet story is bursting with excitement for the first day of school. His confidence will be contagious for your new kindergartners.

Buy it: The King of Kindergarten at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have students turn to a neighbor and tell them the one thing they were most excited about on the first day of school.

24. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

Starting fresh in a new environment, especially when you look around and think that nobody quite looks or sounds like you, can be scary. This lovely story will inspire your students to understand the gifts of individuality.

Buy it: The Day You Begin at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have your students play get-to-know-you bingo to find out just how much they have in common with their classmates.

25. All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman

A lovely story that celebrates diversity and inclusion in a school where everyone, no matter their dress or skin color, is welcomed with open arms.

Buy it: All Are Welcome at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Create an anchor chart of character traits. Brainstorm with your students all the ways they are alike and some of the ways they may be different.

26. We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

One of the silliest back-to-school books, this story will crack up your students. Little Penelope Rex is nervous about going to school for the first time. She has some very important questions: What are my classmates going to be like? Will they be nice? How many teeth will they have? Little ones will relate to this charming story.

Buy it: We Don’t Eat Our Classmates at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Ask your students to share some of the questions they wondered about before starting school.

27. You’re Finally Here! by Mélanie Watt

A perfect first read-aloud book to show your students how excited you are to finally meet them! Follow along with the main character, Bunny, as he bounces through a hilarious range of emotions. All of your students will recognize the back-to-school feelings beneath the surface of this silly, in-your-face story.

Buy it: You’re Finally Here! at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have students draw a self-portrait that shows the strongest emotion they felt coming into school this year.

28. First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg

Everyone knows that sinking feeling in the pit of their stomach at the prospect of being the newbie. Sarah Hartwell is scared and doesn’t want to start over at a new school. Kids will love the delightful surprise ending of this sweet story!

Buy it: First Day Jitters at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have students write about a time they were scared and how their situation turned out! Or have students partner with a friend and tell their stories to each other.

29. The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

When Unhei, a young Korean girl, arrives at her new school in the United States, she begins to wonder if she should also choose a new name. Does she need an American name? How will she choose? And what should she do about her Korean name? This heartwarming story speaks to anyone who has ever been the new kid or welcomed one into their familiar surroundings.

Buy it: The Name Jar at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have groups of students brainstorm ten different ways they could make a new student feel welcome in class and create a poster to display.

30. The Exceptionally, Extraordinarily Ordinary First Day of School by Albert Lorenz

John is the new kid in school. When asked if the school is any different from his last one, he weaves a wildly creative tale that captures the attention of his new classmates. A hilarious story about conquering the fear of being the new kid.

Buy it: The Exceptionally, Extraordinarily Ordinary First Day of School at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have students write a tall tale about what school was like last year to share with their new classmates.

31. The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak

You might think a book with no pictures would be serious and boring, but this book has a catch! Everything, and we mean everything, written on the page must be read out loud by the person reading the book, regardless of how goofy and preposterous it may be. Irresistibly silly!

Buy it: The Book With No Pictures at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have students work with a new friend or partner to create their own short book with no pictures. (Be sure to set clear parameters about content before letting students create.)

32. Splat the Cat: Back to School, Splat! by Rob Scotton

How can there be homework when it’s only the first day of school? Splat must pick only one of all of his fun summer adventures to share with his classmates at show-and-tell.

Buy it: Splat the Cat: Back to School, Splat! at Amazon

Follow-up activity: First-day-of-school homework, of course! Have students write about one of their favorite summer adventures.

33. If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff

You know the routine … if you take a mouse to school, he’ll ask you for your lunch box. When you give him your lunch box, he’ll want a sandwich to go in it. Then he’ll need a notebook and some pencils. He’ll probably want to share your backpack, too. Another silly story from one of our favorite authors that is not only fun but lays the groundwork for teaching sequencing.

Buy it: If You Take a Mouse to School at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Using a long, narrow sheet of paper folded accordion-style, have students create their own “If You Take …” book. Students can build on the mouse story or create a character of their own.

34. Dear Teacher by Amy Husband

This hilarious collection of letters from Michael to his new teacher comes packed with alligators, pirates, rocket ships, and much, much more. Can Michael’s imagination save him from the first day of school?

Buy it: Dear Teacher at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have students write a postcard to a friend or family member telling them about their fun first week of school!

35.

In a charming role reversal, the students in this story gently guide their teacher through the getting-ready process for back-to-school. Your students will laugh and surely learn a lesson or two themselves.

Buy it: How To Get Your Teacher Ready at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have students compile a list of rules that will help their teacher have the best year ever.

36. If You Ever Want To Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t! by Elise Parsley

An alligator for show-and-tell sounds like TONS of fun. What could possibly go wrong? Magnolia is determined to have the best show-and-tell ever. What will she do when her reptilian pal starts wreaking havoc in the classroom? This hilarious story is sure to inspire even the timidest of show-and-tellers.

Buy it: If You Ever Want To Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t! at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have students write a story or draw a picture about something outrageous they would bring to school for show-and-tell.

37. This School Year Will Be the Best! by Kay Winters

On the first day of school, new classmates are asked to share what they hope for in the upcoming year. The children’s wishes, from the familiar to the off-the-wall, are shown in humorously exaggerated illustrations. As the first day draws to a close, there can be no doubt this school year will definitely be the best!

Buy it: This School Year Will Be the Best! at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have students draw a star, put their name in the middle, and write one wish for the school year on each point (total of five). Then, have them loop a colorful ribbon through a hole on top to hang from the classroom ceiling.

38. Back-to-School Rules by Laurie Friedman

School is in session! When it comes to surviving school, Percy has ten simple rules that show there is more to school than showing up on time and staying awake in class, including no spitballs, no running in the halls, and no crazy scheming! See what other trouble—and tips—Percy has in mind!

Buy it: Back-to-School Rules at Amazon

Follow-up activity: As a whole class, brainstorm “rules” that will make this year the best ever. Then, have students transfer their ideas to a class-promise poster that can hang prominently for the rest of the year. Have each student sign their name to make it official.

39. David Goes to School by David Shannon

David’s antics in the classroom will make your students giggle with recognition. He’s so enthusiastic about going back to school! But David needs to learn that every classroom needs rules so that every student can learn.

Buy it: David Goes to School at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Gather the whole class on the rug. Select a few students to act out “bad” behavior and ask the other students to explain why the behavior is not OK for the classroom. Then have the same students act out the “good” behavior. Repeat with different sets of students to address the different rules you are reinforcing in your classroom.

40. A Place Called Kindergarten by Jessica Harper

One of the best back-to-school books for kindergartners, this story will help ease their worries before the event. Tommy’s barnyard friends are worried! He’s gone to a place called kindergarten. They wonder what will happen to him and if he will ever come back. Eventually, he returns with exciting tales of all the fun and learning he’s had.

Buy it: A Place Called Kindergarten at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have your students take a “field trip” around the school to learn more about their new “barnyard.”

41. Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? by Audrey Vernick

Is your buffalo ready for kindergarten? Does he play nicely with friends? Check. Share his toys? Check. Is he smart? Check!

Buy it: Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Follow along with Buffalo’s checklist in this hilarious look at first-day-of-school jitters.

42. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books! by Lucille Colandro

We’ve all heard about the old lady who swallowed a fly. Well, now she’s getting ready for back-to-school and is swallowing up a whole assortment of things to make it the best first day ever!

Buy it: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books! at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Trace the image of the old lady from the book cover without the books in her hands. Make a copy for each of your students and have them fill in the picture and write a sentence about what they would “swallow” for the first weeks of school if they were the old lady.

43. School Is Cool! by Sabrina Moyle

Holy smokes, tomorrow is the first day of school! The characters in this story have lots of needless worries as they discover that school is cool.

Buy it: School Is Cool! at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have students do a turn and share about one thing they were worried about before the new school year started and how they are feeling about their worry now.

44. Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London

Lovable favorite Froggy is off for his first day of school. His mama is worried, but not him! He hops off with his trademark enthusiasm and curiosity.

Buy it: Froggy Goes to School at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Together with your class, make a “top-ten best things about school” poster. Ask for students’ input, then vote on the top ten.

45. Chairs on Strike by Jennifer Jones

Everyone’s excited about going back to school. Everyone, that is, but the classroom chairs. They’ve had enough of wiggly bottoms and smelly kids and go on strike to protest.

Buy it: Chairs on Strike at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Ask for volunteers to play the part of the different chairs and act out the story. Have a few rounds so that as many students that want to participate can.

46. It’s OK to Be Different by Sharon Purtill

If you’re looking for a back-to-school book that embraces the uniqueness of your class, this is a lovely tale that subtly broaches the subjects of diversity and kindness in a way that students can grasp.

Buy it: It’s OK to Be Different at Amazon

Follow-up activity: Have students reflect about the one thing that they think is truly unique about themselves and write a paragraph (or more) about this trait in their journals.

What are your favorite back-to-school books? Share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, if you like these back-to-school books, check out all of our book lists here.

20 books you absolutely have to read with your 1 year old

When my daughter, Emma, was one year old, I put together a list of over 200 books that I wanted to read with her before she turned 2. And then we read them. All of them. And then some more. It was awesome.

A few weeks ago, I shared our favorite
100 of those books in a post
called The best 100 books for a 1 year old. (I also created a printable list of those books- download it if you haven't already! It's a great resource.)

Today, I wanted to share a little bit more about my favorite favorite books for a 1 year old- the ones that we read over and over again during that year. The ones that Emma tucked into bed next to her at night. The ones that I bought because the library wouldn't let us renew them for a fourth time.

You've got to check out these books. The first 17 are our top favorites from the list I already published. Just for fun, the last 3 are bonus books (and in one case a magazine) that aren't on the original list. In each book description you'll find the Amazon book summary as well as the Amazon book links, which are affiliates. (Read my full disclosure statement here.) Take a look!

Oh, and if you're looking ahead for books to read with a TWO year old... I've got that for you too!

When we took Emma on her first airplane trip, this was the one book I chose to bring along on the plane. Which is saying something, because it's a really big book. Each page has flaps with photographs of common words. When Emma turned one she knew only a handful of them, and by the time she turned two she knew them all.

This is the first book in a very popular series. It's simple, but hilarious. I actually don't get tired of reading this one over and over because it's so funny to hear Emma tell the pigeon, "NO!" when he asks whether or not he can drive the bus.

This is my favorite in the whole Pigeon series. I think the pigeon is hilarious, and so does Emma. We enjoy laughing at him together. :)

This was one of my favorites as a little girl, and I'm delighted that Emma also loves it. Each page has fun pictures and simple phrases that Emma quickly started memorizing. She learned many of her colors from this book, as well as how a stoplight works: "Green means go! Red means stop!"

The pictures in this book tell the story, making it PERFECT for toddlers who can't read on their own yet. Emma loved naming all the animals and talking about what she saw in the pictures. I think the story is pretty clever, too!

A lot of toddlers I know love vehicles. Emma has always been really interested in trains and firetrucks. If that sounds like your child, then this is the perfect bedtime story choice. The story is sweet and easy to love, and it won Emma's heart because it's chock full of construction vehicles. 

There are lots of books in this series, but this one is my personal favorite. I think the pictures are hilarious. I wonder if they authors have toddlers themselves, because they are spot-on with their descriptions of the things that naughty little dinosaurs might do to get out of going to bed!

This book is so sweet and so silly that it's perfect for both toddlers and parents. Emma likes looking at the detailed illustrations and asking questions about all of the crazy animals and monsters, and I find the story delightfully heart-warming. 

This is another book where the illustrations tell the story- again, great for toddlers who aren't reading yet but love to talk about what they see in the pictures. Emma has a baby doll that she takes with her everywhere, so we understand exactly how traumatic it must have been for Trixie to lose her stuffed bunny!

You know how some books just have a great flow to them? This is one of those. The rhymes are perfect, and it's easy to read. Emma loves to chime in when it comes to the animal noises!

This book makes me laugh because the llama reminds me of my little girl and all the bedtime shenanigans she likes to try to pull. I think Emma just likes the silly rhymes. This is a great story for right before bed.

We bought this book because we read 100 First Words so many times that it was literally falling apart. This book turned out to be just as much a hit as that one. It really helped Emma learn her animals- and not just cat, dog and cow. There are some pretty unique animals in here! She was especially interested in this book after we took a trip to the zoo and she was able to see a lot of these animals in person.

I wonder why kids (and parents) enjoy books about naughty little children so much. Maybe because we can relate so well. Emma loves to tell David how naughty he's being. I think it's really funny to hear her telling off an illustration for doing something that she did herself just that morning!

We must have read this book every night for about a month straight. There are a lot of potty books out there, but this one is my favorite. It's cute and silly, and it was a fun way to start getting Emma talking about the potty. 

This book is a popular classic, and it's no wonder why. Emma likes sticking her fingers in the holes that the caterpillar has eaten through, and she quickly learned the names of all the foods in the story. I love that it teaches kids the days of the week and includes a little science lesson on metamorphosis.

A topic that any toddler understands well! No, waiting isn't easy. Emma can relate. This story is told entirely in cartoon speech bubbles, which I think is fun, too.

Emma learned many of her body parts from this book. She really liked anything with pictures of babies in it for a long time, so this book was a huge hit!

So if you have a one year old (or know one!) I would HIGHLY recommend checking out each and every one of these books. Which ones are your favorites? Let me know in the comments! And if you loved this list, be sure to share it on Facebook or pin the image below to Pinterest. Happy reading!

about reading aloud - There can be no question of any peremptoryness in my statements! — LJ

about reading aloud [Feb. 24, 2021| 07:43 am ] Anatoly Vorobey I recently finished reading The Hobbit to children - they read for a long time, a little every day before bed. This was the first time I tried to read a long book to them in parts, and the result exceeded expectations - the children really liked it, both the eldest (12) and the youngest (7), they demanded to continue all the time, and discussed what they had read. While reading, I often thought about how the impression of a book changes when reading aloud. Several times in the past I have come across this advice to beginning writers: read aloud what you have written, and change what sounds bad, clumsy, incomprehensible. This advice seemed to me interesting and at the same time not quite clear. Indeed, quite often, even when reading to yourself, you see that somewhere it is indistinctly or clumsily written; Why should reading aloud emphasize this? Now I am at least convinced that this is indeed the case. While reading The Hobbit aloud, I often found myself wanting to change this or that phrase right in the process of reading it, and several times I did so. (I've read Rakhmanova's translation, but I don't want to say that I criticize it in any particular way; in general, I liked everything, and there are similar problems in other translations - I leafed through a few at random). Sometimes it was due to syntax. Some sentences - one in which, stunned by the abundance of participial turns and trying in vain not to spill the yoke with meaning, traveling through subordinate parts and diving into lakes of dubious metaphors, one can get lost, as in a labyrinth - it seemed simply wrong to read aloud as is (although I easily read them with my eyes) - and I divided them into parts, changed the word order, made a long definition into a separate sentence. Sometimes they were specific words. For example, I now hate the word "beside". I will say, exaggerating a little, that I don’t understand why it exists and why use it in translations, if you can use the ordinary words “near” or “next to”, and if the original contains a completely ordinary “near” or “next to”. Why "beside", why a literary-archaic word? Sometimes it was just the features of reading aloud when there is no written form to clarify the morphology. I especially remember one of the riddles in the scene of Bilbo with Gollum: Destroys everything around: Flowers, animals, a tall house, Chews iron, devours steel And erases rocks into powder, The power of cities, the power of kings His power is weaker. In the last line "power" is pronounced, of course, exactly the same as "power". Because of the twisted word order for the sake of rhyme, it is difficult to grasp the meaning. The power of his kings (who is this about at all?) "power" (it is not clear whose power) is weaker (power is weaker than what?). Confused looks were aimed at me, and I stopped and explained the meaning of these words. And when reading with the eyes, the problem does not arise, it is clear that power is what ?, and not what? I eventually realized what it looks like and sounds like in concrete examples, but I still don't know what to think about this criteria - "sounds good when read aloud". Yes, for a book that you read to children before going to bed, this is definitely important. But if I read some adult book, and I normally perceive vocabulary and complex syntax, and nothing makes it difficult for me, why is it important that after reading the same thing aloud or hearing it in an audio version (which I don’t listen to anyway), this will be perceived worse? There seems to be an implicit assumption about some real, "internal" quality of prose, and that when we hear it, it helps to "break through" to it. But an objection arises: there are simply different types of "quality", some features of the style work better when reading to yourself, others, on the contrary, when reading aloud, and there is no single ideal. So less comfortable, without a single ideal, but maybe this reflects reality more accurately? P.S. The answer to the riddle is "time". Although there is no reason not to know how it works: you just sorted everything out. Absence of overloaded constructions, generally clear structure of the text. (but about "beside" - in the 70s, when the translation was made, it was not archaic at all. Book - maybe). From: Alexey Orlov I've been getting by with audiobooks for a long time, and if I know in advance that there are some kind of flashbacks or streams of consciousness, I don't even try. Tolkien, in this sense, is beautiful: "the king said - the king did." Comes in great. Stephen King sometimes listens well, sometimes not. It's funny that when reading the same books with the eyes, there is not much difference. FROM: Timur0 2021-02-24 06:29 am Perhaps just forces reading each word-when reading a part without attention. I've noticed a similar effect on rewriting: I write about the books I've read and try to quote from them; So, when you have to retype a quote with your hands, and not copy-paste, you perceive the text in a new way, deeper. Including you begin to understand how it is made. From: dmpogo 2021-02-24 07:45 am And for me n somewhere 2 :) FROM: Adlov 2021-02-24 06:34 am Good fragment, bravo: "Oshales" Oshales "Oshales" Oshales "Oshales" Oshales "Oshales" participial turns and trying in vain not to spill the yoke with meaning, traveling through subordinate parts and diving into lakes of dubious metaphors " From: utnapishti 2021-02-24 08:54 am for boredom. FROM: Rostyslav Maiboroda 2021-02-24 06:37 AM And did you read this text out before? From: (Anonymous) 9 Whoosh. (without theme) - (Anonymously) Expand 9000 who are talking to themselves. :-) FROM: NEKTO_S_K 2021-02-24 06:56 AM 9000 9000 9000 From: 2021-02-24 07:20 am Yeah, I came across the same effect while reading to my daughter. Quite unexpectedly, "the worst book of all times and peoples in terms of reading aloud" turned out to be Volkov's "The Wizard of the Emerald City" (the first book, in fairness - already in "Urfin Deuce" there were fragments that could be read without dislocating the tongue, but "Seven Underground Kings" can be read almost without a shudder). And quite unexpectedly, fears about "Captain Vrungel" did not come true - it turned out to be a very light and flying text. The first "Dunno" turned out to be unexpectedly tongue-in-cheek (and eerie in meaning) - for some reason you had to constantly pronounce some monstrous heaps of hissing in it. One of the best books to read was "Mary Poppins" translated by Zakhoder. And Olesha's "Three Fat Men" - as a child I could not appreciate this, though my daughter did not appreciate it either - the meaning of what was happening was hopelessly drowned in the streams of beautiful language. dmpogo 2021-02-24 07:47 am That being said, The Wizard is the first book I've read on my own, and I couldn't wait to repeat it. In general, this is one of the brightest moments of my life. Well, TOP 20. (without theme) - (Anonymously) Expand FROM: Kobak 2021-02-24 08:09:09 AM > It was me who first tried to read them a long book in parts Wait - what's the "first"? I mean, has your wife always read to the children until now? Or was it generally not accepted in your family to read long books aloud? From: avva 2021-02-24 08:29 a.m. They read it separately, but also only a few times (the elder's wife read Jane Eyre about six months ago, for example). I had strong doubts that the younger one would be able and willing to listen to a long book, but everything went very well. Since then I've also read selected stories by Lem to them, a few stories by H. G. Wells, tried and failed by Tom Sawyer, didn't work so far, and my wife is now reading Seton-Thompson stories. Actively looking for what to read next. FROM: FRKR 2021-02-24 08:33 am All the way, reading books to children and especially grandchildren (Graduation, AGA), AGA), on the way) and edited unnecessarily "bookish" fragments, replacing them with more colloquial and understandable to children. leon_ark 2021-02-24 06:05 pm You have to be careful with Gogol. The child somehow began to be rude - he brought from school (1st grade) "Je m'en fous", "Je m'en fiche" ("I don't care", "I don't care") - and I decided as a warning read to him before going to bed Gogol "Viy" "Taras Bulba". He started from the place when, during the sacking, Taras saw his son Andriy on a dashing horse and said the famous: "I gave birth to you, I will kill you!" .. Having read the chapter to the end, I explained to the child what happens if you don't listen to your parents and shut the book. The child silently turned to the wall and said nothing. And the next day he asked me never to read "about Barabula" to him again ps. True, the rudeness did not end there. The child continued to "cheat". And one day, when a lot of snow fell at night and the school was canceled, we did not wake him up, and he woke up by himself, at ten o'clock. Look, the sun is shining all the way. Jumps out of bed: - Mom, Mom, we overslept...! Wife comes into his room: - Zhe man fu... (like, I don't give a damn). He bulged his eyes: - Mama, tyu tang fu?! (do you care?!). — and nearly cried. But after that he stopped being rude. - Edited at 2021-02-24 20:29 (UTC) FROM: (Anonymous) 2021-02-24 9:26 AM AM Power of cities, power of kings, Spondei, pyrrhic and sponde. FROM: TLKH 2021-02-24 09:46 AM recalled only one book, the reading of which did not go out loud precisely because of the impossible language. This is "Sweetness on the pie crust". But if while reading I still tried to make the correct intonation, which somehow facilitated understanding, then it is absolutely impossible for a child to read this on his own. Dropped after a couple of chapters. My children are 10 and 8. From relatively long books, the adapted Kalevala and Scandinavian tales of gods and heroes have recently gone with a bang for reading aloud (I dug up editions from my childhood). Before that, there were Greek myths, mainly in audio performances (which is different, but interest in the topic was laid). Both books are written in a very easy language that is pleasant to read, in Kalevala they generally tried to convey melodiousness, it is a pleasure to read. I read the Hobbit a couple of years ago. Then the children would not have endured the lengthy words of the original, so I read Yakhnin in the retelling, it took approx. Edited at 2021-02-24 09:49 (UTC) FROM: NULADNO 2021-02-24 02:25 PM 9000 9000 9000 9000 0 9000 0 9000 0 9000 0 9000 0 9000 0 9000 0 9000 0 9000 0 9000 0 9000 0 9000 0 9000 0 9000 0 9000 0 0 the Bottom of the Pie? but it is absolutely disgustingly translated (as well as subsequent pieces I don’t remember how many; rel. only a couple of the last ones are normal) 0018 I read to my son from about 6-7 years old until recently. Now, at 13, of course he reads himself. Interesting practice, the opinion about books also changes somewhat. Yes, not all books stand up to reading aloud. Especially those where there is some kind of shameful garbage - in the sense that you squander your eyes, but say it out loud - thank you. And in general, this is almost never erotica, namely, that vulgarity or petty lies in the details. Paphos of any kind also sounds terrible out loud. The Hobbit is perfectly read aloud, did not notice puzzling structures there. Rakhmanova's translation is excellent and the best available. The "Magician's Hat" was excellent, the Icelandic sagas were well. Three Musketeers - a little worse, because. there are these wordy phrases; the story of my lady's tales about Buckingham had to be simply skipped. The Inhabited Island is a terrible horror, a very shameful book. The hotel of the deceased climber is excellent in general. Pratchett in Russian - a complete shame and a nightmare, impossible. Kipling is great, especially where he's not Daruses. In short, it changes the way you look at texts, yes. From: (Anonymous) 2021-02-24 11:05 am The second method is faster, but the first requires the involvement of additional parts of the brain - thanks to which, in particular, the text is better remembered (try to learn the multiplication table just by looking at it, without even saying to yourself "five three - fifteen, five four - twenty"). If the text does not sound good when read aloud, then when reading "for yourself" the reader is likely to switch to a fast way of reading, that is, he will simply slide his eyes over the words. Well, a reader who does not have the skill of fast reading (and there are many, if not most of them) will simply suffer. As for the fact that some books do not suffer from the loss of euphony (because they can be read in a quick way), this is a dubious compliment for fiction. Something like "in a short retelling, this book only wins." FROM: Amuzh 2021-02-24 11:13 AM By the way, I always liked the hobbit radio from Svetlana Sorokina: https /tolkien-dzhon-ronald-ruel-hobbit-ili-tuda-i-obratno There, this riddle is read quite clearly (see the link above part 19 from 06:25). It seems to me that intonation largely helps to understand the meaning correctly. Page 1 of 2 << [1] [2] >> or how the reading of Ingusteri - Ingusteria, affects the “Inguster” body. - Internet newspaper So thought the great Russian classic Leo Tolstoy, who often held open readings with his family, and then liked to discuss what he had read. “All those gathered (including the guests of the estate) listened with interest and listened to the power of the word, because how nice it is when reading is a pleasure!” he admiringly made entries in his diary. Probably everyone remembers how in childhood mother or grandmother told us that we should read aloud. So it is better and faster to remember, they thought. But they were right. Scientists have proven that it is with such reading that information is absorbed and remembered much faster. Reading aloud is one of the types of reading in which you can work on the expressiveness of the voice, intonation, and reading technique. This type of reading allows you to easily and accurately express thoughts. It also helps to increase eloquence, improve diction, emotional coloring, brightness, correctness of speech. Thus, reading aloud allows you to get rid of tongue-tied tongue, hesitations, slips of the tongue, parasitic words, and other speech shortcomings. Philologists and medical linguists will easily give a hundred and one reasons for reading books, but it is reading aloud that they will call the most useful and enjoyable pastime. Therefore, for such a useful activity, they came up with a special holiday, which this year was celebrated on March 3, but this date will last not one day, but a whole month. To celebrate it, you do not need to prepare special treats, make costumes or invent decorations. It can be celebrated at home, in a cafe, in a park, in a traffic jam, and even on a desert island. All that is needed is a book or any notorious text that will need to be read aloud, even if no one is around. So, let's assume that we already know that it is impossible to imagine our life without reading. But which of these ways of reading: aloud, silently or speed reading - is most useful for individual growth, because they say that reading is different from reading. Let's try to understand this issue and give the comments of several experts working in this direction. Specialists in the field of educational medicine say that in the process of studying material aloud, three types of memory work. The first is visual memory. A person runs through the material with his eyes, remembers what his eyes see. The second type is called speech memory. A person remembers what his lips say. The third type is auditory memory. The ears hear what is said by the mouth, and the heard speech, in combination with other types of memory, is absorbed much better. Using all three types of memory, students are able to assimilate voluminous and complex material, while not just memorizing it, but really understanding it. It has been scientifically proven that information read aloud is better absorbed, so teachers in educational institutions often ask their students to read aloud, especially in cases where they do not understand or cannot understand something. Also, reading aloud increases the ability to communicate and develops erudition. This type of reading helps a person become more self-confident. According to Roza Tomova, deputy director of the Dzheirakh school, throughout March, the focus of attention in the schools of the republic will be the word and the book. The organizers of the socio-cultural action "International Reading Aloud Month" consider the demonstration of showing reading aloud as a way of interacting with the outside world and as an opportunity to convey one's emotions to another person along with the sounding word as the main goal of the work. “Of course, you can read a magazine or a newspaper, the latest news from the Internet or popular posts from social networks, but the best thing is a good book,” says Roza Muharbekovna confidently. - It can be science fiction or a detective story, a novel or a fairy tale - choose what you like. You can read to yourself, not embarrassed to express feelings and not being afraid to stumble, but rather with the whole class, passing the baton to each other, sharing your favorite characters and experiences with classmates. As it turned out, adults and children are not at all averse to listening when they are read aloud, especially if these are funny poems, instructive fables, excerpts from classical prose. Therefore, teachers in the schools of the republic pay special attention to this month and try to read aloud in all classes. Moreover, for reading aloud, they choose the most relevant, life-affirming works. “For example, for the first-graders of our school, we conducted lessons under one general title “It happens in childhood - fairy tales come to life there,” says Roza Muharbekovna. “The children took turns reading their favorite fairy tales and attentively listening to touching stories about how good triumphs over evil. In the second grades, loud readings “The work of the master is afraid” were held, dedicated to professions. In the senior classes, the students read the famous works of the Ingush classics, which left behind a rich creative heritage. At the same time, the guys felt a sense of pride in their fellow writers when they found out that the books of the Ingush masters of the pen were read not only in Russia, but also abroad. Summing up the high-profile readings, we realized that stories different in their mood and meaning - funny, sad, instructive - set the children in a positive mood and vivid emotions. Therefore, I would like to advise everyone to read for themselves, to read to their children, and best of all, to read with their children!” As the Ministry of Education told us, the entire school curriculum of Russian educational institutions is designed to teach the rules of grammar and separate reading of words, and in order to effectively teach any skills or academic subjects, according to experts, it is necessary to be able to read aloud with high quality. Humanity has not yet come up with anything more useful for the development and prevention of brain degradation. According to Roza Muharbekovna, any lessons should be limited to cramming and teach children to read expressively and aloud, in a different manner, at different volumes, as if making duplicates. “For complete clarity, all unfamiliar and incomprehensible words should be looked up in an explanatory dictionary, spelled out and read aloud their interpretation,” she says. “Moreover, you need to learn how to work with a dictionary and various encyclopedic literature from the moment when the child learns to read. ” How to read aloud correctly? With this question, we turned to one of the representatives of the young generation of teachers, Amina Murzabekova, who teaches at the Plievskaya rural school and is engaged in tutoring. “First, slowly, at an optimal conversational pace, about 120 words per minute. Secondly, clearly pronouncing the words. Thirdly, expressively and with arrangement (with accents and pauses). Fourthly, artistically voicing the direct speech of the characters, endowing them with a certain character, ”the teacher concluded. Amina Khadzhiumarovna also noted that it is very important to pronounce the text not in a reading tone, but as if you are expressing your own thoughts. “Reading aloud is not about ‘reading’ but about ‘telling’,” she explained. What to read? Answering this question, our interlocutor focused on lyrical poems, novels, articles, stories and fairy tales for children. “But it is better to choose those works that, from your point of view, are beautifully presented, contain a rich vocabulary and useful information. And the more the better. Optimal - half an hour a day, then literally in a month you will see obvious results - rough speech will become smoother, and you will easily select the right words to express your brilliant ideas, ”she said. Of course, oral reading develops speech. But only in the process of reading aloud does the child hear and listen to himself, which allows him to memorize new words and turns of speech. He understands how to pronounce this or that word, where to put the speech stress and with what other words it can be used. The fact is that in the process of reading out loud, the teacher can always stop the child and correct him if he pronounces a word incorrectly. You can also discuss the meaning of what you read after you finish reading. Thus, the child will learn to understand the text. This skill will be useful to him in absolutely any job. These abilities will also be useful to an adult. By the way, television and radio workers, especially announcers, say that it is very useful to record readable text on a voice recorder. Subsequent listening to it helps to notice some of the nuances of speech from the outside - both advantages and disadvantages that a person usually does not notice in the process of reading. Such feedback allows you to correct speech and improve its quality. Psychologists are sure that reading is the main process that contributes to the formation of personality at all stages. From the cradle, when a child hears the voices of parents reading aloud to him, and in adulthood, when a person overcomes various crises and grows spiritually. From an evolutionary point of view, the ability to read is a clear addition to the already existing structures of the brain. It turns out that most of the higher areas of the brain are involved in reading. So, reading can be considered as the best exercise for keeping the brain “in shape”. It has long been proven in the laboratories of the World Health Organization that the brain of a person who can read works in a markedly more complex way than the brain of an illiterate person. Moreover, the brain of a person who practiced reading in childhood is better able to activate all its resources than the brain of a person who learned to read and write as an adult. If, when reading to yourself, the main part of the information is perceived by the brain as "garbage", unnecessary and quickly erased or stored in places inaccessible for reproduction, then loud reading makes it possible to master the skill of easy and accurate expression of thoughts, "provokes" a constant increase in vocabulary , mastering good intonation and correctness of speech. Thus, we can safely say that reading is one of the best exercises that allows you to keep the whole brain in shape. This is all the more important, given that such competitors to reading as “educational” computer games have shown themselves to be very dubious “trainers for the mind”. In order to understand why it is so important to read aloud from a medical point of view, we turned to a doctor who practices diseases of the speech apparatus. Amirkhan Gostemirov, an ENT doctor with extensive experience, noted that reading aloud is one of the best exercises for treating complex pathologies of the maxillofacial region. “This is one of the few activities that activate almost all parts of the brain at the same time, and the most budgetary tool for the prevention of neurosis, depression, memory impairment and even Alzheimer's disease,” said the doctor. - By practicing oratory, you will at the same time improve blood circulation in the vessels of the head, activate the most important nerve pathways and thereby ensure the smooth functioning of the brain for many years. I think it is not necessary to be a doctor to understand that when reading aloud, we not only develop correct speech, memory and enrich our vocabulary, but also normalize the work of the entire maxillofacial apparatus. But, as you know, in the conditions of the modern rhythm of life, there is practically no time left for reading aloud, but this is a very useful activity! Suffice it to say that even children to whom parents read books aloud from an early age, speak better, write more competently and absorb information faster. Will “loud” reading help get rid of accents or severe speech impediments? We asked this question to the highest category general practitioner Toma Tsoloeva, who answered that, of course, this is so. “Reading is the most powerful tool for correcting speech defects such as burr, stuttering, deep voice, regional or foreign accent,” Dr. “And by the way, reading aloud is the best way to fall asleep if you have mild insomnia. Your own monotonous speech lulls you better than any melodic tunes from outside. Just keep in mind that not all literature is suitable for reading at night: these should be such works of a lyrical nature that can have an emotionally calming effect. Essays are perfect, poetry, of course. Stories full of savory fantastic descriptions are going well. Occasionally - something philosophical, but concise. As a result, we can say that the long-term practice of working on various projects shows that it is reading aloud that has a powerful synergistic effect on the interaction of different parts of the brain at the moment of reading aloud: the visual, auditory and motor parts work simultaneously. The more diverse sources of information, the faster and more accurately the details are remembered. General conclusion: a constant reading exercise not only improves this very reading and broadens one's horizons, but also increases the efficiency of the brain in almost all areas of human activity. It is believed that from birth, a child should be spoken to in their native language, expressively, dramatically and emotionally. And as he grows up, it is necessary to teach him to read aloud expressively as soon as possible. Definitely listen! Moreover, learning to read should begin at the age of three. Every child begins learning to read by trying out loud to put syllables into words. This process may seem simple to us, but in fact it affects several parts of the brain and requires a lot of effort from preschoolers. To master the skill of reading, children have to learn to correlate printed and sounding words, train auditory and visual memory, and concentrate on the task at hand for much longer than they are used to. But if everything goes well and adults support them, and do not rush them, then changes in intellectual development gradually become noticeable: vocabulary increases and horizons expand, attention opportunities increase, speech sounds more fluent and correct, and the child himself begins to better understand and remember that what they say to him. Properly selected books also contribute to the development of emotional intelligence. Worrying about their favorite characters, preschoolers and younger students get acquainted with the manifestations of various emotions and begin to notice them more often in themselves and others, which subsequently makes it easier for them to communicate with peers and relatives. It would be good if at first the children had the opportunity to take turns reading with the rest of the family. In this way, they will learn not only to love books and read with expression, but also to listen carefully to other people. Reading aloud helps parents instill in their children a love of books, discuss many important issues and make family relationships warmer and more trusting. And although most often adults stop reading to children when they have already learned to do it on their own, most schoolchildren fondly recall this type of joint leisure. Thus, according to Russian researchers, more than 80% of high school students admitted that they loved or still love when people read to them. This suggests that such moments are very important for a child. Because this is his cherished time when he is alone with his parent. This is only their time, into which a call from work and no one else can break in. Just you and your baby. It is worth remembering that when you read your favorite fairy tale to a child, he feels your care and love. In addition, the baby will fall asleep faster. However, modern mothers and fathers are so busy at work that when they come home, they often do not have the strength to read. A good option would be reading a child for you. If you are very tired, or maybe it was a hard day, the mood is completely spoiled, then ask your child to read his favorite fairy tale for you. Believe me, it will be pleasant for both you and the child. And for him it will also be very useful. Meanwhile, reading aloud regularly is useful not only for children, but also for adults. And for each age, “loud” reading has its own advantages. This method of getting to know a good book allows you to feel every metaphor, every quirk of the author, every emotion. Suddenly you begin to understand how melodious and smooth speech turns out to be in books with good style. A big plus of reading aloud is gesticulation. When reading to yourself, you are unlikely to try to gesticulate with your free hand, but when a person reads not to himself, the movement of the hand or facial expressions occur involuntarily. The hero grabs his head - and you yourself involuntarily put your hand on it. He speaks of someone with contempt - and the hand makes a dismissive gesture. All this happens spontaneously, and therefore sometimes it begins to seem that in the past, by reading quietly and sitting quietly, we were depriving ourselves of some important share of the pleasure of the book. It is difficult to overestimate the benefits of reading for teenagers, because without reading it is impossible to form a harmonious person. Reading aloud at least sometimes, teenagers not only seriously improve their memory and thinking, but also broaden their horizons and develop other cognitive processes: they learn to love, evaluate actions, empathize, trace cause-and-effect relationships between any events, analyze actions, forgive, etc. The most effective reading of "adult" books, especially the works of Russian classics. For many people, there is nothing better than sitting in their favorite rocking chair, picking up an interesting book and immersing themselves in reading, while moving away from all problems and worries, because reading is a great way to fill free time, instead of killing it mediocre . If you want to make your speech smoother and more expressive, then reading aloud should take at least half an hour a day. It is recommended to read slowly, pronouncing phrases and words well, expressively placing accents and pauses. Learn more Reading levels 1st grade Dramatic plays for preschoolers Short tongue twisters for adults Videos for four year olds Wheels on the bus go up and down Games for learning letters Fun ways to teach letter sounds Activities preschool learning Wheels on the bus go round and Identifying emotions for kids 2 step related directions