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The Read-Aloud Family
- Narrated by: Sarah Mackenzie
- Length: 7 hrs
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Education & Learning, Education
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Summary
You will never regret reading aloud to your kids. The stories we read - and the conversations we have about them - help shape family traditions, create lifelong memories, and become part of our legacy.
Reading aloud not only has the power to change a family - it has the power to change the world. But we all know that connecting deeply with our families can be difficult in our busy, technology-driven society. Reading aloud is one of the best ways to be fully present with our children, even after they can read themselves, but it isn't always easy to do. In The Read-Aloud Family, you will find the inspiration you need to start a read-aloud movement in your own home.
Discover how to:
- Prepare your kids for academic success through reading to them
- Develop empathy and compassion in your kids through books
- Find time to read aloud in the midst of school, sports, and dinner dishes
- Choose books across a variety of sibling interests and ages
- Make reading aloud the best part of your family's day
The Read-Aloud Family also offers age-appropriate book lists from infancy through adolescence. From a toddler's wonder to a teenager's resistance, you will discover practical strategies to make reading aloud a meaningful family ritual.
Critic reviews
"Sarah MacKenzie...narrates the audiobook she wrote to accompany her blog and podcasts. Her briskly paced reading is filled with energy and warmth... This is an audiobook that will set families on the road to loving literacy." (AudioFile)
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What listeners say about The Read-Aloud Family
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Sarah74
- 13-04-18
Such an encouraging book!
I have just finished reading Sarah’s new book and have found it so encouraging and so full of new books to discover with my family. What Sarah says all makes so much sense...I will, however, hold her fully accountable for the large delivery of books that will inevitably be arriving at our house over the next few weeks! 😳😜. Seriously though, it’s going to be great; can’t wait! 😊 Definitely recommend!!
1 person found this helpful
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- LD
- 19-05-22
Very God-dy
Such a shame this has a massive Christian agenda. I recommend instead Jim Trelease The read aloud Handbook if you don’t fancy all the Christian stuff. I don’t really understand why it can’t just be written for everyone and ignore talking about miracles as though they really did happen - it affects how credible she comes across. It also makes me suspicious of her recommendations which I assume will also have a Christian agenda and I don’t want to indoctrinate my kids.
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- Anonymous User
- 26-12-19
Read Aloud
Excellent.
Just read it.
Good points. Good book lists. Just do it. One of the best books on parenting read.
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- Zainab
- 19-07-19
Don't miss it if you love your kids and books!
I loved listening to this! Packed with information and doable strategies along with books recommendations for all ages. The author narrated beautifully!
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- Heather Reckner
- 18-04-18
Inspiring, encouraging and practical!
I knew reading aloud was valuable. In fact I grew up with four siblings and have fond memories of my own mother reading aloud to all of us, even into our young adult years! But now as a mother to four of my own young children, I've struggled to find the time when there are so many other "more important" subjects and tasks to complete each day. I feel like I was just given permission to prioritize reading over everything else! Not only that, but in true "teaching from rest" form, Sarah is so gifted at breaking it down into bite size pieces, troubleshooting the logistics of managing reading time with a large family, and keeping expectations reasonable so as not to add yet another item to the heap of "mom guilt." Thank you, Sarah, for rekindling *my* love for family read aloud time.
13 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 09-01-20
Read to your kids; Jesus loves you
The secondary message of the book? Read to your kids a lot, at every age. The main message? Jesus is life. I made it through 2.5 chapters until it got way too religious. I get it...she’s a homeschooling Christian mom. And I was fine with the God and Jesus in the first 2.5 chapters but half way through Chapter 3 she started prosthelytizing and I shut off the audiobook. It was too distracting. I like the author’s book lists on her blog. I’m sorry I wasted a credit on this book.
11 people found this helpful
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- Bookworm
- 05-04-18
Inspiring listen!
I pre-ordered a paperback copy of this book, but also used a credit to buy the audible edition. As a fan of audiobooks as well as the RAR podcast, I really enjoyed listening to Sarah narrate this book herself. There IS overlap and repetition from the podcast episodes, but I still really enjoyed having all of the Read-Aloud "philosophy" -- methods, ideas, tips, background -- all in one cohesive place. (Besides, I'm a weirdo who has listened to her favorite episodes multiple times, so I'm probably even more familiar with the content than your average listener.) And there IS unique new content in the book that I think is worth having. I'm glad to have the paperback for reference including the chapter on asking compelling questions and the book lists at the back. If you're debating between formats though, please be aware though the Audible edition includes instructions for accessing a downloadable book list you can print out split up by age -- if that helps you decide!
23 people found this helpful
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- Becky Dunn
- 23-01-19
Not bad, but...
DNF.
Should've done my own research, so it's my bad, but there should have been a bit in the publisher's summary that mentioned how heavily the narrative focuses on the Christian faith and religiosity. I could deal with "mildly flavored" but this one was a bit too heavy-handed.
To each their own.
Wonderful personal anecdotes that convey how much reading aloud bonds families and helps kids to excel. Beautifully narrated by the author.
10 people found this helpful
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- Denice
- 13-04-18
Highly recommend!!!
Love, love, love this book!!! As a Homeschool family that does read-alouds in our family, we do know how important they are. This book has helped me realize just how important!! We will definitely be following a more pro-active read-aloud schedule in our family. I learned of so many books we have never heard about from Sarah's wonderful recommendations in this book. This book has inspired me so much, I was sad this audiobook was over!! (Isn't that the sign of a great book, Sarah? 😉)
2 people found this helpful
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- Sarah Dumoulin
- 21-10-18
Not really anything here
Read Trelease's "Read aloud handbook" instead. I admit to have only gotten through half this volume, and that was more time than I should have given it.
It was my error for having bought this through a sale, but it was not marked as a christian volume there, and boy is it christian. This is more of a christian reimagining of Trelease than anything else, and Trelease was much better in its original form. Trelease had facts and studies and data to back him up. Trelease is a reasonable writer. This book has ... anecdotes and feel good stories about god along with a great deal of filler. One gets the idea that the author was paid by the word, and in order to make her word count fluffed out the book by making a number of long lists.
Poorly written, barely argued, preachy. Even ignoring the heavy-handed religious content there is nothing of value here that isn't extended quotes from books you'd be better off reading than this one.
10 people found this helpful
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- Morgan Musto
- 06-08-20
everyone needs
I loved this book and all the helpful information to read aloud to my kids while they are home with me. I can't wait to check out the lists and find books my kids who are currently 1-11 years old will enjoy as a family.
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-08-18
A Must Read for Family Read Alouds
This book gave me great ideas on how to connect as a family using books.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anne-Marie Lindsey
- 28-07-22
inspiring, encouraging, insightful
I’m finding myself wanting to read more and more as I listen, not just aloud to my children, but for myself as well! that “to buy” list got A LOT longer after listening to this book!
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- ABC
- 24-07-22
Awesome
I loved this adult “read aloud” !
I would recommend this book to ANY parent who wants to teach + pass on the wonderful love of reading and learning to their children!