I began to plow through chapter books almost as soon as I could read, and I distinctly remember a handful of “a-ha” moments while submerged in these novels. These moments occurred as I read about experiences I’d never had and people I never knew (I grew up in a pretty homogenous bubble — lots of white, Christian people).
Why aren't the youths connecting with Shakespeare these days? Young adult novelist Jason Reynolds shared some thoughts on The Daily Show With Trevor Noah recently, plainly stating, "Young people are allergic to boredom." He doesn't mean Shakespeare is boring - the guy's been dead for more than 400 years and yet his plays are still everywhere - but the way it's being taught can be pretty drab.
There's magic in reading books aloud to little kids, especially when you do the voices (you've got to do the voices) and they giggle at the pictures and you talk about the characters as if they're your BFFs. Once kids learn how to read on their own, this parent-child ritual often ends, but it shouldn't. There are great benefits to reading books to already-proficient readers, even up to age 14. Here are a few.
