The Enchanted Hour - Reading Aloud
Neither in your home nor on a city street, do you want to see a mouse. This isn’t the case in Greenville, SC, where little statues of nine bronze mice have taken up permanent residence along a city street, Main Street to be exact. The idea was conceived as part of Jim Ryan’s high school senior project, in 2000, and was inspired by the children’s book Goodnight Moon. The mice were brought to life by local sculptor and illustrator Zan Wells. Author Linda Kelly joined the team, and “Mice on Main” has become a beloved Greenville institution as a scavenger hunt. I remember when our granddaughter was about two years old, we searched for all nine mice as we walked along Greenville’s Main Street. Using the clues to hunt for each mouse makes a stroll along this iconic street extra fun for kids of all ages. The fact that we had read Goodnight Moon to her hundreds of times made a connection to the search, and it engaged both her little heart and mind. That’s what books do, right?!
We’ve all heard that reading aloud to children is good, but do you know of the precise benefits? Here are several:
the vocabulary exposure accelerates language learning;
more advanced sentence structure and advanced syntax exposure usually correlates to excellence in the writing process;
listening for the plot to unfold develops an attention to detail, enhances listening skills, and increases verbal comprehension;
sharing books sparks togetherness and creates emotional bonds;
as the listener analyzes the various characters in the book, he or she can determine which traits are ones to model and which ones are not to be valued nor emulated;
reading with babies and toddlers accelerates trust, empathy, self-regulation, happy routines, and the joy of expectation as a child sits and cuddles on mom or dad’s lap.
When my grandchildren moved to Africa, we scheduled twice weekly a reading hour via technology. They would hear my voice and see the pages of the picture book. While we weren’t able to snuggle, it became a ritual that we looked forward to each week. It connected us in a way, that at their young ages, nothing else could. It was the next best thing to being there.
As you consider the importance of reading aloud, and as you select your Christmas read-aloud books, here are a few of my favorites:
This is Christmas – Our Daily Bread for Little Hearts – a rhyming board book for ages 1-3
The Christmas Promise by Alison Mitchell for ages 2-6
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett for ages 3-10
The Very First Christmas by Paul L. Maier for ages 6-9
The Christmas Lizard by Cory Edwards for ages 2-10 (perhaps in more than one sitting for littles)
What Nick & Holly Found in Grandpa’s Attic by Melody Carlson – (This accompanies the Adorenament activity booklet, but it can be read separately.) Ages 5-10
If You’re Missing Baby Jesus by Jean Cietzen – heartwarming and based on a true story. All ages
One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham – gorgeously illustrated; a family treasure to be read often – it’s lengthy, so it will need to be read in several settings. This tells of a young boy who gets caught in a snowstorm and stumbles onto the site of a home; thankfully, to seek refuge. The lady who answers the knock is kind and asks him if he’d like to escape the cold, blizzard-like weather. Once cozy and comfortable with his sprained ankle being treated, she begins to tell him the Christmas story beginning with creation. If you only read one book to your children this season, make it this one!
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski – a beautifully illustrated picture book which might bring a tear to your eye. The main character is transformed by the kindness of a little boy and his mother. Ages 5 and up
The Promise of Bethlehem – An Advent Nativity Story – newly released by Brian Elliott and Ariana Madison for ages 5-10
I know that when I read to my own children, it was often a sacrifice of my time and energy, so please know that I understand if you say it is not always easy to find the time nor muster the energy. The best things in life usually require sacrifice and an investment of ourselves; however, may I encourage you with this little story? I believe it will bless you.
A lady named Meghan was at a dinner party when during the cocktail hour, the hostess disappeared from the scene. Noticing that she had been gone more than a few minutes and thinking it odd that she had left the party, this particular guest inquired of the hostess’s husband as to her whereabouts. He very casually remarked, “Oh, she is upstairs reading to our children.” This astute guest detected from his casual response that this ritual was routine, and never one to be sacrificed. The act of nightly reading was so important to this family dynamic that it came before anything else – even before being present during every moment of hosting their dinner party.
And that remark which fell on the ears, the heart, and mind of a curious author-dinner guest spawned the research and writing of The Enchanted Hour by you guessed it – Meghan Cox Gurdon, the inquiring and curious dinner guest! If you are one who benefits from knowing the ‘why’ of reading aloud to your children, this book will be the only one you need to read!
