The start of the new year often involves resolutions. I don't really believe in New Year's resolutions. I believe we have to really want to make a change, and once we want to do it, we should just start. It doesn't need to start on a specific date; all that matters is that we make a commitment to do something and follow through on it.
While I did not make any specific New Year's resolutions, I am making one today. My January 6 resolution is to read more books aloud to my children. I realized over the holiday break that we don't read aloud as much as we used to. My children all read a lot on their own and have required reading for school, which has taken over the space of "family reading time."
While I love that they enjoy reading themselves, and I absolutely love when I find them curled up with a book, I want to continue reading aloud as well. I love the way books sound when they are read aloud. I love the interruptions to discuss what just happened in the story. I love watching their faces as we get further into the story and they get excited as the story unfolds.
Today, I am making a commitment to gather together and read aloud more. Perhaps my children can even take turns being the reader. I picked up a few books that I think would be wonderful read aloud, and we will begin with Kate DiCamillo's "The Tale of Desperaux."
As always, we love book recommendations. If you have a family favorite read aloud book, please be sure to reply or email me at
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If you made reading resolutions, I would love to hear about them!
Photo credit: Lance Shields / photo on flickr
