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Health & Fitness

Great Books to Read Aloud to Your Kids

Summer is the perfect time to start reading aloud to a child in the evenings.  You don't have to worry about homework, sports schedules or rigid bedtimes.  You can just curl up with your child and see where the story takes you. 

Please don't forget that just because your child may already be able to read doesn't mean that reading together aloud should stop.  I know you know this, but a gentle reminder never hurts.

So just to drive the point home:

Reading aloud gives your child a strong vocabulary.  A good children't story is 3 times richer in vocabulary than conversation.

Reading aloud teaches your kids how to imagine as they listen to the story.

Reading aloud is about showing your children the importance of books which helps them to love reading.

Reading aloud from a great book will make your kids think you are a rock star!

To see all my read aloud suggestions this week, visit my blog at www.onegreatbook.com

See, there is no excuse with all these fabulous choices.  What are you waiting for ...  get reading!

Title:       Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff 

Author:   Robert Paul Weston

Target:    Grades 2-5

Series:     No

What this book is about:

Prince Puggly comes from the Kingdom of Spud, where let’s face it, the clothes are downright ugly.  When he ventures to the Kingdom of Spiff, where the clothes are shall we say spiffy, he is made to feel uncouth and uncomfortable.  The princess of Spiff, who only wears pajamas covered with pictures of bicycles, understands Puggly’s plight, and a true friendship, and some mischief, ensues.

Why I love this book:

While I do love the story (and will talk about that in a moment, ) the true joy of this book, like its counterpart Zorgamazoo, is that it is told all in verse.  This is just a pleasure to read aloud.  The whole story rolls off your tongue as though you posses the rhyming powers of Dr. Seuss.  What this allows the author to do is use some very sophisticated rhyming language in a non threatening way.  I was amazed at all the new vocabulary that my daughter was exposed to, but the story remained lighthearted and therefore the new vocabulary did not feel intimidating at all.

Now the story itself has a lovely message about how the value of people is not based on what they wear, but it is not told in a preachy way at all.   The book is lighthearted and fun and includes a princess who loves to read - how great is that? 

Who this book is for:

It is for all kids who enjoy a great read aloud

Final thoughts:

The best review I can give you is that my daughter and I were woefully sad when the story ended.

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