Importance of Reading Aloud with Your Child

Reading aloud to children is the first step in building a reading culture where books and stories are shared together and helps to create a lifelong reading habit. Being read aloud to not only allows children to become familiar with, and to recognise, the language patterns and voices that they hear, but it can also encourage a love of reading for pleasure.

These short films model for parents how to read in a way that involves children and encourages book chat. Book chat is the informal conversation that accompanies quality reading with and to children, it develops their language, comprehension and pleasure.

If you're looking for a suitable bedtime story to share with your child, check out the 'Top 100 Recommended Reads' for each year group. There are so many books to love on these lists, but do keep an eye out for houses that walk, alien cats, feisty female pirate crews and a good old talking llama...