A few days ago I ran across a book review in a newspaper. The book being reviewed was “Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children will Change Their Lives Forever,” by Mem Fox. It was the headline of the column that caught my attention — Dads and books make a powerful combination.

In the column, writer Kendal Rautzhan says: “One of the points Mem Fox brings forward in her book is the importance of fathers reading to their children. She is especially insistent that fathers read aloud to their sons. Not only does this establish a lasting, strong bond between father and child, Fox points out that ” anything that demonstrated a male enjoying reading would probably be the most significant factor in getting the boy to read.” “

Author Fox, on her own website, provides a few more directives.
• Read aloud with animation. Listen to your own voice and don’t be dull, or flat, or boring. Hang loose and be loud, have fun and laugh a lot.
• Read with joy and enjoyment: real enjoyment for yourself and great joy for the listeners.
• Look for rhyme, rhythm or repetition in books for young children, and make sure the books are really short.

That last item reminded me of some of the early reading I did with my daughters. Lucy was a big fan of “Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You,” by Dr. Seuss. It had rhyme, rhythm and repetition, as well lots of sounds. “Mr. Brown is so smart he can even do this: he can even make a noise like a goldfish kiss!… pip!”

I began reading with “voices” to Susan. I found my form with the Harry Potter books. Each character had their own voice and accent. All had to be remembered for weeks as we made our way through those titanic volumes one chapter at a time. Eventually both girls were sitting in for the readings in which I would try to capture some of the personality, fierceness or humor of the Hagrids, Weasleys, Snapes and Dursleys.

Both girls love to read these days and they still, sometimes, ask me to read aloud. Always reminding me to use the voices.

When I began reading to the girls I was working nights and taking care of them during the days. I was getting by on 5-6 hours of sleep a night. Every time I sat down for more than 10 minutes I tended to drift off. Many weekends, the only nights I got to put the girls to bed, it was a toss up whether I would go out before they did. Sometimes I couldn’t finish a chapter because my eyes wouldn’t stay open. The girls forgave all of that, I guess, and just appreciated the reading we did together. I hope it played a small role in making them the wonderful persons and great students they are today.

So I add my testament. Dad’s reading to their kids is a powerful combination.

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Tags: fathersreading to daughters, rhyme, rhythm, repetition, moo, voices