Tips for Reading to Groups of Children by Carol Elbert   Reading to young children in a group is a little different from reading to one or two children who love you. Consider these hints. Choosing books: Not every picture book is a great read-aloud. Choose books: That you like. It will be more fun for you, and the children will see that. That have pictures large enough to be seen by a group. That have a good story as well as attractive illustrations. That are short, 5 minutes or less. It’s easier to hold the attention of preschoolers with several short books than with one longer one. School age children will enjoy longer stories, but when reading to a primary grade group you don’t know, about 8 or 9 minutes is long enough for one book. That are funny. In general, a funny book will be a better choice than a thoughtful book when you don’t know your listeners. That invite participation. Encourage children to make animal sounds or join you in saying a repeated refrain. Some books have simple flaps to lift, and you can ask children, “What do you think we will find in here?” Some books can be accompanied with motions. That rhyme. Rhyming and rhythm are great fun for children. Preparing to read aloud to children: Ahead of time, read the book aloud to yourself. Practicing will help you read more smoothly when you have the distractions of a wiggly group. It will also help you see if you’ve chosen a book that’s longer than you imagined. You may remember having loved a Dr. Seuss favorite, but don’t wait until you’re in front of a group of 4-year-olds to discover that it actually takes 25 minutes to read aloud. Think about the story’s possibilities for participation. The text may not say, “The cow said moo,” but you can say to the children something like, “What does the cow say?” Look for a repeated phrase in the story. You might tell the children that they have a line to say in the story and have them practice it before you start reading. “Every time I come to this part, you help me out. Let’s practice.” Think about the vocabulary. If there’s a word that children may be unfamiliar with, be prepared with a quick definition. Reading to a group of young children: Show the book’s cover and say the title and author. Hold the book so children can see the pictures. Make eye contact with all of the children. Avoid reading too fast. That’s the most common mistake adult readers make when reading to children. Read with expression. If you’re comfortable making different voices for the characters, feel free to ham it up. Remember that participation helps hold children’s attention. Point to things in the pictures and ask occasional questions, such as “What’s this?” or “Look at his face. How do you think he feels?” or “What do you think will happen?” However, be aware that a group discussion can quickly get away from you if every child wants to speak. Feel free to shorten or skip a non-essential sentence if the children are restless or younger than you expected. Here’s where you’ll be glad if you’re familiar with the story so you know what can be left out. Don’t try this with a book in rhyme. If there’s a word the children may not know, read the word and then explain it briefly. Try to ignore any misbehavior and focus on the children who are listening. It may help to re-direct a restless child to participate such as by making animal sounds or joining in saying a repeated refrain. If you sing, consider including a song at the beginning or between stories. The children’s librarians at the public library can help you find picture books that are stories to sing, like “Wheels on the Bus,” “Old MacDonald,” or “Five Little Ducks.” If you have some favorite poems, consider sharing a poem in addition to picture books. Consider using Mother Goose rhymes. Have fun