Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids

After homeschooling for a lonnnnggg time, I am so thankful for this beautiful reminder of the way reading g aloud enriches all our lives. So many times, I fall into routines and put off reading aloud as a last priority or don't do it at all. I knew it was good for us, but I didn't realize HOW good it is! I purchased this as an audiobook and I love it that the author is also the narrator! She does a great job drawing you in and making you want to listen to more. I am also going to purchase the actual book so I can write in it, etc. This is one that I will revisit time after time!

Reading aloud has always been a priority in our home. We love good books and enjoy sharing them as a family. Sarah Mackenzie’s new book is a must read for all families. She helps you to see why reading aloud is so much more than just enjoying the book.. you are making memories and growing strong bonds with your children. Take the time to read the book. You will love what she has to say.

Oh my goodness - what can I say about this book? This book is like having a personal mentor and encourager lead you each step of the way. Reading aloud is such an amazing way to build memories, connect to your kids' hearts, and to learn more about the world that God created. I love Sarah, her heart for children literacy is amazing and this book is such an awesome, awesome way to pave that path for your kids.

I have been listening to the Read Aloud Revival podcast for a few years now and I still get excited whenever a new episode comes out! Sarah Mackenzie has the best taste in books and she has really inspired me to make read aloud time a part of our family culture! Needless to say, I was thrilled to hear that she was writing this book! I devoured it as soon as it arrived and have not been disappointed. Sure some of the material is covered on podcast episodes, but I love having everything in one place for easy reference. Furthermore, she delves into much of the information in more detail here in the book. I especially love the tips on creating a book club culture at home, becoming a literary matchmaker to your child, and asking compelling questions about books. I have learned so much! But of course the very best part of the book is Sarah’s extensive book list organized by age. I see lots of new titles that I can’t wait to read aloud to my family!

I was greatly anticipating the arrival of this book, and it did not disappoint. If you like the podcast, you will love the book! It is a great resource for every family's library, and I plan to purchase copies to give away, especially to new mothers. Reading aloud has been a valuable use of time for our family; each of those moments of reading aloud has richly blessed us in so many ways. Get this book for information as well as inspiration, and to support a writer who truly cares about reading and its effects on family relationships.

This is a wonderful book! Even though I enjoy reading to my children, as they got older and are reading themselves now, I have neglected read-aloud time. This book has encouraged, yes inspired me, to read to them more and I love reconnecting with them through books again. I would recommend any parent, homeschool or not, to read this book!

I loved the book Teaching From Rest and was really excited for The Read Aloud Family to be released. Sarah Mackenzie did not disappoint. I’ve followed Read Aloud Revival for a few months now and have seen an improvement incorporating some of the ideas into our family’s read aloud time. It’s so nice to have even more of those ideas in one place that I can refer back to over and over. The practical advice and relatable style of the author make it seem more like I’m having a discussion over coffee with a friend rather than reading. This is perfect for any parent wanting to get more out of connecting with their kiddos through books.

Reading aloud to my children and now to my grandchildren has always been a special time for me. When my children were younger, a primary resource encouraging reading aloud and providing suggested titles was Jim Trelease’s The Read-Aloud Handbook. Mackenzie's book praises Trelease's book as she reinforces the importance of reading aloud to children, but also gives practical tips for doing so. In addition to helpful book lists by age group (it was great to see some of the favorites of both my children and grandchildren on the lists), she also gives suggestions for activities children can do with their hands while being read to and open ended questions one can use to encourage conversations with children about books that have been read to them.

Sarah Mackenzie has done it again! She focuses in on what is most important for homeschooling families, both academically and spiritually. I'm so thankful for her wisdom and hard work. As I dig into this book, I know it will become a much loved favorite just like her first book, Teaching from Rest. I recommend it to anyone, even if they do not homeschool!

This book is perfect for families on every stage of their read-aloud journey, from those who want to get started reading aloud, to families who have already made reading a part of their home culture. I have a feeling I will be coming back to Sarah's book over and over again to inspire me to keep fostering the love of story in my home.
I especially loved the chapters about having meaningful conversations with your kids about books. There are a number of great question suggestions you can ask your kids to engage with them about books whether you have already read the book they are reading or not.
I have read a number of other books about reading to kids and reading aloud, but Sarah's book puts the best of those resources all together in one place. Her book is easy to read, full of inspiring personal stories, informing, practical, and just a delight.

Sarah Mackenzie has written such an important book, especially for those who haven't been lucky enough to stumble across her podcast yet. Reading aloud is a habit that many parents mistakenly stop doing once their kids can read independently. But there is magic in reading aloud, and Sarah does a great job of explaining that magic. Every parent should receive this book on their child's very first day of school. Great book by a great author who is creating a much needed movement for families to gather around a book instead of the television.

Grab your highlighters and GO!!!
As a family with kids from middle school to high school, and have been reading aloud for several years, I strongly encourage you to OWN this book (you will want your own personal copy)! The encouraging and organized content unpacks all the whys and hows of reading aloud to kids of ALL AGES! Sarah beautifully illustrates building your family culture through picture-chapter books while integrating the beauty of learning and developing moral compass in our family and children. Especially unique is a section dedicated to picture books for teens!
When should you stop reading aloud to your kids? NEVER!

A must read for every parent, teacher, grandparent...anyone who is around children. I cannot recommend Sarah Mackenzie's book enough. As a former grammar school teacher, I saw first hand the positive effects of reading aloud to children. Reading aloud was my #1 prerequisite for learning to read. (I had no idea at the time the research behind that statement. I just knew it worked.) I was floored by the research in Sarah's book. She's not trying to convince you that reading aloud is of utmost importance for our children. She clearly states WHY it is, and she gives great how-tos to put into practice immediately. One, of which, is as simple as grab the kid/book closest to you and start reading aloud. This book will be going into my read-once-a-year stack. I need to be reminded regularly that this single, inexpensive way to educate and connect with my kids really is the most effective.

What a wonderful, parent friendly and teacher friendly book! The book is chock full of examples and research that prove how vitally important it is to read aloud to our children! The author provides book lists for every age. I am convinced that anyone who reads this book and begins to read aloud daily, will help fill our world with, not only children and adults alike who love reading, but also with empathetic, compassionate human beings!

This book is a great addition to anyone's library. The conversational tone of the book makes for an easy read while being extremely informative. The ideas Sarah Mackenzie has included in the book, have a book club mentality, asking open ended compelling questions, and the book lists, to name a few are so helpful and can be used by any educator or parent. This book and the amazing information in it will help me better prepare my daughter for Classical Conversations Challenge A and using the Lost Tools of Writing, as well as helping to create a love of literature.

Fantastic! This book is so motivating and reassuring when It comes to teaching children to love reading. My favorite element is the way she used book title after book title throughout this book. The author is encouraging and does a thorough job of convincing you that reading aloud is worth your while. Plenty of tricks and lists for how to do it, how to troubleshoot, books to start with, questions to ask kids, how to tell if a book is something you should spend your time on or not, her own kids and their private libraries, and on and on. I marked this book up with a highlighter and made pages and pages of notes. And, I've bought a few more copies for other people, the perfect gift for a fellow mom!

I listen to Sarah Mackenzie on her podcast and her blog. I have learned so much about how to share books with my family. This book is highlighted, tagged and underlined. I recommend this to any parent who wants to further their relationship with their children or anyone who wants to incorporate more reading into their family life. We love Sarah Mackenzie around this house! Thank you Sarah for a great parent resource book.

This book was so well done. I have read several “books about books” and I was afraid that this would be a bit of the same old same old. It was not. Well written, a quick read (good for this busy momma) with lots to think about and learn from. Sarah McKenzie makes reading aloud not only seem palatable but a joyous experience. Plus her book list descriptions are especially curated for reading aloud. I can’t wait to get reading!

Fantastic book. This book felt like a continuation of The Read Aloud Handbook. Not surprised since the author's journey has been heavily influenced by it. There is a great book list in the back but I wouldn't buy it just for that. The first part of the book tells why you should read aloud. Fairly straightforward. The best part of the book is the second. I especially like the 6th chapter. Thinking about a book club environment in the home is great. This book is great for all families. The Read aloud Revival is well known in homeschool communities but this book is for families who use the public schools or homeschool. This book does repeat information from her podcast but I found it helpful to have it in an orderly fashion. Overall a very worthwhile part of our library.

This book has something for every family. As a veteran homeschool mom (going on 25 years) who made reading aloud an important part of our schooling, this book was a wonderful validation of my choice to make that a priority. I still learned a lot from reading this book and gained new ideas, especially on how to have meaningful conversations about books. If you are a homeschool family and you have not been reading aloud much, please get this book. It is truly inspiring! If you send your children to private or public school or your children aren't in school yet, this book is for you, too! Every family should be a read-aloud family. I have just purchased 3 more copies to give as gifts. LOVE this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Read-Aloud Family. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it as much as listening to Sarah's podcast, Read Aloud Revival, but it was just as delightful. I could almost hear her infectious enthusiasm as I read her words in black & white.

I am adding all the book recommendations for ages 0-3 and 4-7 to my library list and can hardly wait to go pick them up!

I love this book because I connect with it's message so deeply. I have the motivation I need (desire the best for my boys) but now after reading this book some myths I had were debunked. The burden has been lifted from my shoulders. It doesn't have to be complicated...just read....ahhhh yes I can do that. And best of all, audio books count =)

Had high expectations for this book and it did not disappoint. Like most parents, I know reading aloud is important and good but the inspiration and the stories in this book provided some serious drive to make more time for it. I feel like time is slipping away and my kids just keep growing. Life moves so quickly and reading aloud together is such a simple, beautiful way to connect.

What a wonderful addition to the Read Aloud Family! Inspiring/motivational stories woven between practical advice. The booklist is a perfect resource to choice your next family read aloud. My personal favorite chapter is the 10 simple questions to ask any reader about any book. It has sparked hours of conversation! Great Read! 5 starts

This has become one of my most recommended resources for parents of any ages children who choose to school in any option! The most important key word in the title is FAMILY! It isn't just about reading, or reading aloud, (although it has lots of helpful information for that!), but at it's core this is a book about relationships, and how to build amazing relationships with your family that center around, you guessed it, reading aloud. I'm a homeschooling mom veteran (I was homeschooled myself and I now homeschool 3 of my 5 children!), but this book still had little nuggets of wisdom that have already started making a difference in our homeschool day.

I discovered Sarah's Read Aloud revival podcast and website about six months ago. I knew I needed this book, and after reading it I would say I would easily pay three times the price for it! It has so much valuable information about how to become a read aloud family. The booklists alone are worth the price of this book. I plan to reread this book yearly, it is that good! Highly recommend!

Sarah Mackenzie has such a way with words and with books! The Read-Aloud family is a beautifully written book about reading aloud to our kids and how we can connect with our kids through this beautiful idea. This book will be helpful for every family with children of all ages who want to make those connections and have lovely conversations about life and beautiful literature. The Read-Aloud Family includes a book list categorized by age and type of book full of descriptions of each and every book. My favorite part of the book is her list of compelling questions to ask your children, which is full of the possibilities of endless conversations in order to create a reading culture in our homes.

Excellent, inspiring, practical, informative and a most enjoyable book. I hate to call it a handbook as that might sound boring and unappealing, yet it' is a practical guide/handbook, but like none other! I've listened to Sarah's podcasts and author interviews, and I've read Teaching From Rest. Yet, here is another winner in my opinion and a must-read. I'm a grandmother and former school teacher and I'd love to give this book to every mom I know! It's a treasure!

As a first time homeschooling mom, I felt the need to do some research before I got started. I came upon Sarah
MacKenzie and was instantly intrigued by the idea of reading aloud to our children, even beyond the time they are able to read for themselves. I've been a fan ever since. I have listened to her podcasts, joined her Read Aloud Revival group and I have now read this very interesting and very useful book. I am not much of a non-fiction reader, usually perusing the book, reading a little here and there. Not this time. I read it from cover to cover. And, I know I will continue to reference it throughout the years that I am homeschooling. This is definitely a must have for all homeschooling families.

If you thought read aloud time was only for babies, toddlers and non-readers, think again! This book gives amazing tips on reading aloud for all ages. It even gives tips on how to have a discussion with your children when you haven't read the book yourself. This one is going on my annual to read list!

So much goodness in this book! The author’s love for reading aloud is contagious. It reignited my spark to read with my kids, but the book doesn’t stop there. Along with a hefty dose of inspiration, Sarah provides some really great practical tips for getting it done.

There’s a chapter about mastering the art of conversation with your kids. It includes the right questions to ask and how to ask them. There are suggestions for keeping hands busy while reading aloud. Finally, there’s a booklist organized by age group full of recommendations for reading aloud with your kids. It my favorite kind of book, equal parts inspiration and the practical, explaining both the why and how of reading aloud.

I have followed Sarah Mackenzie since the early days of The Read Aloud Revival Podcast. I devoured her first book Teaching From Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace. I was thrilled to discover that she was writing a new book. I was not disappointed! The Read Aloud Family was everything that I hoped for. The first part tells us why to read aloud to our children. The second part of the book tells us how to read to our children - how to find the time, how to pick books, and how to have wonderful conversations. The third part is an amazing list of books divided by ages and stages. We have read many books in our family based on Sarah Mackenzie's recommendation. We have loved them all!

Over the past few years, I've listened to episodes of the Read-Aloud Revival and wandered around the website numerous times (love the transcripts!). As a veteran read-alouder (I've been homeschooling with an emphasis on literature for 11 years now, and read aloud to my kids at least 4 days a week), I'm still learning new stuff from Sarah Mackenzie, and this book is no exception. Just 10 minutes a day 4 days a week will make a difference (more than 30 hours/year!). Read the book, and start reading aloud! You and your kids will be better for it.

The Read-Aloud Family is a powerful, thoughtful book. Sarah Mackenzie has given us a truly useful book whether you are just beginning the read aloud journey or you have a great deal of experience with it.

I am quite familiar with children's literature and am an advocate of reading aloud in homes and in classrooms (regardless of the location or age of the students) as I teach a Children's Literature course for Arkansas State University. I read aloud to my university students every time our class meets.

I encourage everyone to read this book. It is, indeed, a keeper, a must for every library!

As a mama who already follows and loves the author I was skeptical if this book would be one I needed. After only 10 minutes in the book I had underlined several passages and could not wait to read more. I recommend this book for both homeschooling families and those who dont homeschool but want to build and encourage a teading culture in their homes. It is amazing. Worth every penny. Have a highlighter or boom darts ready so you can Mark those parts that move you. Plus the book list is fantastic! ?

Sarah Mackenzie constantly refreshes me as a homeschool mom, helping me keep my eyes fixed on the goals I have for my kids and giving practical tools to help me accomplish those goals. This book is one of those tools and even though I have followed and read and listened to Sarah Mackenzie for years now I still found this book helpful and encouraging. I think every mom who seeks to give her children the gift of a love of books should read this!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and will use it as a reference for a long time. I appreciate the current booklists in the back of the book as well as the chapters about asking meaningful questions to have organic discussions with my kids about the books they are reading. The open-ended questions are really easy to ask without making discussion seem forced. I also think the part about becoming a matchmaker for your kids to help them find books they will love is excellent.
Even though I've listened to all of Sarah's podcasts, having all that information together in one place will make it much easier for me to utilize all the information and ideas.

This book is filled with so many fantastic resources and is a resource in itself. It is encouraging, uplifting, and full of tips to get us all reading aloud to our families. My book is full of book darts, waiting for me to write many passages into my commonplace journal.... I'm sure I'll be referring to this book often! I highly recommend The Read-Aloud Family to parents who have children at home of any age.

I love Mrs. Mackenzie. This book is a handy reference guide for those who have followed her for a while and a nice introduction for those seeking the transition to reading aloud. There is little new information, but much inspiration! I would have enjoyed more suggestions for WHOLE FAMILY read aloud suggestions, but enjoyed her writing.

This much-anticipated book exceeded my expectations. I've been reading aloud regularly to my children for over a decade, and I still came away more inspired and equipped than ever to keep reading aloud to my kids. Full of gems in both the practical and theory, my copy is already marked up and glistening with book darts. No doubt I'll be re-reading this and gifting it other moms. I truly don't know of any other book that captures the heart of reading aloud in the home like The Read-Aloud Family. Thank you, Sarah, for this wonderful (and much-needed) gift to our families and our world!

This book should be required reading every parent! Not only does it have great information about why reading aloud is important to family culture, it also shares intimately about real families and real life learning that bring families closer together! Who doesn’t need more of that???
You won’t regret spending your valuable time and a minimal amount of money here! I’ve read it once and will be reading it again. Thank you, Sarah!

I LOVE this book! The way Sarah weaved stories with fact made it such an easy read. A must read for anyone wanting to build great relationships with their children. She gives practicals and examples that make reading aloud to your children a doable part of daily life.

This book was wonderful. I was skeptical that any author could write a whole book on reading aloud without being repetitive and trite. But this book really was helpful and interesting from beginning to end. I was inspired to read to my children even more than I already do. I loved Ms. Mackenzie 's suggestions for picking our own read alouds as well as her booklists. I know I will reference this book for years.

The read aloud family is a great book! Sarah does a fantastic job of explaining the goodness of reading to children and even teens! Then she gives great advice on how to read aloud and at the end she has book lists for kids of all ages. I throughly enjoyed reading her book and once I was finished my whole family went to the library to check out books from her book list. Her book is not only inspirational but it is doable. Everyone can read with their kids and make meaningful connections and the read aloud family is the stepping stone to make it a habit in any family.

I love all things Sarah MacKenzie!!! Her books are all winners! This one does not disappoint. Full of motivation and practical ideas to implement. I love the helpful book lists!!!! Worth the purchase for the lists and recommendations alone!! Thanks, girl!!!

Thank you for writing this book Sarah Mackenzie! It's brough so much joy and strength to my heart already. I've been following you and your book lists for a long time but I love having this book in my home as apart of the foundation for our homeschooling. God bless you as you continue to spread the Read Aloud Revival!

A heartfelt book about WHY you should consider reading aloud to your children on a regular basis. There are also a wealth of book lists for different ages, as well as tips for becoming your child's book "matchmaker."

This book is amazing! Sarah gives such vision for what we can give our children through pages of books. She is very practical yet inspiring! I was a fairly avid reader before stepping into motherhood where I felt I couldn't give time to reading for much enjoyment. Now I see the high value I should give it for the sake of everyone in my family. I am excited to dive into the suggested books that I didn't know existed until this week!

The Read-Aloud Family is an encouraging, engaging, easy to read, potentially life changing book. Sarah shares tangible proof of how reading aloud with our children will positively impact the entire family. More than just a book filled with lofty ideals and evidence for such ideals Sarah also gives the reader practical tools and ideas for creating a culture of reading, engaging and sharing stories as a family and a beautiful list of books with which the journey, something for every age.

Fathers, throw away the TV. Pick up classic stories and read them out loud to your children and wife. Bring your family together, surround it in love. But first clog up the drain spilling sewage into your house by throwing away the TV.

This book is amazing! Sarah, thank you so much for writing this. You have a instilled in me a huge desire to make reading aloud a high priority in our home. It was great to read about the many, many benefits of reading aloud and how it can help my husband and myself make meaningful connections with our children. And my children are very excited when I read aloud to them. I want my children to have a love for reading and this book shows that they can. We have renewed our library card and now make frequent trips to the library. I definitely recommend this book!

Sarah’s book is wonderful as are her other ones. We have already read aloud to our kids but this offered up so many new nuggets of stuff I hadn’t thought of on making conversation with my kids about the books they read that I may not read as well. I also used to discourage my kids from reading books I didn’t feel were quality books and this book gave me great tips on that to make me change my thinking! I highly recommend this book to any parent. All parents can find time to read aloud, Sarah offers tips, to benefit their kids!

The Read Aloud Family should be on the bookshelf in everyone’s home. I promise you this will be a “go to” resource for book recommendations, compelling questions to ask your kiddos, how to create a book loving environment, etc.
Personally, I believe this book should be a required read for all teachers too. Imagine how beneficial it would be to our children if they were exposed to the mindset of books = delight both at home and school.
I’m a HUGE Sarah Mackenzie fan and pray someday our paths would cross so I can thank her for her book and life’s mission in person!

What is there not to love about a book encouraging you to spend more time reading with your little ones + practical ways to do so + book recommendations?

If I could give my kids one gift, it would be a love of books!

I will gladly recommend this to any of my mama friends.