When my son was just learning how to read, he was very easily frustrated whenever he didn’t know a word. Getting him to read an entire story on his own was very challenging. So, we developed a routine of “taking turns” reading so he would be able to practice reading without feeling like it was a hugely unpleasant chore.
One of our favorite books during this time was You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Very Short Scary Tales to Read Together. Written by Children’s Poet Laureate Mary Ann Hoberman and illustrated by Michael Emberley, this book is the fourth volume in the You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You series.
It is a collection of short rhyming stories with color coded text to indicate who is supposed to read what part. The topics cover trick or treating, ghosts, zombies, monsters, and other slightly spooky things that so many young children seem to be fascinated with. The illustrations are just gross enough to appeal to young kids without being inappropriately “scary” for the beginning reader.
The text in Very Short Scary Tales to Read Together is fairly simple, regardless of what color “part” you choose to read in a particular story. If you have an older child who wants to help his or her younger sibling learn to read, this book is an excellent choice for shared story time.
There are lots of opportunities for kids to have fun by making scary ghost noises, monster faces, or silly voices to add interest to the featured stories. It’s also a great book to use for putting on plays and puppet shows, if your kids are into that sort of thing.
Photo credit: Barnes & Noble
