The Fire of Literacy

"The fire of literacy is created by the emotional sparks between a child, a book, and the person reading. It isn't achieved by the book alone, nor by the adult who's reading aloud—it's the relationship winding between all three, bringing them together in easy harmony."

from Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever, by Mem Fox (Harcourt, 2001). Highly recommended! Also, a new and revised edition was published this year.

Comments

[BookMoot]

WOW, is that powerful! Mem Fox is THE BEST!

[Susan]

I really like Reading Magic, Camille. It's going to change the way I work with my 1st grade reading buddies when I return to volunteering in the fall. I'm going to read to them more. and when they're reading, I'm going to be quicker to supply the word they're stuck on. That way, they can move along more swiftly and understand what they're reading.

[Mary Lee]

Mem Fox is one of my heroines. I'll simple have to have the new edition!

[Susan T.]

Mary Lee, at 156 pages, the 2001 version is relatively brief (as you know), but full of such helpful and inspiring information. I read a library copy but want to buy the new edition, too!

[Jules]

I think I read this years ago, but it might have been another Mem Fox book about reading and children's lit (she *has* done more than one, right?). Anyway, she's great. Thanks for this great quote.

[Susan T.]

Jules, yes, she has a couple of books about reading, teaching, and literacy--in addition to the picture books.

[Stephanie]

I love this quote! It actually inspired me to write about what I love about reading out loud with my boys.

http://www.throwingmarshmallows.com/home/the-fire-of-literacy.html

Thanks for sharing this...

[Susan T.]

Oh, great post, Stephanie! I think you would really like Mem Fox's book.

Your posts about "cheating" have been excellent, too. Last fall I got Jr. to read several chapter books by using books-on-CD. He especially liked reading Beverly Cleary's "Socks" that way.