Reader-in-Chief: Read-aloud tips from President Obama

April 22, 8:23 AMSeattle Books ExaminerTegan Tigani

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(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

I just watched a video of President Obama’s Easter read-aloud of Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (thank you, Lisa Gold: Research Maven, for your great post). The performance is a wonderful example of how to read to children.

Here are some great things President Obama did during his reading that we can all try when reading aloud:

• Start with a connection to the book. The President tells the audience that this is one of his favorite books. When you tell kids that you love a book, you set a great example and provide incentive for them to listen. This also fosters a culture of shared literary experiences.
• Point out illustrations. Making connections between text and illustrations helps children develop their reading (and listening) comprehension. Listeners take clues from pictures, identify with characters, and even use illustrations as starting points for their own visualization. Illustrations can help children identify with books, understand humor, and make inferences about character and plot. (President Obama made me laugh and remember one of my favorite parts of the story when he mentioned, “He has a fork, like he wants to eat the dog!”)
• Pause for audience participation. Letting listeners jump in with repeated and favorite phrases encourages active reading skills. Listeners who recognize patterns and anticipate are involved in the story.
• Make Sound effects. Mrs. Obama’s growls and President Obama’s improv wild rumpus music help the listeners immerse themselves in the world of the book. The Wild Things come to life when we can imagine what they sound like. The first couple’s playful interaction also shows the collaborative fun of reading together. Plus, we can all appreciate the self-confidence and sense of humor it takes to play along.
• Act it out. This is another wonderful way to help kids understand a book and make it more relatable. Gestures, voices, and action also keep attention from wandering. By showing claws like a Wild Thing and pointing a chastising finger like Max, the President keeps even the youngest kids focused on the story and thinking what these characters would look, act, and sound like in real life.
• Encourage the audience to act like the characters. After reading about Max’s magic trick to calm the Wild Things, the President asks, “Can everybody do that? Try to stare without blinking.”  When kids do something the character in the book does, they feel empowered and connected to the book.
• Contextualize and reassure. Because reading aloud makes stories so vivid, it is important to acknowledge kids’ reactions to books. Discussing books and our response to them helps build a community of readers and thinkers. After a rousing “The End,” it is good to reflect on the story together. In smaller groups, listeners may want to revisit their favorite parts or talk about how they feel. In bigger groups, it is especially important to be sensitive to the readers’ nonverbal reactions. After Mrs. Obama noticed some kids looking scared, President Obama reassured everyone in his calm, assertive, empathetic way. “Those Wild Things can be a little scary. But it’s alright. He ended up back in the  bedroom."

 Well done, Mr. President!  Everyone, treat yourselves to story time with the YouTube video below.  Enjoy!

Here's the video: