07/07/2026
This summer, I made a commitment to read aloud thoughtful books to children of every age.
One journey took us into stories of friendship and relationships. Growing Home by Beth Ferry,introduced us to Ivy, a self-absorbed plant, and Toasty, who slowly discover that friendship is not about being the centre of attention, but about making space for others. Alongside them are faint-hearted Ollie, a quiet violet waiting to bloom, and wise Arthur, whose kindness and generosity gently transform those around him. Together, they remind us that when jealousy and envy give way to encouragement and love, friendships flourish and everyone finds the courage to bloom.
In contrast, The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly immersed us in a dystopian world where power shifts from humans to the android SNAP. As SNAP begins to think, question, and care for the Valleycats, the novel exposes a society shaped by inequity, exploitation, environmental neglect, and the widening divide between those with power and those without it. It challenges readers to consider what makes us truly human, and whether empathy can survive in a world driven by technology and control.
Reading these books aloud reaffirmed something I have believed for years: children never outgrow the need to be read to. Read-aloud is not simply a bridge to independent reading; it is how we build thoughtful readers. It is where children encounter ideas larger than themselves, wrestle with complexity, develop empathy, and learn to listen to perspectives beyond their own.
In a world increasingly consumed by screens and endless scrolling, stories remain one of the few places where children can slow down, think deeply, and experience what it means to be fully human. That is why we continue to read aloud, not because children cannot read on their own, but because literature deserves to be heard, shared, discussed, and celebrated together.
