Anders says that the best thing about Auntie Alicia is the way she always buys him things when she visits. While he loves receiving gifts from anyone, hers are special in that she always seems to select the book (it’s almost always a book) that is just right for him at the moment. She has an eye for illustration and an ear for poetry. Alicia understands literacy and the power of words. From trains, to trucks and farming to firefighting, Alicia always listens to what Anders loves and selects titles that are important to him at specific moments in his life.
What is the best about all of this is the way they snuggle up on the couch and read the newest purchases. Alicia uses different voices for different characters and makes books lively and inviting. She pauses at opportune moments to ask Anders questions about what they are reading and to allow him time to process and ask questions as well. He can't read, but the the stories come alive for him because of the way they are told.
This weekend my just-turned-six-year-old nephew read a book to my son. It was a cold read as he'd never seen the text before. He didn't just read the words, he read them with emotion. When he noticed punctuation after the fact, the would go back and reread a sentence just to make sure he got it right. I was astounded at his ability. He's clearly a gifted young man, because he just "gets it" when it comes to reading.
What makes storytellers great? What makes us perk up our ears and listen?
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