Mem Fox Reading Magic is a book written by Mem Fox, an Australian author and educationalist. The book is aimed at parents, teachers, and caregivers who want to help children develop a love for reading. Through the book, Fox explains the importance of reading aloud to children from a young age and provides practical tips and strategies for making reading a joyful and engaging activity. The main idea of Mem Fox Reading Magic is that reading aloud to children is vital for their language development, cognitive skills, and emotional well-being. Fox emphasizes that reading aloud should be a daily ritual and should involve a variety of books and genres. She also encourages parents and caregivers to make reading interactive by asking questions, making connections to the child's life, and playing with language.
I was born in Australia and when I was six months old, my parents, who were missionaries, went to what was then southern Rhodesia. It is now called Zimbabwe. And I grew up as a while child at first totally among black children. I spoke English with a very broad African accent.
I ve always loved writing and I ve always been passionately aware of race, and I think I ve a subliminal desire to make the world realize how similar it is to itself instead of how different it is. And sometimes, you know, little babies fingers are so tiny you can t believe how tiny they are and you d look at these minute digits and then their little fists like this and you have to put your finger in those little fists.
She also encourages parents and caregivers to make reading interactive by asking questions, making connections to the child's life, and playing with language. The book is filled with personal anecdotes, research findings, and practical examples to support its main idea. Overall, Mem Fox Reading Magic serves as a guide for adults to create a positive reading environment where children can develop a lifelong love for reading.
Reading Magic
Reading Magic is a fantastic book written by Mem Fox, an Australian children’s author and literacy expert.
The book was first published in 2001 when my boys were six and my daughter was three so I hadn't read it in the years when their dad and I were reading aloud to them. When I did read it, it was like a light-bulb had gone on in my head: so that's why learning how to read was so easy for them!
Mem Fox, author of Reading MagicSo what's Reading Magic about? I think the title pretty much says it all really.
The book's full title is: Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change their Lives Forever and there's no doubt that reading aloud to children does change their lives.
Reading aloud gives children the gift of language and of literacy and of stories. It inspires their imaginations and ensures they fall in love with stories, creating a life-long love of books and the learning and comfort they bring to our lives. It's the gift that makes learning to read a joy, instead of a chore and it creates a rock-solid bond between child and adult as they snuggle up together to read. And it creates priceless memories that the child will remember all his life.
In a nutshell, Reading Magic tells you everything you need to know about reading aloud: why it's important, how to do it, when to start and which books to read. There's lots written about this all over the internet these days but Mem's book is easy to read and contains really all you need to know to begin reading aloud to your baby or little one.
I read a lot of books and I read a lot of books about reading and about literacy issues and Reading Magic is quite simply one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read. It’s fairly short, not expensive to buy and makes a great gift for expectant or new parents. In fact, I include a copy whenever I give a new-baby gift to a family.
There aren't many books I say this about but I really feel that Reading Magic is a book which should be on every parent’s list to read, either before their first child is born or shortly afterwards.
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Reviews for "Mem Fox: A Reading Magic Pioneer in Children's Literature"
1. Sarah - 2/5
I was extremely disappointed with "Mem Fox Reading Magic". While I had heard great things about the book, I found it to be quite underwhelming. The activities and strategies suggested in the book were basic and didn't offer anything new or groundbreaking. I also didn't find the writing style engaging and felt that the book lacked depth and substance. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to parents or educators looking for effective reading strategies.
2. Mark - 1/5
I regret purchasing "Mem Fox Reading Magic" as it did not meet my expectations at all. The book was filled with generic advice and common-sense tips that I could have found for free online. It lacked a practical approach and didn't provide any real strategies for teaching children how to read. Additionally, the author's writing style was bland and uninteresting, making it difficult to stay engaged while reading. Save your money and look for other resources that offer more value.
3. Emily - 2/5
I found "Mem Fox Reading Magic" to be quite repetitive and lacking in substance. The author seemed to constantly reiterate the importance of reading aloud to children, which is something most parents and educators already know. There were no innovative ideas or techniques shared in the book, making it a disappointment for me. Furthermore, the writing style was dry and didn't captivate my attention. I was hoping for a more informative and engaging read, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver.