Learning to Read is a Ball! Why? It’s fun for both parents and children. What a perfect title for a book all about teaching our little ones to read. I’ve been reading to Zoe since I found out I was expecting. I did the same with Baby E. In fact Zoe also helped me read to Baby E in her own special way. Now the three of us read together. This week we have been reading Learning to Read is a Ball by Kimberly Scanlon. I have to admit, this has been my favorite book to review so far. The story is fun and educational plus the bonus section for parents really makes me happy. 

 What’s Learning to Read is a Ball all about?

A BALL! Well not just one ball but all types of balls, how we use them, their shapes, sizes and more. This book is categorized as an Early Reader Level 1 book. What makes this book so special? I’ll give you the condensed version:

• It is a fun, interactive book that is written with children in mind
• It is based on a simple object many children can readily identify with and have used from a very young age
• The pages can be copied for use as an activity. 

• There are fill in sections and lots of moments to engage in spelling, acting, coloring and more 
• It includes a 17 page instructional parent guide
• It’s written by certified licensed pediatric speech and language pathologist who is also the author of My Toddler Talks.

The Parent Guide 

I can’t say enough about the parent guide. I won’t give it all away but you start this journey by reading the guide and story before introducing it to your child. You learn about different reading styles, rhymes and alliteration. The book is a great foundation for building your child’s storytelling skills. Zoe made up her own story about a ball for dinner. Yes at 2! 

The entire book is all about fun. The parent guide is written in a simple way that shows how easy it is to raise a reader. Reading is not a chore but more a journey in life that grows, expands and flourishes as children read more and more. There is no stopping an avid reader. As a child, I rarely watched cartoons. I enjoyed all sorts of books from fiction to non-fiction, poetry, how to books, etc. Reading was and continues to be my thing so instilling this same love for reading is on the top of my priority list when it comes to my children. Just think about it, no matter what you study in school, choose as a career or life in general, reading is at the foundation. 

I encourage you to grab a copy of Learning to Read is a Ball and start the #RaisingAReader journey as early as possible. Learn more about the book and author Kimberly Scanlon, connect with Scanlon Speech Therapy on Facebook. 

Stay tuned for the launch of our reading challenge #TotsRead1K and #KidsRead1K with fellow mama Adanna of Rattles & Heels. We will be giving away copies of Learning to Read is a Ball plus a gift card to get you started on your new book collection. 

What do you do to encourage your children to read? Share your favorite books and tips in the comments.