Read-Aloud Handbook FAQs

1. What's in the Handbook?
It's divided into two parts: the first half contains the "ways" and "whys" of raising readers; and the last half consists of an annotated bibliography (The Treasury) of almost 1000 children's books for reading aloud, from picture books to novels and anthologies, with synopses on hundreds of the stories and guides to the age of the audience for which it was written.
At the bottom of this page, you'll find the Handbook's Table of Contents for easy browsing. The book's contents can also be viewed by subject matter. In addition, each web chapter consists of several excerpts from that print chapter but keep in mind the excerpt represents only about 15 percent of the actual chapter.

2. How did a parent come to write the book?
You can find a detailed explanation of the book's history at About Trelease. But in a nutshell, the book grew out of his experiences as a parent and school volunteer. When he saw the dramatic difference in reading attitudes and abilities between children who were read to and those who were not, Trelease investigated the subject in reading research, found a wealth of support, and then wrote a book on the subject. The first edition was self-published, but by 1982, Penguin USA had spotted it and published a greatly expanded version.
In 1983, the book spent 17 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list and has sold almost two million copies to date, including American, British, Chinese, Australian, Korean, Spanish, and Japanese editions. The foreign editions are not available from either Jim or in the U.S., unfortunately.

3. What is the Handbook's intended audience?
Parents, teachers, librarians, grandparents, literacy volunteers, day care providers—anyone interested in passing the torch of literacy from one generation to the next and touching the lives of children in a tender and lasting manner. Additionally, more than 60 colleges and universities use the book as a text for future teachers.

4. How does this Web version differ from the print edition of the book?
The actual book contains 400 pages, more than this web site can accommodate. Posted here is a representative sample of the book's contents, excerpts from the research and anecdotes in its chapters, and a listing of books from the Treasury of Read-Alouds.

5. Has the book been updated since it was first published?
The first edition was actually self-published in 1979. After that came larger editions, published in paperback by Penguin in 1982, 1985, 1989, 1995, 2001, and most recently in 2006. With each edition, new research is added to the main text, along with fascinating anecdotes that Trelease has encountered in his lecture travels and readings, with the text changing about 70 percent between editions. Also, the Treasury is updated each time, with new titles added and out-of-print books deleted. A gallery of past covers and details can be found here at Read-Aloud covers.

6. I know many Web sites that deal with books receive money or royalties for linking to book store Web sites. Does Jim have such agreements for the books he recommends?
As a former journalist, Jim is a firm believer in the adage: If you sleep with the elephants, you can't cover the circus. Therefore, he has no agreements of any kind with any Web sites or book publishers, with the exception of his own publisher (Penguin Putnam Inc.) and that one is for the standard author-publisher contract only. Any book recommended in either the Handbook or Web site is mentioned strictly on the basis of merit or personal preference.

7. I'm familiar with Jim's Handbook but not his other two books. What are they about?
Both volumes are Penguin anthologies of his favorite read-alouds and both have become bestsellers. Hey! Listen to This contains 48 stories aimed at kindergarten through fourth grade, while Read All About It! has 50 stories for the preteen and teen audience (5th grade into high school). The latter includes short stories, human interest newspaper articles and columns, and some self-contained chapters from novels. As editor of the two collections, Jim chose the stories and wrote author profiles containing unique material publishers too frequently never provide on book jackets. Excerpts can be found from both books at Hey! Listen to This and Read All About It!

8. How can people in remote or rural areas obtain Jim's books?
Since they are published by Penguin, one of the world's oldest and most prestigious publishers, they are available wherever books are sold and certainly can be ordered if they are not on the shelf. Additionally, you also can order any of his books or audio/video materials through his office. All books ordered that way can be autographed if so requested. In the continental U.S., orders of 10-19 copies are shipped postage free; orders of 20-39 are discounted by $1.00 and also shipped postage free; and orders of 40 or more are discounted by $2.00 and shipped postage free. An order form for his books can be found at ORDER FORM; fill out the form and fax it to Jim Trelease at: 413-782-0862.

9. I own a copy of Jim Trelease's book. Is there an easy way to get it autographed?
The easiest way, short of attending one of his lectures and having him sign it after the program or buying the book directly from his office (see question above), is to do the following: Send him a personal note listing to whom you wish it autographed, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope (#10 size), and mail that to: Reading Tree Productions, 51 Arvesta Street, Springfield, MA 01118-1239. Jim will then autograph a self-adhesive bookplate and mail it to you. This will save you the expense of shipping the actual book back and forth.

10. Is there an audio book version of the Handbook?
At the moment, the closest thing in audio to the book is the audiocassettes/CD's of his lectures. But there is no direct reading of the book itself. As for the Rawls recording, that is available exclusively from Reading Tree Productions and this Web site. Click on Rawls for more information.

11. I've written a book that my friends tell me is pretty good. Does Jim ever look at unpublished manuscripts and give evaluations?
The major publishers annually send Jim more than 2000 children's books to review. He has a hard enough time reading all of those, never mind what hasn't been published yet. There really is no way he can accommodate such requests and must regretfully say No. The best ways are still these two: Stop fearing rejection and send it to a publisher; or send it to an agent and still deal with possible rejection. The Read-Aloud Handbook, currently with nearly 2 millions copies in print, was initially turned down by six major publishers. Dr. Seuss's first book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, was rejected by 26 publishers. For the names of agents and/or publishers, check out the Literary Market Place at your local public library.

12. Can Jim give me a list of good books on the Plains Indians for a class unit? And other curricula-oriented questions . . .
Jim has enough to do in his own job without usurping your job, or the jobs of your school librarian and the supervisor for curriculum, both of whom should be handling such queries. Indeed, if he accepted such tasks, he'd have no time to write or answer legitimate mail. But thanks for asking.

13. Is there a Spanish edition of the Handbook?
The Spanish translation of THE READ-ALOUD HANDBOOK ( Manual de la lectura en voz) is published in Columbia, South America by Fundalectura of Bogata, Columbia. (Data below). Unfortunately it is not available in the U.S. and a number of U.S. educators have told me of their frustration in trying to order from the Columbian publisher. Unfortunately, that is something over which I have no control at the moment. Any Spanish publisher wishing to publish the book in Spanish in another country would be heartily encouraged by me.

Book title: Manual de la lectura en voz
Author: Jim Trelease
Publisher: Fundalectura
Fundacion para el fomento de la lectura
Avenida (calle) 40 N 16-46
Apartado 048902
Bogota, Columbia
Price: 35,000 Columbian pesos; (USD 13)
Telepfono: 571/ 320-1511
Fax: 571/ 287-7071
URL: www.fundalectura.org

Read-Aloud Handbook Contents
For a detailed table of contents, see Contents

This Web site contains only "excerpts" from the print edition of
The Read-Aloud Handbook (Penguin, 6th ed., 2006).

Introduction
Chapter 1: Why Read Aloud?
Explores the emotional, social, and academic reasons for reading aloud to children, including a brief overview of student scores and how the social strata mirrors reading scores.
Chapter 2: When to Begin Read-Aloud
From birth to adolescence is the prescription here, and, as this chapter shows, if you start early enough some astounding things can be accomplished with children (including those with special needs).
Chapter 3: Stages of Read-Aloud
An examination of the stages in reading and listening comprehension that children pass through, and how to stretch attention spans beyond picture books or the level of TV sitcoms.
Chapter 4: The Do's and Don'ts of Read Aloud
What you want to be sure to do and what you want to avoid doing in reading to children.
Chapter 5: Sustained Silent Reading (SSR)
Explores SSR and its impact on reading attitudes and thus achievement, along with a view of computerized "incentive" programs like AR and Reading Counts!
Chapter 6: In Their Own Words
Parents and teachers tell their inspirational stories as they experienced read-alouds with their families and classes.
Chapter 7: The Print Climate in the home, school, and library
There is ample evidence connecting a child's reading scores to the quality of his or her "print climate" —how much print is readily available: the more print, the higher the scores.
Chapter 8: Lessons from Oprah, Harry, and the Internet
There have been three revolutions in our lives during the last decade that can teach us much about reaching child-readers.
Chapter 9: TV, Audio, & Technology—Hurting or Helping Literacy?
Along with some sobering new research on technology's threat to literacy and a child's well-being, there also are new ways for families to tame and control it. And is any of it good for us?
TREASURY OF READ-ALOUDS — lists and synopses of hundreds of great read-aloud books
Picture books Fairy Tales Short novels Novels Poetry Anthologies

READ-ALOUD HANDBOOK

FAQs

Intro.

Chpt. 1

Treasury—Book reviews