Parents Make the Difference

Reading to your children has been recommended to parents of young children for decades by literacy experts. The act of shared book reading can promote academic, language, and literacy development; this is grounded in research. Not all shared book reading, however, is equally effective. In Parents Make the Difference: Nourishing Literacy Development through Shared book Reading, Susan Voorhees guides parents to conduct enjoyable and productive book reading interactions with their young children. Parents will be informed about language and literacy learning in the early years and how to best engage in before, during, and after shared book reading activities. While this book was written as an invitation to parents, teachers will also find it to be informative in guiding them to establish a supportive climate for sound, developmentally appropriate literacy teaching practices. It is the responsibility of all shareholders to nourish the literacy development of young children as they naturally move toward learning to read and become lovers of reading.

Dr. Voorhees’ book, Parents make the difference, shared book reading, gives credence to parents as prime teachers. Parents will welcome her gentle yet professional approach to the process of language and reading as one of the greatest gifts they can give to their children — a lifelong love of language and reading. As an early childhood specialist (and grandmother) I delight in sharing this book with educators in the field not only as teachers but as collaborative partners with the parents of their students., Despite whatever the current rhetoric or call for reform in education is at a given time, one thing remains universal: literacy is fundamental. In Parents Make the Difference Susan Voorhees empowers parents to join with teachers in order to be first-line participants in the literacy development process. As a teacher, educational researcher, and parent of two young children I can appreciate the extraordinary value of this book firsthand., This is a fabulous resource book for parents. The reader will explore how to enhance the reading process with our littlest readers. Parents Make the Difference, breaks the reading process down with specific instruction. Using clear, step-by-step instruction, descriptive charts, questions and examples to reflect on, the book guides the reader through beginning, middle and end techniques. Easy to read, it will make reading an enjoyable, authentic experience for parent and child., Voorhees is right on target with her research and readability in Parents Make the Difference. This book is an essential tool for any parent wishing to enhance their children's reading experience. As a new mother, teacher, and Literacy Specialist, I see the importance of correctly engaging children in shared book reading from the moment they enter this world. Not only is it an excellent read; it is a MUST read!

Susan C. Voorhees (Ed.D. Hofstra University) is an Associate Professor of Literacy Education at Dowling College, Long Island, NY. She is enjoying her thirtieth year as an educator, and her interest is promoting the development of children’s literacy in the early years in order to foster later academic success.