How to Read Aloud to a Child According to Audiobook Storytellers
Reading is important to your children, whether you do it before bedtime or in the afternoon , with picture books or novels , alone or with sound effects . Hey, science says so . But if you feel like your readings are getting a little lackluster, or you just want to improve your playing, here are some tips from those who make a living reading aloud: audiobook storytellers.
Choose the right book
Even if you love a certain book, it may not be the best choice for reading aloud. Mary Robinette Kowal, author of audiobooks including Seveneves and Digging In , suggests looking for stories with a small set of characters (if there are too many of them, it becomes difficult to distinguish them by voice unless you’re Mel Blanc) on your own. contained scenes (stories that jump in time can be confusing) and “language that lends itself to an almost onomatopoeic meaning.” She cites the example of Rudyard Kipling’s stories Just So , which were written specifically to be read aloud. “He uses rhythm and onomatopoeia to create really dynamic sentences that are fun to read,” explains Koval. There are tons of great read-aloud book lists for every age group – I usually love any of Sarah Mackenzie’s, founder of Read-Aloud Revival .
Do a pre-read
To make sure your reading is going smoothly, read quickly before it’s time to play. Susie Jackson, who has voiced over a hundred titles, including the Dory Phantasmagori series, tells Vox that while she prepares to read the book, she will underline the characters’ names and draw an arrow next to her to always know who is speaking before she is triggered with a special voice. “It’s a weird mental trick to be really present, but at the same time always read a little forward.”
Use speed to distinguish voices (if you are uncomfortable with “speaking voices”)
In general, many audiobook storytellers recommend reading slowly – even slower than you naturally think. “As you become more familiar with the text, you naturally speed up.” Kovalexplains . “You have to be excruciatingly slow in your own ears. The period means pause and counts to 2. A comma means pauses and counts to 1. “But when it comes to dialogue, you can play at the speed of your voice. Lissa Brown, the audiobook announcer who voiced Jones Courage , explained in the Read Aloud podcast . that if you don’t want to come up with a new voice for each character, changing the tempo can have a similar effect. “Some characters can have a very fast voice, and then if you make it slower it will seem completely different even if you don’t change your voice, ”she says.
But in fact the voices
“How often does a child get the opportunity to hear his mom or dad use silly or strange voices?” Jim Dale, famed audiobook narrator, told the New York Times . Dale invented 146 different characters during the recording of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It’s time to let go of your inhibitions and become Spiker’s evil Aunt and Sponge in James and the Giant Peach, or pesky little Ramona Quimby.
Allow distracting maneuvers
As you read, remember that this is for your kids. Make it interactive. Let them ask questions, ask you to repeat that one stupid voice, or announce that they too have superpowers, like the protagonist of the book. “A story that should only be five minutes long can take an hour, and that’s great,” Dale tells The Times .
Finally, relax. Unlike professionals, you don’t need to read a book perfectly. Your kids will love it anyway, and if they don’t, you can try again tomorrow.