7. Reading out loud is not the same as reading to yourself. That is
probably the biggest mistake people make. You are now the court jester!
You have to pack as much energy into the story as possible. Make it
live!



6. Practice a few books without the kids present. Yes, you heard me,
PRACTICE! Take a book into the ‘loo’ (rest room) and act it out. Sounds
great because it echos! Pretend you’re on stage. Let it go!



5. Enunciate your words clearly. Don’t slur or mumble. Every word must be understood.



4. No monotony! Be animated. Go beyond your normal boundaries. Read
with verve and excitement. Ad lib a little -- you can even change one
of the character’s names to be that of the child you’re reading to!



3. Get into the characters. When you’re reading dialog, imagine you’re
that person speaking. Try to make each character different in some
simple way.



2. Don’t rush. Making mistakes will pull the kids out of the imaginary
world you’re putting them in. Take your time, but allow your eyes to
run a little ahead of your lips, that way you’ll know what’s coming and
can put the right emphasis on it.



1. Imagine you’re the kid you’re reading to. Imagine the eager look of
excitement on that kid’s face as the plot unfolds. You are creating a
movie in the kid’s head! Have fun with it. Be it. They will always
remember storytime with Mom and Dad.



So to wrap it up, let your hair down, allow your inner kid to emerge,
be a little looney, make some silly faces and noises, ad lib a little
and just watch the reactions as the kids become totally involved and
clamor for more when you’re done.



Good luck and happy reading!