The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction
As the Wall Street Journal’s children’s book reviewer since 2005, the author is well equipped to write about the importance of reading aloud to children. Drawing on the latest brain science and behavioural research, Gurdon makes a convincing argument that being read to is a necessity. Stories and examples from real families, including the author’s own, support the science and give credence to the benefits of reading aloud.
The Enchanted Hour explores how reading aloud can give a cognitive boost to young children and is especially important for premature babies. Another chapter investigates how it positively affects child development in areas such as trust, empathy, emotions and attention span. Interactive reading is also discussed, as is how it can work wonders for children’s vocabulary. The main message, however, is that reading aloud, as a shared experience, brings families together. The Enchanted Hour is a well-researched and engaging book, and feels particularly relevant in this age of screens. It includes some practical tips on how to start reading aloud in your family. There is also a long list of recommendations, although some of the books mentioned would be more popular in America. For anyone looking for a convincing argument for the importance of reading aloud, they should be pointed towards this book. Although a review in Inis might feel like preaching to the converted, hopefully this book will find a wider audience and inspire more people to read aloud.
