Reading aloud can bring joy and laughter to everyone. Think about stories you have shared with family, friends or strangers. Maybe you have read to children at the library or at a school. Maybe you have shared a story at home with family. Perhaps a bedtime story has been shared with children or grandchildren.

Have you read a story aloud to a child or adult? Think about how you read the book. Were you reading to one person or to a group? If the book contained photographs or drawings, did you hold the book so everyone could enjoy viewing the book? Did you pause between pages to make sure everyone had a chance to see the pages?

A great way to share stories when reading aloud is to change our facial expressions and our voice. From raising eyebrows to sharing big smiles, to whispering softly to speaking in a loud voice, the story can be brought to life in exciting ways. I know how much I truly enjoy a story when the reader shows enthusiasm and expression.

The Bible is filled with stories which give us opportunity to share the love of God. Bible story books often contain drawings depicting the scenes in Scripture. Whether you are reading from the Bible or a Bible story book, think about your expression and your voice. What a wonderful way to share Scripture and help children become familiar with the stories in the Bible!

Have you listened to audiobooks? The speakers often use voice changes to hold our attention and make us want to hear more. Although we can’t see their facial expressions, we can hear the change in their voice at different sections of the story.

The next time you have an opportunity to read aloud, think about ways you can bring the story to life and help everyone have a great experience listening. The way you read a story could help others want to read aloud and share the love of reading.

Let us know some ways you make a story come to life.

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Have a blessed day,

Melissa Henderson