Have you ever wished there were a way for your kids to use audiobooks without cd players or devices with screens? Now kids can experience the magic of books that can read themselves with Ottawa Public Library’s newest collection: Read-alongs, the books that talk! The Read-along collection consists of print books with a simple audio player built in, that can be charged with any micro-USB charger. Parents and children can listen to the stories while flipping through the pages and looking at the words and pictures.
Listening to books is an important factor in developing a love for reading—a skilled reader, whether a parent, teacher, librarian, or audiobook narrator brings books to life for children who are not yet confident readers themselves and motivates reluctant readers. Listening while looking at the text can reinforce phonemic awareness (connection between letters and sounds) for beginning readers and improve reading comprehension for older readers. Read-alongs are easy to use independently for children aged 4 and up and can be listened to with or without headphones.
OPL’s Read-along collection includes picture book, early reader, children’s fiction and children’s non-fiction titles. From The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Day the Crayons Quit, to Frog and Toad and Pete the Cat to Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The Wild Robot , there is something to appeal to any kid. Read-along books are available for browsing at Ruth Dickinson, Nepean Centerpointe, Beaverbrook, Carlingwood, Hazeldean, Cumberland, Greenboro, Sunnyside, Rosemount, Manotick, North Gloucester, Greely, Richmond, Blackburn Hamlet, and Rockcliffe Park branches, but can be requested at any location. You can find the whole collection here in our catalogue.