I Will Read To You written by Gideon Sterer and illustrated by Charles Santoso is a touching picture book about a little boy who loves the gifts that come forth during listening to a story read aloud at bedtime. He believes in cozy covers, sleepy thoughts and the loving voice of his mother nearby telling him a story. However, he also believes that animals of the night, which he is not at all afraid of, also deserve the opportunity to hear a story before they go to bed.
One bedtime he finally persuades his mother to allow him to gather these animals of the night together and lovingly read them a bedtime story. As if on a mission, he takes his flashlight and heads for a high hill whereby he calls forth vampires, skeletons, dragons, ghosts, giants, and witches to gather around for a bedtime story. From the top of a peak with Mom in the background he proclaims, “Fly now Witches on your brooms, march now Mummies, from your tombs, come now, Goblins, Ghosts, and Trolls! I will read to you.” And they gather.
The illustrations of the animals getting all cozy are rock-a- bye cuddly. The expressions on their sleepy faces as they hear this story written in rhyme are beautifully drawn. When the story is finished the little boy, all happy and satisfied, follows his mother back to his bed where she says, “I will read to you.”
I Will Read To You written by Gideon Sterer and illustrated by Charles Santoso shows the little boy’s absolute determination to include all creatures in the lovely tradition of bedtime stories. This book is designed for readers 4-8 years of age (Little, Brown and Company) 2023.
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Activity Questions for I Will Read To You
Young children: Look over the pages of this book and find these creatures of the night in the pictures: a ghost, a witch, a skeleton, a vampire, an owl, a troll, a bat, a giant, a dragon and a goblin. Have fun!
Questions for older kids:
What bedtime story do you think the little boy read to the creatures of the night? Why?
What bedtime story would you read to the creatures of the night and why?
Why was his mother proud of him after he read the story for the creatures of the night?
Activity for all kids: What would the sound of a bump, a roar, a grow, a hoot, and a thump sound like? Use your imagination and vocally try them out. Have fun!
