Mr. Schu Discusses the Importance of Read Alouds

Popular children’s book author John Schu, aka Mr. Schu, sent us a letter, and it’s addressed to you! Read his thoughts on the benefits of read alouds and sharing stories in the classroom and learn more about his recent books.

Dear Colleague,

I am writing you this message on October 11, 2022, from 32,000 feet over somewhere between Chicago and Seattle. I hope your school year is off to a wonderful start. I hope you and your students are experiencing stories together that are helping you bond as a learning community. Stories that become friends. Stories that feel like classmates. Stories that change you. Stories that you and your students remember 20 years from now.

I love how favorable read aloud memories stir our desire to repeat similar experiences. There are few things that make me happier than creating treasured read aloud moments and memories. Read aloud time is what I loved the most during the 14 years I spent as an elementary school classroom teacher and school librarian.

The power of the read aloud was on my mind as I wrote This Is a School. As I crisscross the country sharing This Is a School and the books I love as a reader, I’m once again seeing and feeling how powerful it is to talk about stories and read aloud stories from the heart.

*This Is a School* cover, credit: Candlewick Press

There are times when I enter a school library or a classroom or a bookshop and within a moment, I know it’s a place and a space that supports and promotes rich reading experiences. It is a place that creates and fosters moments of connection through story.

These spaces are buzzing with conversation starters such as:
-What are you currently reading?

-What is it about this book that makes you love it?

-What was the last really good book you read?

-Who has read a fabulous book about dogs? How about a scary book? A funny book?

-Have you met these characters yet?

-What surprised you the most in this book?

-Wow, my heart was pounding hard toward the end of this book! Look at how the illustrations perfectly match the text!

-Do you have a moment? I want to tell you about these books.

-May I read aloud a passage from this book? I really want to know what you think of it.

The last question resonates the most with me. Please read aloud to your students every day. Discuss books. Experience stories together. When you do, you’ll hear what they honestly think about books. Conversations like this stay with us for years and years.

Please share with your students the books that inspire you and make your heart more compassionate. Please let me know the stories they share with you because of how you shared your heart with them through stories.

An illustration from *This Is a School,* credit: Candlewick Press

I hope you enjoy reading aloud and discussing This Is a School with your students. I hope it helps you discuss the power of play, creativity, hope, helping, healing, sharing, learning, trust and connection within a school community. I hope it helps everyone on your school’s campus discuss the journey they’re taking together throughout the school year. I hope you refer back to Veronica Miller Jamison’s beautiful and heart-growing illustrations throughout the school year. 

This Is a School  touches upon how school is a place for discovery and asking questions. It is a place for sharing, for helping and for community.  Thank you for creating spaces and moments that allow students to create, reflect and share what they need.

Thank you for making the world better by sharing books with your students.

Happy, happy reading!

-John Schu

P.S. This Is a Story, illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Lauren Castillo and written by me, releases on March 14, 2023. Lauren’s stunning illustrations remind me that books can be the perfect prescriptions to let us know we’re not alone. I hope you’ll share a copy with a friend next year.