Published by Julian Publishing. Gideon & Milo storybooks are written by Lester C. Lacey.
Reading Together
Start a family reading routine by choosing one familiar cue, keeping a book within reach and ending with a small invitation to read again. A routine can be flexible: a few pages or one picture may suit the day better than a whole book.
Try this with Gideon, Milo, and the Great Shadow by Lester C. Lacey, a children’s story about Gideon, a boy, and Milo, his Yorkshire terrier. The routine below is a suggestion for sharing a story, not a required reading program.
1. Choose a cue you already notice
Pick a moment that happens naturally, such as after putting away an afternoon snack or when everyone settles on the sofa. Say, “Shall we open our book?” You do not need to promise the same time every day. Agree on a cue that feels manageable to the people taking part.
2. Make the next step easy
Put one chosen book and a bookmark somewhere accessible. Before you begin, decide who would like to read aloud. A child may listen, read a line, look at a picture or choose where to start. Keep the rest of the setup small enough to repeat without preparation.
3. Save one question for next time
When you finish, ask, “Is there something you would like to look at again?” Write or draw that thought on scrap paper and tuck it beside the bookmark. Next time, begin with the saved question instead of inventing a new activity.
A routine card you can copy
- Our cue: When we sit together after our snack.
- Our choice: One book, with room to stop at a natural point.
- Our invitation: “Which picture or question shall we save?”
These are example choices. Change any part to suit your household, and let the reader help decide what to repeat.
What if we miss a day?
Begin again when the next useful moment arrives. You do not need to make up missed sessions or keep a streak. The saved bookmark or question can help you pick up where you stopped.
What if children want different books?
Let each reader nominate a book, then agree on a turn-taking arrangement or separate short readings. You can also share one picture from each choice. Keep the invitation open without making every person respond in the same way.
For prompts before, during and after a story, open the Parent Read-Aloud Guide. Choose a printable bookmark or explore The Great Shadow for your next shared read.