“How do you read with kids and keep their attention?”
Agree together on a book. Believe in the power of the book. Enjoy the book. Invite your buddy into that enjoyment. Enjoy the child.
No volunteer-buddy pairs have the same relationship. Below are some videos that catch a few volunteers reading with kids.
Below is a composite video (4:21) taken on one day in March 2026 of both kindergarten and second grade reading pairs. The background noise is loud because all around these pairs are other kids and volunteers reading.
(1) The first segment is Jim reading an interactive book about color with a second grader. Jim’s energy draws out his buddy. Jim and his buddy are reading MIX IT UP by Herve Tullet.
(2) The second segment is a bilingual second grader. She is working on word families. The second grader is delighted with her own mastery. The word family exercise was supplied by our second-grade coordinator.
(3) The third section is a kindergartner buddy. The kinder student is very involved with the book and his volunteer is responded to the child responding to the book. The book is a PETE The CAT book by James Dean.
(4) The fourth section is Lisa and her buddy doing a choral reading of Don’t Throw It To Mo by David Adler.
(5).And the final is segment is Cynthia reading with a proficient 2nd grade student. The student is reading DRAGON LOVES TACOS by Adam Rubin.
Below is a video of Eliana, a Partners in Literacy Reading Volunteer, reading NO DAVID by David Shannon with two second grade brothers recorded in 2025. (9:05) You will notice that Eliana is very expressive in her reading. You will also notice that Eliana asks lots of short, very precise questions. (This is the first time these three have read together.)
In this video, you will hear, Jim, a former actor, read with a second-grade student recorded in 2024. (7:48) They are reading a NATE the GREAT book by Marjoire Sharmat. It is delightful to see how much fun both are having together. They have been reading virtually for several months.
Below you see Arna reading with a second-grade student. (1:50) Arna is a former elementary school teacher. We love that Arna asks her student questions but does not give the answer. Instead, she encourages her student to keep noticing.
Here Mindy, a former elementary school reading teacher, has turned this student’s rough Friday into a fun one by reading jokes. (0.12) The early reader is called GET THE GIGGLES.
If you want more didactive video, watch the two below out: The ABCs of READING (3:40) and DIALOGIC READING (7:56).
If you have questions, your program’s coordinator is there to help you.
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