Last summer, we drove to southwest Florida to visit my sister and her family. I give the credit for us getting there to Jim Dale and Harry Potter .

A fine voice reading an exciting story (even though we’d all individually read the books) allowed us to avoid conflict over which kind of music to listen to and to share a different kind of experience.

This year we’re planning another road trip, even though the price of gas is keeping us closer to home.

I’m better prepared these days. I try to remind myself of easy games to play in the car (which are also a good way to keep the driver alert). I found a neat website that reminded me of familiar games, organized by age.

And now — even without a family vacation on the horizon — I keep a few audiobooks in the car. (I borrow them from my library. Many libraries even have downloadable books for all your devices.) They’re a great way to enhance reading skills whether your child is a typical or a special learner.

It’s always good to have a few tricks up your sleeve to keep everyone engaged and maybe even stimulate a bit of learning, maybe overall awareness of language — all the while sharing some fun.

And just think, you just may not hear that usually whiny question (that is really more of a complaint) — “Are we there yet?”

About the Author

Maria Salvadore is Reading Rockets’ consultant for children’s literature and literacy. Maria curates our themed booklists and writes the blog, Page by Page, which explores the best ways to use kids’ books both inside and outside of the classroom. She leads parent workshops for Ready To Learn (RTL) at WETA Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. She has also taught children’s literature at the University of Maryland, reviewed books for School Library Journal, and has served on various book award committees, including the Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards, Golden Kite, and the Caldecott Committee.

Publication Date
July 9, 2008
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