How to Read 'How Do You Say I Love You?' Aloud

Quick answer

Read 'How Do You Say I Love You?' with expression, pause for your child to repeat the foreign phrases, and connect each 'I love you' to a familiar moment in your day.

How to read it aloud: 5 steps

1. Preview the page without reading: Before you read the text, point to the illustration and ask your child what they see. This builds anticipation and helps them connect the image to the words. Common mistake: jumping straight into the text without letting your child absorb the picture first.
2. Read the English phrase with warmth: Say 'I love you' in a gentle, loving tone. This sets an emotional anchor for the foreign phrase that follows.
3. Say the foreign phrase slowly and clearly: Pronounce the words a bit slower than normal, and repeat them twice. Your toddler will try to mimic the sounds, which supports early language development. Checkpoint: don't worry about perfect pronunciation—your child is learning the rhythm of language, not fluency.
4. Invite your child to repeat the phrase: After you say it twice, pause and look at your child expectantly. Even a babbled attempt is a win. Clap or smile to encourage them. Common mistake: moving on too quickly. Give your child at least 5 seconds to respond.
5. Connect the phrase to your daily life: After finishing the book, pick one phrase and use it during a routine moment—say 'Je t'aime' at breakfast or 'Ich liebe dich' at bath time. Repetition in context solidifies the learning. Checkpoint: choose just one phrase per week to avoid overwhelming your child.

About this book

• How Do You Say I Love You?: A heartwarming celebration of the many different ways we say 'I love you' in languages around the world, from the bestselling creators of What Do You Call Your Grandma? The global theme gives you built-in conversation starters about different cultures, making each reading a mini geography lesson.