'Spidey' aims to spin online storytime into love for reading
A Pembroke, Ont., dad is turning to technology to read bedtime stories to his kids — and yours.
Max Gower calls the weekly read-in, which he livestreams on Facebook, "Tucked-in Tuesdays."
Both the idea and the name originated in Texas, where a high school principal noticed her students' literacy scores improve after she began reading them stories online.
Gower takes it one step further, dressing up as Spider Man to read such popular kids' titles as Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell.
Gower, who has three young children of his own, says kids are drawn in by the novelty of having a superhero read to them. His real aim, though, is to engage their young imaginations and encourage them to pick up a book and read for themselves.
And just in case screen time right before bed is a no-no in your house, Gower starts his reading sessions at the relatively early hour of 6:30 p.m.
When he's unable to read to his own kids in person, he likes that they can still see, hear and read along with him on Facebook.
Gower said he plans to invite Pembroke's mayor and other local celebrities to read their favourite kids' books on future webisodes of "Tucked-in Tuesdays."
