Helping Your Child with Reading

 Questions to ask about a book

Here are some questions that may help you to support your children’s reading and enjoyment of the stories that they choose. It is not expected that you ask every question, every time they read a book to you! However, by choosing 2 or 3 of the questions to ask your child before, during and after the reading of their book, it will support their developing comprehension of what they read and ultimately, their enjoyment of the books that they choose.

Asking Questions about a book…

Choosing a book:

• Why did you choose this book?
• Did you like the picture on the front?
• Have you read other books by this author?
• Did you choose it because it is about … (e.g. trains, cats)?
• What could this book be about?

During the reading of the book:

• Tell me what is happening in the pictures?
• What has happened so far? Is it what you expected to happen?

• What might happen next? How do you think the story might end?
• What sort of character is….? Is he/she friendly/ mean/nice…?
• Ask children about events in the story: How would you feel if you had been that character? Has anything like that happened to you? Would you like that to happen to you?
• If reading an information book: What facts have you read? Have you learnt anything new? What does this page tell you about? Is there anything that interests you on this page?

Where would you go to find information about….?

At the end of the book:

• What was your favourite part? Why?
• What was the most interesting/ exciting part of the book? Can you find it?
• What sort of character is….?
• Why did that character do … (give a situation/ event from the story)?
• What happened in the story?
• Are there any words that you don’t understand or don’t know what they mean?
• Who are the main characters in the story? What character would you like to be?
• Why are some words written in capital letters? Italics? Bold print? Different colour?
• Would you like to read another story by this author or illustrator?
• Have you read any other books like this one? Is it happy/sad/ scary/ exciting? Why do you think this?
• Does this story remind you of anything that has happened to you?
• Tell me about some other books that you have read recently.
• Did you like this book? Why? (Encourage children to develop their opinion about books by encouraging them to explain their reasons)

Some key words to use when discussing books with your child:

Fiction                          Non-fiction

Story                                        Contents

Book                                          Index

Character                                  Glossary

Setting                                      Headings

Plot                                            Sub-headings

Author                                       Information/facts

Illustrator                                 Pictures/photos

Title                                           Labels                                         

Blurb                                          Captions

Illustrations                               Diagram                                      

Beginning

Middle

End

Page

Bold

Italic

Under-lined

Predict

Front cover

Back cover

Publisher