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