Pick and choose one or two from each of the three categories.

Studies show that talking about stories builds comprehension.

BEFORE Reading

• While looking at the title, pictures on front cover, pictures on beginning pages…

Ask – What do you think is going to happen in this book?  Make predictions.

• “Picture Walk” through the book first and talk about what is happening in the pictures.
• Read the title, author and illustrator.  Discuss what they do.
• Take a peek at ht back to see if there is an author’s note and/or photo of the author.  Share the info.

DURING Reading

–reading choices – child can read, parent can read, child and parent and alternate reading

• What do you think is going to happen next?
• how do you think the character is feeling now?
• What would you do if YOU were the  _____ in our story?
• Does this story remind you of any other stories we have read lately?  Which ones?  In what way?  How is different?
• Why did _____ happen?
• What is the big problem in the story?  How would YOU solve it?

AFTER Reading

• Why do you think the author wrote this story?
• What lesson(s) does this story teach us?
• Did you like the story?  The characters?  The ending?
• What was the funniest, saddest, most interesting part of the story?
• Have the child tell the story back to you in his/her own words.
• If the author wrote a NEW book about the same characters, what would happen?  What would the story be about?