Talk About Books

Conversations about books you and your child are reading can help develop vocabulary and comprehension skills. You can ask leading questions that allow your child to think more deeply about the story, develop meanings and lessons in the story and relate concepts from the story to experiences or feelings your child has had.

Here are some open ended questions to help start your conversations.

1. What is the most interesting thing you know about the main character of your book?
2. Think about a setting in your book. If you were in the setting, what are some things you might see?
3. Describe an important event from your book and tell why it is important.
4. Who is your favorite character in your book? Why is this character your favorite?
5. What do you think happened just before your story started?
6. If you could give the main character in your book some advice, what would you tell him or her?
7. Is your book more funny or more serious? Why do you think so?
8. What point of view is your book written in? How do you know?
9. Do you like the main character of your book? Why or why not?
10. Think of an important event in your book. How would the story have changed if this event had not happened?
11. If you were in the story, what would your relationship be to the main character?
12. List three facts about this book. Then, list three opinions about it.
13. If you could ask the main character of this book three questions, what would you ask?
14. Think about your book. Then finish this sentence in 3 different ways: I wonder….
15. Thinks of a new title for you your book. Why do you think this is a good title?
16. Do you think this book was well written? Why or why  not?
17. In what ways would this book be different if it were set 100 years in the past?
18. What is the main conflict that the main character in your book must face?
19. What are some important relationships in your book?
20. Think about a supporting character in your book. How would the book be different if that character did not exist?