Book Talk: Questions You Can Ask Your Children About Their Reading

Engaging in conversation with your children about the books they are reading not only helps build their vocabulary; and better text comprehension, but it also sets them up for success. It encourages the importance of reading and helps them understand different topics of the world and everyday life. Here at Jill Abrams Tutoring, we stress the importance of reading and reading comprehension, so we have listed supplemental strategies to continue their growth, even while at home, and not just at tutoring. Below are beneficial questions you can ask your children before, during, and after they read a story.

1. If you could be friends with any character in the book, who would it be and why?

2. What surprised you the most about this story? Why?

3. What would you do if you were in _______’s (insert character’s name here) shoes?

4. If you could re-write the book, what would you make the ending?

5. How would you have felt if you were the main character?

6. If you could make a new title for the book, what would it be?

7. What do you predict is going to happen next?

8. Does this book remind you of something that has happened in your life?

9. What was your favorite part of the story?

10. Did any of the characters change throughout the story? Who changed and how did they change?

Asking your children these kinds of questions makes reading fun, allows you to interact with your children in new ways, and encourages your children to be creative and think outside of the box. Next time you read with your children, give these engaging questions a try.