Shared reading is one of the most powerful ways to build your child’s vocabulary, comprehension, and expressive language.
Instead of just reading the words on the page, use the book as a “springboard” for conversation!
Below are easy, development-friendly questions you can ask while reading together.
These questions help strengthen WH-questions, basic vocabulary, spatial concepts, and inferencing skills.
p.s. there’s a free guide for you at the bottom of this email 😊
1. WH Questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How
These questions encourage your child to practice how to answer these question words correctly, recall specific details from the story, and show you that they understand what’s happening.
Try asking:
Who is in this picture?
What is happening here?
Where are they going?
When does this story (or part of the story) take place?
Example: “She looks like she’s going to bed. When do YOU go to bed?”
Why do they feel sad/happy/scared?
How could they fix this?
Tip: If your child needs help, offer choices (“Is the boy sad or excited?”) or start the answer for them (“He has a frown on his face, so he feels ______.”)
2. Labeling & Expanding Vocabulary (Basic Concepts)
Use the pictures in the book to introduce and model more specific words.
Colors
What color is the ___?
It’s blue! Can you find something else that is blue?
Let’s name all the colors on this page! I see…
Animals / People
What animal do you see?
What sound does it make?
Is it big or small?
Verbs (Actions)
What is she doing?
Let’s say it together: She is running/jumping/pouring/sleeping.
Show me how YOU jump!
Objects / Nouns
Can you find the (book, hat, ball, tree, etc.)?
What is that? (Point to an object)
What do we do with a ____? / What does a ____ do?
Tip: Always expand your child’s answer.
Child: “Dog.”
Adult: “Yes! A brown dog!”
3. Spatial Concepts
Books are full of opportunities to describe where things are located.
Try asking:
Where is the cat?
Child finds the object
Adult: “Yes! It’s under/behind/in front of/next to the ____.”
Can you show me something else that’s under/behind/next to the same object?
Who is sitting next to the boy?
4. Inferencing (Thinking Beyond the Page)
Inferencing helps children make predictions and understand things that are not directly stated.
Try asking:
What do you think will happen next?
How do you know the character feels scared/excited?
What might the character be thinking?
If you were in this story, what would you do?
Why do you think the problem happened?
Tip: Encourage your child to “prove it” using clues from the picture or text.
Example: “You’re right, he’s sad! How do you know he’s sad? Yes, he has a frown on his face.”
5. Make It Interactive
End your reading time by asking:
What was your favorite part?
Here, now YOU tell ME the story!
A Final Note
The goal isn’t to ask every question. It’s to expand your child’s understanding of language and give them chances to practice using it with books they love.
Follow your child’s interests, keep it playful and engaging, and celebrate all of their efforts (right or wrong).
I’ve also included a one-page printable you can keep nearby during story time! It highlights the same question types and prompts from this newsletter in a quick, easy-to-reference format. Click here to access it!
Keep it near your child’s favorite book, on the table by the “reading chair” in their bedroom, or wherever you like to read with them. :) My hope is that this guide will make it easy for you to turn any book into a language-building activity!
Casey
.
.
.