Storybooks are every child’s favorite pastime. They love to learn about new characters, flip through artistic caricatures, and read out new words aloud. Being lost in fantasy-land, children often assume the ‘lead role’ and think of themselves being ‘superheroes’ and ‘princesses’ as they accomplish a mission of ‘saving the world’ and spreading ‘peace’. While all this creativity is good, how would you comprehend whether the essence of the story is understood by your child correctly? Did the child manage to expand his vocabulary? What were their thoughts on the ending of the story?

Storybooks are every child’s favorite pastime. They love to learn about new characters, flip through artistic caricatures, and read out new words aloud. Being lost in fantasy-land, children often assume the ‘lead role’ and think of themselves being ‘superheroes’ and ‘princesses’ as they accomplish a mission of ‘saving the world’ and spreading ‘peace’. While all this creativity is good, how would you comprehend whether the essence of the story is understood by your child correctly? Did the child manage to expand his vocabulary? What were their thoughts on the ending of the story?

Why did you choose to read this book?

To understand the child’s thought process in choosing the book, ask this question – Why did you choose this book? Do not expect elaborate answers though. It’s not like they must have done research about the book and then picked it up. The reasons could be as simple as; ‘I liked the book cover’ or ‘My friend told me to read it’. It could also be that the child is more comfortable reading books of certain genres. Choosing books like- ‘Science is Magic’ and ‘Outdoor Maker Lab’, indicates the child’s interest in Sciences, while books like ‘A Children’s History of India’ and ‘Who Was Anne Frank?’ are storybooks of interest for History lovers.

Who was your favorite character from the book and why?

Children who read common fiction stories, might not necessarily like the same character. They may have their own favorites. While some may admire the braveness of the ‘dog’ in Harper Collins ‘Go Away Dog’, others would adore the helpfulness of the ‘dwarfs’ in ‘Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs’. Hear the child out; as to which character is his favorite; and the reason for it. It gives parents an idea about what ‘values’ and ‘characteristics’ children uphold as important and correct them if they are not on the right track.

What was the most interesting scene from the storybook?

A story is basically different scenes and incidences interwoven together, which adds essence to the book. Some parts of the book really stand out, while others are just a drag. Ask the reader, which part did he enjoy reading the most! You would be amazed to learn how intelligently children connect their personal lives to the scene in the book and instantly are excited to talk about it. Say for instance the child says; ‘I liked it when Anita became friends with Mohan in the end, though they had some misunderstandings in the beginning’. Probably the child would have experienced something similar in their lives, where they become friends with someone, they were not really fond of in the start. There is a strong emotional connection here with the scene, and hence children enjoy reading & talking about it even more, as compared to other scenes in the book.

What was the lesson you learnt from this book?

If it’s a storybook with a moral, ask the reader what are his thoughts on it. Did he like the moral? Would he practice the learnings and apply them to his day-to-day life? In the book ‘David Gets In Trouble’ by David Shannon, the moral of the story is ‘We should own up our actions, even if we are afraid we might get a scolding from mom and dad’. Have a conversation with the kiddo and tell him, it’s absolutely okay to make mistakes, but it is also important to confess it and say sorry thereafter promising not to repeat again. This gives children confidence, the next time they make a mistake, to acknowledge it and speak the truth.

Did you like the ending of the book?

Not always do children like what they read in the storybooks. Sometimes, the ending is not what the reader was expecting and this leads to disappointment. But what if they had a chance to recreate or retell the story differently? Encourage students to narrate how they feel the ending should have been and it will pleasantly surprise you. Allow the flow of thoughts and creativity, while the child is engrossed in retelling the tale. Don’t forget to compliment his efforts and applaud his imagination.

The above exercise gives pre-schoolers confidence that their ideas and opinions matter, and therefore start showing more involvement while reading. The child develops communication skills, learns how to express his feelings, and showcases creativity.

About myON

myON is a digital library aimed at personalizing reading experiences for students as per their age and level of readiness. The platform has over 7,000 interesting books including some time-tested classics. Parents and schools in GCC and other countries of the UAE encourage subscribing to myOn, as it emphasizes on Smart Reading and assigns projects to students based on the book to test their level of understanding. Adults can even track the progress of the child and guide them accordingly. To get instant access to its full-fledge e-library in Dubai – Middle East, visit our website https://knowledge-hub.com/

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