How to Talk About Books
Below are different discussion questions that can be asked during reading:
AUTHOR:
Does the author have a message?
Why do you think the author wrote this story?
If you were the author, would you have a different beginning, middle, or
ending to the story?
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Did the illustrations in the book help you? How?
Pick your favorite part of the story and describe how you would illustrate
it.
CHARACTERS:
Who are the main characters in the story?
Who is your favorite character? Why?
Choose one character in the story and explain why he/she is important to the
story.
Choose one character and describe how you and this character are similar and
different.
Did the characters in the story do anything funny, dangerous, courageous,
etc?
Did the characters change from the beginning to the end of the story?
SETTING:
Where and when does the story take place?
Describe what the place looks like?
Why is the setting important to the story?
How does the setting affect the story?
CONFLICT:
What is the problem in the story?
What characters are involved in the conflict?
Predict how you think the problem will be solved.
How would you solve the problem in the story?
GENERAL:
Did you like the book? Why/why not?
Was it a "Just Right" book?
What was your favorite part?
What was your least favorite part?
Would you recommend this to a friend? Why or why not?
REMEMBER TO TALK BACK TO YOUR BOOK!! Good readers STOP and THINK about what
they are reading...
That reminds me of...
If I were... I would/wouldn't have...
I think that means...
That's just like another story I know...
I wonder...
I noticed that...
I don't understand...
I know a lot about...
I was really surprised when...
I think... will happen next.
That made a picture in my mind about...
I think that is true/not true because...
I changed my mind about...
