Picture-Book Detective

1. 1

   Before reading a picture book, look closely at the illustrations and invite your child to describe what they notice.

2. 2

   On one page, ask a concrete question such as, “What is this?” or “What is in the wagon?”

3. 3

   Follow their answer with a question about the action. If they say, “Pumpkins,” ask, “Who is pushing the pumpkin wagon?” or “Where are the pumpkins going?”

4. 4

   Then ask about the larger story: “What happened here?” “What might happen next?” This helps connect individual pictures with the sequence of events.

5. 5

   Link a picture or word to real experience: “Do you remember our trip to the zoo? Which animals did you see?”

What to notice

• Answers questions about the picture and describes what is happening Emergent Literacy
• Recalls an animal they have seen before while looking at a picture book Memory

Tips

• When your child comments on a page, acknowledge the idea and add one useful detail. If they say, “The puppy is barking,” you might respond, “Yes, the puppy is barking at the kitten.”
• If your child is unsure what else to say about a page, offer a focused prompt such as, “Who is helping the duckling find food?”

Developmental benefits

• Language: Questions about the illustrations invite your child to observe, answer, and connect the pictures with real experience in order to understand the story.