What’s In These Books?
Here's What To Do
1
Show an informational book (e.g. a cookbook, or an older child’s textbook) and a story book.
2
Look through the books together and compare them.
3
For example, talk about whether each book features things like pictures or illustrations, or a table of contents; and the difference between an informational book that tells real information and a storybook that is probably not about real characters or situations.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Sit down at a table together with a variety of books and hold hands for a moment before starting.
E
Engage:
- Divide the books into two groups: informational books and storybooks. Ask your child to pick one book from each group. “This is a book that tells us real information, and this is a storybook that is a story from someone’s imagination.”
- “Let’s compare these books to see how they are the same and different.”
E
Encourage:
- Ask guiding questions to help your child notice similarities and differences. “Do both books have pictures or illustrations?”
- If your child doesn’t initially see any differences, point one out to them. “These books don’t have many pictures. Do you see another difference?”
R
Reflect:
- “Why do you think we have different kinds of books?”
Not quite ready?
As you’re reading or looking at different types of books, highlight some of their features.
Ready for more?
Encourage your child to talk about how they might use an informational book.
As your child masters this skill...
They will compare the features of different types of books.