![](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Literacy_Article_ReadingTogether-560x420.jpg)
Tips for Reading Together
Enhance your child's learning with these storytime strategies.
Consider these strategies for before, during, and after reading a story together.
Before Reading:
Talk about books before you read them.
- Put two books in front of children and say, “Let’s choose a book!” Then kids can point to or reach for their choice.
- Look at the front cover together. Ask, “What do you think the book will be about?” For younger children, point and say what you think.
During Reading:
Look for ways to make the words and pictures come to life!
- Ask children to help turn the pages (babies can’t turn pages on their own, but at 18 months, might begin to try).
- Try using different voices for each character and act out scenes with gestures or body movements. Read in a sing-song voice.
- Let children chime in with the last word of a familiar line. “The cat in the…(hat)!”
- Run your finger under the words as you read to help kids understand there’s a difference between words and pictures. Don’t worry about pointing out each individual word—it’s important for children to hear the rhythm of language, too.
- Point to and comment on pictures. Ask, “What’s happening on this page?”
After Reading:
Now it’s the perfect time to talk about the story and let children share what they remember.
- Ask questions that invite children to think about why certain characters did something or felt a certain way. “Let’s go back to this page where Peter looked mad. Why was he mad? What did he decide to do?”
- Encourage children to share their favorite parts of the story (describing them or acting them out).
- Connect the story to kids’ lives (“Have you ever felt the same way as this bunny?”).
![My Favorite Part Printable](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GeneralLiteracy-Printable-MyFavoritePart-667x500.jpg)
My Favorite Part
Help little ones share special parts of stories in words and pictures.
![Read with Me Printable](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GeneralLiteracy-Printable-ReadWithMe-667x500.jpg)
Read with Me
Track your reading progress with some printable bookmarks!
![Tamir and Kayla read together.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GeneralLiteracy-Video-StarReader-667x500.jpg)
A Star Reader
There are many steps to reading, and all are important to becoming a great reader. It’s a process!
![The Perfect Book Thumb](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GeneralLiteracy-Printable-ThePerfectBook-667x500.jpg)
The Perfect Book: An Act Along Story
Make story time more engaging by encouraging children to act out what they hear!
![A parent and their toddler read a book together.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GeneralLiteracy-Article-TipsReading-Birth-2-667x500.jpg)
Tips for Shared Reading with Children Birth to Three
Tips for using reading time to bond with your child and build their language and literacy skills.
![A parent and their child read a book together.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GeneralLiteracy-Article-TipsReading-3-5-667x500.jpg)
Tips for Shared Reading with Children Three to Five
Tips to make shared reading a time for learning and connection.
![An adult reads aloud to a class of students.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GeneralLiteracy-Article-AMightyVoice-667x500.jpg)
A Mighty Voice
Finding confidence in the ways that you tell stories will make them even more special to the children you share them with.