Picture walks are a great way to introduce a new book to your child and at the same time, improve his language and literacy skills. Picture walks are basically just a conversation between you and your child about the book. Here are some key components of a successful picture walk:
-Look at the cover and talk about the author/illustrator and what those words mean. Ask your child to guess what the book will be about.
-Ask your child to look at the pictures and to describe what’s happening. Have him predict what will happen next.
-Rephrase your child’s answer to each of your questions, adding more words to it.
-Point out any new vocabulary words and explain what they mean. Use them in a sentence to reinforce the new knowledge.
-Encourage your child to make real-world connections between the book and experiences that he’s had.
