Ages and Stages

Looks Like

Sounds Like

Age 0-1

• Child in bouncy chair
• Parent is holding the book until child is able to hold the book
• Parent is pointing and saying the names of objects in the book
• In 20 seconds or less?

• “ Let’s look at this book.”
• “Look! Bird. Nest.”

Age 2-3

• Child on parent’s lap
• Parent and child are holding the book
• Parent is reading the text and stopping frequently for questions and lots of talking
• Parent models own thinking while reading
• Echo reading to model fluency and expression
• Child draws a picture about the book and writes their name on it
• Parents asks them to talk about their picture and parent records what the child says on the bottom of the picture

• “ Let’s look at the cover of this book.  What do you think this book is about?”
• “What do you see? A bird? A nest?” “Look, Mother Bird is wearing a red scarf.”
• “How many legs does the bird have? Let’s count them.”
• “Then the baby bird says…”
• " I wonder...?"
• "Now I am thinking...because...."
• “What part did you like the best?”

Age 4-6

• Sitting side by side
• Parent and/or child holding the book
• Parent and child are taking turns reading the text
• Parent models own thinking while reading
• Parent and child are stopping frequently for questions and lots of talking
• Echo reading to model fluency and expression
• Child draws and writes about their favourite part

• “The title is Are You My Mother?. What do you think will happen in this story?”
• “I'm wondering...what are you wondering about?”
• “What animal do think baby bird will ask next?”
• “What animals has he asked so far?”
• “What little word do you see inside of that big word?"
• “How do you think baby bird was feeling?”
• How many four legged animals did baby bird ask? How many legs altogether?”
• What was your favourite part? Why? Let’s draw or write about it.”
• "Do you get a good picture inside your head when I read this part?"
• " What words do you see?"

Age 6+

• Sitting side by side or apart
• Parent models own thinking while reading
• Parent and/or child holding the book
• Parent and child are taking turns reading the text
• Parent and child are stopping frequently for thoughtful questioning and good conversation about the book
• Echo reading to model fluency and expression
• Child draws and writes about about the book

• “I'm wondering...what are you wondering about?”
• “I get a good picture inside my head during this part."
• “What little word do you see inside of that big word?"
• “I think...what do you think will happen?"
• “I wonder why the character did that?"
• “Let's look for more information about this."
• “If I were that character, I would have..."
• “Would you like to draw while I read aloud?"
• “What sound chunk do you see in the middle of the word and what clue does the picture give you?"
• “Does that make sense?"