"Did you like it?" — "Yeah." Conversation over. The right questions to ask kids about a story open comprehension, empathy, and honest disclosure; the wrong ones close the book twice. Here are fifteen that work, sorted by what they build. (Golden rule throughout: ask about characters, never interrogate the child — kids reveal everything through fictional proxies.)
Comprehension builders
- "What happened first... then... then?" (sequencing)
- "Tell it back to me like YOU'RE the author." (retelling — the heavyweight champion of story skills, per Reading Rockets)
- "What was the problem? How did it get fixed?"
- "What do you think happens the day AFTER the story ends?"
Empathy builders
- "How did Sparklo feel when the machine exploded? How could you tell?"
- "Just from this picture — what is everyone feeling?"
- "Who was having the hardest day in this story?"
- "Was anyone feeling something they didn't say out loud?"
Thinking builders
- "Was that fair? Who got the better deal?"
- "What would YOU have done at that part?"
- "Why do you think they didn't just ask for help?"
- "Who was right in the disagreement — or were they both a little right?"
Disclosure openers (the gentle ones)
- "Which character is most like you? Which is most like your friend?"
- "Which feelings booth would YOU visit today?"
- "Has anything like this ever happened in our house?" (ask lightly, accept any answer)
Dosage note
Two or three questions per story, woven in naturally — not a quiz at the end. The story stays the treat; the questions ride along.
Ten stories built to survive great questions: Season 1, $39 instead of $70.
Better questions. Better readers. ❓