Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
How to Read a Story
Illustrator: Mark Siegel
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Chronicle Books, 2015 ISBN: 978-1452112336
Having a ‘just right’ reading experience requires a little bit of planning. Just a little bit. First of all you need to find the right kind of story. It can be any kind of tale, but the one thing it does need to be is “good.” Having a “reading buddy” is also necessary. Now, this person can be a friend or family member of any age. It can even be a non-human. You may not know this, by pets make excellent book buddies.
Once you have your book and your buddy you need to find the right location for your reading time. Some people like to snuggle down in a big comfy sofa. Others like to sit outside.
Once these preliminaries have been taken care of, the reader can get down to business. First the book cover has to be studied, just to see if it contains any clues about the story. Then it is time to open the book, which is, of course, “the exciting part!”
When characters talk you might want to consider using a voice that suits the character’s appearance or personality. Always share the book with your buddy so that he or she can see the pictures. If you don’t do this your buddy might get annoyed, which is never a good thing. Especially if your buddy has teeth and claws.
In this wonderful picture book the author shows her readers that reading a book is a wonderful thing to do. It is an experience to be savored and enjoyed, and the best part of it all is that after the book has been read, right to the very last word, the reader can start all over again.
