Thought-provoking questions that guarantee meaningful discussions about reading
Let’s face it. Getting kids to talk about their reading can be a real challenge. They’ll talk endlessly about certain subjects, but reading is rarely one of them. To make matters worse, how can you possibly engage in meaningful conversation about a book if you haven’t read the story yourself? Should you read every book your child or student reads in order to facilitate meaningful, literary discussions?
The answer is no.
I have been holding teacher-student reading conferences in my classroom for years, and I have created the ultimate list of questions that can be applied to any book.
I guarantee that the list of questions below will trigger meaningful conversations about literature you never thought possible. Additionally, you will gain valuable insight into a child’s understanding and interpretation of the text.
But… before we get to that list, let’s talk about what NOT to ask.
That’s right. There are questions you should avoid.
I call these “dead end questions.” Dead end questions thwart literary discussions and actually dissuade children from talking about their reading.
Let me explain.
“Do you like your book?”
“Is the main character a girl?”
“Did your friend recommend that book?”
“Is your book scary?”
“Would you read another book in the series?”
All these questions can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” After hearing a one-syllable answer (or perhaps even a bored grunt in response), the ball will be back in your court to come up with the next question in a desperate attempt to keep the conversation going.
TIP #1: Avoid asking yes/no questions when talking with children about books.
Another type of question to avoid is what I call the “summary question.”
“What is your book about?”
“What has happened in your book so far?”
Summary questions are probably the most frequently asked reading questions. They’re the most boring, too. These questions feel more like book reports than a catalyst for meaningful dialogue about books.
Unfortunately, answers to summary questions do not truly reveal how well a child understands a story.
Let me prove it.
A few years ago, I sat down with a student to discuss his most recent book with him. I asked him to summarize it for me because I had the feeling he had not truly been reading it. To my shock, this student told me a thorough summary of his book. He described the characters in detail, recounted exciting events, and offered names of fellow students who might like to read the book, too. Any teacher or parent would be proud of this book report-style response.
To his shock, I had read the book myself a few years ago. And it was not the story he had just told.
Not even close.
Remember when I mentioned that children can talk endlessly about certain topics? They’re imaginative story-tellers, too.
That’s right. This creative, resourceful child made up a story, passing it off as his book summary. An awe-inspiring imagination, this one had!
There are much more insightful and thought-provoking questions we can ask children about the books they’re reading.
Imagine walking into a book club with fellow adult readers to discuss the book you’ve just read. What kind of questions would YOU rather respond to?
“Who would like to summarize the book?”
“Who can list all the important events in the story?”
or…
“What did the author do to make you feel personally invested in Beatrice’s fate?”
“What life lesson do you think the author is trying to teach the reader through this story?”
Which of these questions would provoke thoughtful discussions?
Which might lead to sharing of ideas and different perspectives?
TIP #2: Avoid asking children to summarize their books.
Teachers and parents alike crave purposeful discussions about books with their kids. Now that you know which questions to avoid, it’s time to discuss which questions you should be asking.
The list below is divided into several categories. The bulleted questions are ordered from simpler questions down to questions that dig deeper into each category.
Questions about characters:
- Imagine you are going to spend a Saturday with the main character of your book. What would that character want to do with you?
- Show me on your face how your main character is feeling right now. I’m going to try to guess the emotion. (Once you guess correctly, ask why the character is feeling that way.)
- The protagonist is usually the “good guy” in the story and the antagonist is the “bad guy.” How does the protagonist in your story act?
- The protagonist is usually the “good guy” in the story and the antagonist is the “bad guy.” How does the antagonist in your story act?
- Describe a brave character in your novel. (You can change out the word “brave” with any other adjective, too!)
- If all the characters in your book were real, there is probably one character you would not get along with. What has this character done that makes you want to avoid spending time with him/her?
- Authors purposefully create characters that readers will connect with. In what ways can you connect with the characters in your book?
- What would the main character wish for?
- What is something the main character does over and over?
- In most books, the antagonist (or the “bad guy”) gets in the way of the protagonist’s goals in some way. In your book, how has the antagonist gotten in the way of the protagonist?
- At what point in the story does the main character change in some way?
- Tell me about something the main character did that you didn’t agree with.
- Put yourself in the antagonist’s shoes. How would the antagonist describe the main character?
- Think about the character relationships in your book. Which relationships have changed since the beginning of the story?
- Characters are complex. They’re not all good or all bad. How is the main character both good and bad?
- Which character has the most influence over the main character?
- How does the main character want to be viewed by others? How does the antagonist want to be viewed by others?
- Characters often have two sides to them. Even an “evil” character can have a softer side. Have you noticed a softer side to the antagonist in your book? What about the protagonist? Does the protagonist have a dark side?
- Tell me about the character in the story who seems older and wiser than the others. What advice is this character giving to other characters?
- What important thing (or understanding) does the main character seem to be missing? What are his/her blind spots?
Questions about setting:
- The setting of your book refers to when and where the story takes place. Describe how you know that your book takes place in the past, present, or future.
- How do the characters fit with the time period?
- How do the events fit with the time period?
- How would the story change if it took place in a castle? (Or, change “castle” to any other interesting location, such as beach, battle field, cruise ship, high school, etc.)
- If you wanted to learn more about the setting in your book, what could you research?
Questions about plot:
- How does the title of the book connect with the story?
- What part of the story has really stuck with you so far?
- Tell me about an event in the story that surprised you.
- The climax of the story is the most intense part of the story. What event marks the climax of your book?
- Conflict is a fancy word for a problem. What conflicts has the main character faced?
- What events in the book are unrealistic?
- Why is the main character(s) having trouble solving the problem in the story? What is getting in his/her way?
- If there was a sequel to the book, what do you imagine would happen?
- Some events in life are unforgettable. What event from the story will the main character never forget?
- How would the story change if it was told from a different character’s point of view?
- Characters usually deal with multiple problems throughout a story. Another word for problems is “conflicts.” Some conflicts are external, like when a character struggles with something or someone outside of his/her control. An example would be a bully, a bad storm, the wilderness, or aliens. However, other conflicts are internal, like when a character is struggling with his/her own feelings or beliefs. What internal and external conflicts have you noticed in your book?
- Sometimes the reader figures things out before the main character does. What have you figured out faster than the main character in your book?
- Flashback refers to a time when the author writes about events from the past. It might be through the thoughts of a character. What have you learned about the main character through flashbacks?
Questions about author’s craft, purpose, and theme:
- What techniques does the author use to keep you interested in reading more?
- How does the author make you care about what happens to the main character?
- The main character in your book has probably learned an important lesson about life. What do you think that lesson is?
- What is the ideal audience for this book? What kind of person would be most influenced or touched by this story?
- What real-world issues are in your book?
- Characters usually learn something and think differently by the end of the book. What has the main character changed his/her mind about?
General questions:
- When I rate books on a scale from 1-10, I rarely give a book a full 10. What would the author need to change about the story you’re reading in order for you to give it a full 10 stars?
- What questions about the book do you have right now?
- Setting a goal for reading helps me continue to move forward even when I’m not motivated to read. What actions can you take to ensure you keep moving forward in your book?
- It’s easier to figure out confusing parts of the story when I reread them. Tell me about a part in the story you had to reread for a clearer understanding.
Download these Printable Question Cards!
The questions above aim to launch deep conversations about literature. In other words, they’re not meant to be asked one after another. Instead, ask one question and use follow-up questions to keep the conversation going until you need a new question. For example…
Adult’s initial question: “What part of the story has really stuck with you sar far?
Child’s response: “The part when Mark stands up to the bully.”
Adult’s follow up: “Oh, dear! I imagine it’s hard to stand up to a bully. What did Mark say?”
Child’s response: “He said he’d tell a teacher if he did it again.”
Adult’s follow up: “Good for Mark! What was the bully doing?”
Child’s response: “He was stealing another kid’s lunch money. And he also stole a kid’s new hat.”
Adult’s new question: “You know, characters often have two sides to them. Even a bully can have a softer side. Do you have any ideas why the bully might be acting this way?”
Child’s response: “Well… his family is living in their car right now, so maybe he needed the lunch money in order to eat.”
Adult’s follow up: “Oh, that makes sense. It’s too bad he is resorting to stealing. Why do you think he is stealing instead of kindly asking a classmate for money?”
Child’s response: “He might think the other kids won’t help him if he asks nicely. He hasn’t been very nice in the past, so they would probably say no.”
Adult’s follow up: “That’s interesting. I’m actually feeling bad for the bully now. Do you think he can change?”
Child’s response: “I think he can, but it will take a long time for the other kids to trust him again. He has always been a big bully.”
Adult’s new question: “Trust is important. That sounds like a life lesson to me. Why do you think the author wrote this book?”
Child’s response: “She probably wants to teach kids that bullying is wrong and that if you treat your friends badly, then they won’t want to help you when you really need it.”
In this seemingly light-hearted exchange, we’ve covered important plot events, character traits, character motives, character changes, and the author’s message or story theme. By using this conversational tone, you will be able to explore key story elements more deeply, such as character motivations and changes, while keeping the child feeling comfortable and confident.
(And trust me, a discussion like this will quickly reveal whether or not the child has read and understood the story.)
TIP #3: Choose 2-3 open-ended discussion questions at a time and keep a conversational tone.
When asking the questions in the list above, the wording is very important. They are intentionally worded to elicit lengthy responses. For example, take this question:
“What techniques does the author use to keep you interested in reading more?”
The length of the child’s response could be endless!
However, when worded in a different way, this question can quickly become a forbidden dead end question.
“Does the author use techniques to keep you interested in reading more?”
Student response: Yes.
Here is another example:
Instead of this: “Did the main character do something you didn’t agree with?”
Ask this: “Tell me about something the main character did that you didn’t agree with.”
TIP #4: Phrase questions in a way that encourages lengthier responses.
Encouraging children to talk about their books is no easy task. However, if you keep my 4 tips in mind while using The Ultimate Question List for Any Book (above), you’ll be well on your way to having thoughtful book discussions with children.
TIP #1: Avoid asking yes/no questions when talking with children about books.
TIP #2: Avoid asking children to summarize their books.
TIP #3: Choose 2-3 open-ended discussion questions at a time and keep a conversational tone.
TIP #4: Phrase questions in a way that encourages lengthier responses.
Final thought:
Asking children explicit questions about their reading, including yes/no questions and summarizing questions, definitely has its place in academic settings. The tips and discussion prompts in this blog post are meant to facilitate book discussions with children in a way that will promote lengthier and deeper conversations – especially when you (the adult) have not read the book yourself.
Download a copy of these Printable Question Cards and MORE to keep with you at all times!
Interested in learning more? Here are my favorite books on this topic:
Miller, Donalyn. The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child. Jossey-Bass, 2009.
Serravallo, Jennifer. A Teacher’s Guide to Reading Conferences: Grades K-8. Heinemann, 2019.
Seravello, Jennifer. The Reading Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Readers. Heinemann, 2015.