Identify picture books that adequately display the concepts that you are trying to teach. Not all picture books are the same. Some are geared toward teaching basic language while others teach math or even science concepts. Look for online book lists, such as those at educational websites like Scholastic.com, as these will narrow your search. Read through the books to see if you can identify the concepts that the writer was focused on during the creation of the book.
Create a series of questions to pose to your students. These should concern the text and help the children develop ideas that will lead them toward a better understanding of the concepts that you are trying to teach. For example, if you are teaching basic grammar principles, you might throw in questions like, "What adjectives help to develop the personality of Matilda?" says long-time educator Keith Schoch. Pose the questions to the class after you have presented the book.
Present the book in class by either reading the book to your class aloud or employing the popcorn reading method. The popcorn reading method allows students to choose another student to continue reading the story. This method keeps children focused as they must be alert as to when it is their time to read. Also, by reading the book in class, you are ensuring that each child is at least hearing the story once as not all children will read the story if they are assigned to take the book home.
Put together worksheets or activities that help the children gain a better understanding of the text or the principles present in the text. For example, teach children character development with picture books by asking them to develop a character of their own with similar traits to a character that is present within the picture book. This assignment can be completed within a couple of paragraphs and can help children to identify the important components of a story that make up character development. A picture book is ideal for this exercise as the characters are more black and white, or simple compared to those complex characters that are often present in chapter books or novels.