Overlapping story subjects and lesson topics expands the subject context and reinforces unfamiliar vocabulary. For example, explain to the class that the story you're going to read is about a dolphin and his family, just like the dolphins they learned about in another class. Strengthen your students' subject-specific vocabulary while reading the book by discussing specific examples. For example, when reading a passage about how the family of dolphins uses echo-location, pause and explain echo-location using age-appropriate words.
Questions about the plot and characters builds students' critical thinking skills. Asking about the cause of specific event or about potential future events requires students to reach a logical conclusion by connecting different pieces of information. For example, while reading a story about two children in search of building materials for their tree house, ask, "what types of things do you think they'd look for to build their tree house?"
Sophisticated picture books contain conflict, personal motivation and contrasting characters. These books develop literacy comprehension and critical thinking by encouraging students to predict events based on the characters' actions and emotions. Asking rhetorical questions also helps children identify key pieces of information. For example, pausing during a story to ask, "why do you think [character] did that?" or "what do you think [character] is going to do next?" Choose books between the first and second-grade reading level but avoid predictable, repetitive books, such as "Good Night Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown or "A Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle.
You must position yourself and the book so the entire class can view the illustrations. Pictures help children visualize the characters and setting of a story, creating a context for the plot. Engage the kindergarten class by highlighting specific plot-related features in the illustrations. For example, while reading a story about a dog who runs away and gets caught in a thunderstorm, note the dark, ominous clouds in the illustration by saying, "Uh-oh, look at the dark thunder clouds filling the sky." Pointing out the relevance of the dark sky helps children to connect the dark clouds with the impending storm.