Hints and tips

• Talk about what is happening in the pictures to help your child make sense of the story.
• Enjoy the rhyming words, and laugh together at the funny stuff.
• Encourage involvement. Get your kids to turn the pages.
• Challenge them. Try to read above their level occasionally.
• Practice makes perfect. Reading aloud isn't easy. The more you do it, the better you'll get.
• Make time. Finding time isn't always easy, so look for opportunities such as bedtime, bath time or on car journeys.
• Slow down. You may be tempted to rush through a story, but it's important to read slowly so children can take in the words and pictures.
• Questions are good. Always encourage children to ask questions. If they don't have any, ask them a few questions yourself.