Skill
Asks and Answers Questions About Books
Child asks and answers questions about a book read aloud, including who, what, where, and why.
Ages 36–66 months
Why it matters
Comprehension grows in the dialogue around a book. When children answer questions about details — who, what, when, where — and reach for inferential questions such as predicting what comes next or why a character feels a certain way, they move from simply hearing a story to actively making meaning from it. Asking their own questions shows they are thinking alongside the text.
Builds toward this milestone
- asks and answers questions about a book that was read aloud. — Head Start ELOF
What mastery looks like
- Answers basic who, what, where, and when questions about details of a story.
- With support, answers inferential questions, such as predicting what might happen next or how a character feels.
- Asks questions of their own about characters or events in a book.
How to observe it
- Can the child answer specific questions about story details with information from the book?
- With support, does the child make a reasonable prediction or infer a character's feeling?
- Does the child ask their own questions during or after the read-aloud?
Accessibility
- Allow answers by pointing to illustrations or choosing between picture options.
- Give extra wait time and rephrase questions for children developing expressive language.
Activities
Evidence
- Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) — U.S. Office of Head Start · 2015 · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Early Atlas