To allow the brain to focus on the information in the illustrations, this reading will look only at the illustrations and the information they provide to the reader. There are no right or wrong answers in this reading.
Curious George and the Dump Truck will be used to model the questioning that can be used for the other stories included in this book. You will notice that questions will be directed to:
~interpreting the expressions on the faces of the characters,
~inferring what the characters might be saying to each other, and
~predicting what George’s curiosity will lead him to do.
*Before you begin the story, discuss what curious means: eager to know or learn something, interested in something.
Page 51:
~Why might George be looking at the window?
~What might George be thinking?
Pages 52 – 53:
~How does George show that he is curious?
~What does George see?
Pages 54 – 55:
~Predict where the ducks might be going.
~How does George show that he is curious?
~What might the boy on the bicycle be thinking?
Pages 56 – 57:
~Describe the setting. (where: in a park near a city and when: in the spring)
~Why might there be dump trucks by the pond? What is loaded in the dump trucks? Are the dump trucks bringing dirt to the pond or taking the dirt away? Why are there holes in the grass? (There are no right or wrong answers. Remind your child that the text might provide information to answer the questions in the Second Reading.)
~What are the workers doing? (going to lunch)
~Why is there a barricade blocking the path?
Pages 58 – 59:
~Discuss the thought bubble. (George doesn’t speak. The thought bubble helps us to know what George is thinking.
~About what might George be curious? Would you be curious about a dump truck?
Pages 60 – 61:
~Look at the different expressions on George’s face. What might he be feeling and thinking in each of the illustrations?
Pages 62 – 65:
Look at this series of illustrations.
~How is George feeling in this series of illustrations? Why might he be feeling this way?
~On page 65, George’s expression changes. What might cause George’s expression to change? What might he be thinking in the last illustration?
Pages 66 – 67:
~The workers return. What might they be thinking?
~On page 67, what might be catching George’s attention?
Pages 68 – 69:
~Discuss what you think is going on in the illustration. ~Discuss what the different characters might be thinking or saying to each other.
Pages 70 – 72:
Look at the series of illustrations.
~Discuss what you think is going on in the illustrations. ~Discuss what the different characters might be thinking or saying to each other.