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 the young reader. There are no right or wrong answers in this reading. If the pages are not numbered page 1 is the first page of text.
The Reading Comprehension Best Practice that we’ll use with this story is Inferencing. The brain forms inferences the same way regardless of studying an illustration or reading text. First, we recognize something in the illustration. Then, we search our prior knowledge to determine what it means when we see this. We combine what we see in the illustration with what we already know, and we form an inference about something that isn’t specifically stated.
Pages 1 – 4:
~What do we see in the illustrations that tells us if this is a true-to-life story or a fantasy? Make an inference. (“I don’t see anything in the pictures that couldn’t be real. Therefore, I think this could be a true story.”)
~What is the setting? Does it seem to take place in the past, present, or in the future? Make another inference. (in the present, based on the bed linens and the gift boxes.)
Pages 5 – 8:
~Do you still think this is a true-to-life story or a fantasy?
~Look at the faces on the boy and the dragon. How are they both feeling?
~What has happened on pages 7 – 8?
~How are the boy and the dragon feeling now?
Pages 9 – 12:
~What’s happening on these pages?
~Has the setting changed? (Looks like he is riding into a mountainous dessert.)
~Describe the new character who appears. Discuss that he looks so big compared to the boy. His club looks so big. Who could he be?
~What do you think the boy might be thinking?
Pages 13 – 18:
~Look at the size difference between the two characters.
~Who could this character be? Is this a true-to-life story or a fantasy?
~It looks like the giant character is listening to the boy. What might the boy be saying?
~On pages 15 – 16, where do you think the boy and his horse are going?
~On pages 17 – 18, a new character appears. Does this character look dangerous to you?
~Why is the boy pointing his sword at the character? What might the boy be saying to it?
Pages 19 – 22:
~The boy and the new character seem to have different feelings on their faces. What does each seem to be feeling? Why might they be feeling differently?
~Where do the boy and his horse seem to be going now?
~What do you think will happen in this new setting?
Pages 23 – 28:
~Was your prediction correct?
~On pages 25 – 28, notice the bold print, the ellipsis (. . . – meaning a long pause), and the exclamation mark! Who is saying this drawn-out word, and how do you think it is being said? Enjoy practicing this special word.
~How do you think the sea monster is feeling?
Pages 29 – End:
~What do you notice is the same in each of the illustrations on pages 29-30?
~What are the characters doing at the end of the story?
~Which team do you predict will win the chess game?