Into, Through and Beyond

1. Get "Into" the book — This is where you introduce the book & develop a connection to the book before you read. Tell a personal story, use props, play music, start a discussion. Talk about the title, make predictions about what will happen in the book based on the cover art, write difficult words on the board (especially in language limited classes). If you are reading TOAD by Ruth Brown, you could bring in a book about real toads or ask, "How many of you have touched a toad?" Be creative.

2. Go "Thru" the book — Read using expression, voices, sounds, timing - make the story come alive! Whether you read straight through or stop occasionally depends on your style.

3. Get "Beyond" the book — talk about what happened in the book. Ask questions like "Did the story turn out the way you thought?" Discuss issues and/or the children's lives as a place to begin.Relationships develop during "Into" & "Beyond". Literacy is modeled and language is developed during the "Thru" portion of your visit. Have fun!

— Ellen Nathan,
BookPALS National Program Director

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