Let's Ask - Question # 8

This week's Let's Ask question was for my friend and critique partner Cheryl Velasquez.

My question for Cheryl:
 
   You are constantly reading picture books to your class of second graders. Would you share some advice on how you get them engaged during story time?

Cheryl writes:

      The first thing I like to do is look at the cover of the book and get children to start thinking about the character. So I engage my students by asking probing questions like... I wonder why? Did you notice? What does this remind you of ? As the story unfolds I love to read the characters in different voices. This is really fun with stories that have repeating lines. Children WILL join in. The illustrations are important too! It’s the illustrations that help my students stay engaged. Visual images are key to telling a story. I like to end each book with this question: If the character was real would you be friends with them. By asking this question, I am making my students think about the character, and what the author was trying to portray. Their answers are quite amusing, because kids will always tell it like it is. I hope these suggestions help with your next story time.

The second part of my question for Cheryl:

What was one of their favorite books you've read to them?

Cheryl writes:



There was only one way for Chester to do things
 - his own way. Wilson did things the same way;
 they were best friends. From double-knotting their
 shoes to cutting their sandwiches diagonally,
Chester and Wilson were two of a kind.
 -Amazon book review

     This is a very hard question. ( Gees, thanks Jennifer!) I read at least 180 books a year to my students. I like to pick books that teach children some kind of lesson. This year’s favorites were books by Kevin Henkeys especially Chester’s Way.

Just one more questions for Cheryl:

What is your favorite type of children’s book you like to write most and why?

Cheryl writes:

    It took me a little while as a writer to find my passion. I find myself drawn to stories that are fiction placed in a historical settings or time periods. I love history and I love to travel. But, I also love to write in rhyme. I haven’t mastered it yet but it is fun to write. I love to play with words. There is nothing more entertaining that a story written in rhyme that makes children laugh. Honestly, I have to say most of my drafts come to me in rhyme. I never get tired of reading books in rhyme and some of my fondest memories as a child were reading Dr. Seuss.

Thank you Cheryl for all your help today!

    For those of you who would like to read more about Cheryl's classroom adventures and book reviews check out her blog - Cheryl's Nook Book.

Cheryl's Bio:

Cheryl has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She has been teaching young children for almost 20 years and writing for the last three. In her spare time she loves to travel! Cheryl's Blog- http://cherylvelasquez.blogspot.com/ her facebook page- http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Cheryl-Velasquez-Book-Nook/353522251326758