Reading English picture books with children

When you read an English picture book with a child, you don't need to translate every word; talking about the pictures and reading the same book many times works better. Over time the child starts to predict the repeated sentences and say them with you.

How to choose a book

Choose books with one or two short sentences per page, pictures that clearly show the text, and a repeated pattern (for example the question “Is it a…?” on every page). Topics your child already knows, like animals, colours, or food, make it easier.

Before reading

Look at the cover together and talk about it with a few English words: “Look, a cat! What colour is it?” This short chat introduces the words in the book and makes the child curious.

Questions to ask while reading

Short questions such as “What's this?”, “Where is the dog?”, “What colour is the ball?”, and “How many birds?” invite the child to speak. If they answer in Turkish, say the English word yourself and carry on; repeating is enough, there's no need to correct.

Reading the same book again

Children like reading the same book over and over, and that is good for language learning: repeated readings give the child time to recognise the words. Staying with one book for a week often works better than switching to a new one every day.

If you are unsure about pronunciation

Some children's books come with a read-aloud recording from the publisher. You can listen together first and then read it yourself. Perfect pronunciation isn't required; reading regularly and enjoying it matters more.

To keep going, see The English alphabet and letter sounds with children and Learning English with songs: a daily routine for children.

Frequently asked questions

Should I translate every word into Turkish? There is no need. Pointing at pictures and rereading the same book makes the meaning stick better than translation.

Is it a problem if my child always wants the same book? No, it helps. Repetition gives the child time to recognise words and predict sentences.