Dear Parents and Guardians:

Children use their imaginations as they look at the pictures of animals in Ranger Rick Jr. magazine. You can encourage them by asking questions about the animals.

Here are suggestions from this month’s magazine.

Ask your child to tell a story about the horned lizard on page 4. If your child doesn’t know where to begin you can ask: “Why do you think the lizard might spit blood?” or “Who would the lizard spit at?”

Have your child tell you what the monkey in the water on page 9 might be doing. Ask your child what the mother monkey may be saying. You may have to begin the story by saying, “The small monkey in the water is looking under rocks. The mother is telling her child to not get her fur wet.” What can your child add to the monkey story?

When on page 24, ask your child what the father stork could be telling the chicks in the nest. You could say, “Father stork is asking the chicks if they are hungry.” Or, “I think the chicks are asking when they will learn to fly.”

On the back cover, ask your child to find the small bird on the hippopotamus. Perhaps the hippo has his mouth open to thank the bird for removing an insect. Or, perhaps the hippo is yelling for the bird to stop pecking his skin. What story can your child tell?

Using your imagination will spark your child’s creativity.

Mike Wilson, Founder
Prekindergarten Reading Encouragement Project
PREP – Helping childhood literacy one family at a time.
facebook.com/PREPDelaware