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Open-ended Owl chapter opener illustration

Open-ended Owl

OPEN-ENDED PROMPT

Open-ended Owl Asks ‘Tell Me About It’

In the Lap Nook, perched wide-eyed beside the reading lamp, sits Open-ended Owl — a gentle owl who loves a good, roomy question. Owls see the whole picture, and Open-ended Owl helps your child see it too, by asking them to talk about it.

Here is the trick, grown-up: stop on a picture your child likes, point gently, and ask a big, roomy question — “What’s happening on this page?” or “Tell me about this picture.” Not “Is that a dog?” (that only needs a nod). A roomy question needs words.

Give your little one a moment. Then listen. They might say, “The doggy is running fast because it’s raining!” — a whole sentence, all their own. That is language growing, right there in your lap. Open-ended Owl blinks proudly every time.

Say it with Open-ended Owl: “Point and ask, ‘What’s happening here?’ — their own words will soon appear.”

No screen needed — just a picture and a roomy question. When you ask your child to tell you about the page, you hand them the story to hold. So point, ask, and wait, grown-up: their own words are worth the wait.

Reading together with a grown-up? A card for the grown-up

For the grown-up: ask one question, then wait. When they answer, add one word to what they said. Tap the button when they have said something — that is one turn each, a circle. Nothing is recorded or kept.

Let them finish it

Say “Point and ask, 'What's happening here?' — their …” and stop. Let them finish it.

Then say the whole line together: “Point and ask, 'What's happening here?' — their own words will soon appear.”.

Now wait. Count slowly to five in your head. Their answer is worth the quiet.

Circles together: 0

The LapTots ensemble

Open-ended Owl is one of the friends in LapTots. Each friend shows you one idea by how they act; meet them all and you have the whole subject.