Characters in Books

Your Child Will Learn

Describe main characters and their actions in books

Here’s What to Do

1. Staple a few sheets of paper together to create a journal for recording information about book characters
2. Read a book that your child is familiar with.  Explain what a main character is and their actions in the story while pointing to pictures and words.  Discuss together.
3. Ask your child  to create portraits of main characters from the books you read inside the journal

Put PEER Into Action

PAUSE

• Gather familiar books and tell your child that you will focus on the characters in them

ENGAGE

• Ask, “what clues tell us who the main characters are in story books?”
• Ask “who is your favorite main character in a book?”

ENCOURAGE

• Ask your child to identify the main characters in the story books multiple times 
• Ask your child to describe the main character’s actions by pointing to pictures from the story  
• Explain the differences main characters and other characters and have your child identify examples

REFLECT

• “What do you like about the main character?”
• “If you were the main character, what might you have done differently in the story?”

Not Quite Ready

Draw the main character for your child with simple lines and shapes.  Ask them to add details to the portrait.

Ready for More

As your child creates an archive of book characters in the journal, discuss how the different characters are alike and different

As Your Child Masters This Skill

They will be able to identify main characters in books by describing who they are and explaining their actions

Time to Complete

20-30 minutes

Materials Needed

Reading books, paper, stapler, pencils, coloring materials (crayons, markers, paints)