ABSTRACT
Reading is a necessary life skill. People need it for essential purposes, such as reading labels on food and medicines, or following road signs. Many people feel that reading for pleasure is a wonderful experience that can further their knowledge and can transport them to places and worlds that they may never encounter normally. To succeed in school and in working life it is necessary to become a proficient reader. A strong emphasis on phonics is a priority for teaching children to read but it is important to understand the other approaches. Using a combination of these approaches, depending on the needs and strengths of the child, would seem the optimum way of helping children to become fluent readers. Predicting what might happen next is a crucial skill for any reader and picture books often give a lot of scope for practising this skill. Answering questions about a story or part of a story encourages the child to listen carefully.
