Table 1 Intervention session content

1

Introduction to book sharing (using Handa’s Surprise by Eileen Browne)

The benefits to child development of book-sharing are explained, and the importance of establishing a book-sharing routine stressed. Basic principles of dialogic reading are outlined, including following the child’s lead, as well as techniques such as pointing and naming and asking “who/what/where” questions to engage the child and encourage dialogue

2

Elaborating and linking (using Little Helpers by Lynne Murray, Peter Cooper and Lyn Gilbert)

Picking up on the child’s focus of interest and elaborating on it. Making links between the book content and the child’s own experience. Making links between different elements of the book, and their relation to the overall book narrative

3

Numeracy and comparisons (using Handa’s Hen by Eileen Browne)

Introducing the idea of counting and comparative concepts (e.g., more, less, highest, smallest) and category inclusion and exclusion

4

Talking about feelings (using Hug by Jez Alborough)

Talking about the feelings of the book characters. Naming feelings and contextualising them. Linking the book characters’ feelings to the child’s own emotional experience

5

Talking about intentions (using Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion and Margaret Bloy Graham)

Discussing why characters feel the way they do, asking what characters are thinking and intending, encouraging the child to be curious about what will come next in the story

6

Talking about perspectives (using Harry by the sea by Gene Zion and Margaret Bloy Graham)

Helping the child understand that different people can see things differently, know different things, and feel differently about things

7

Relationships (using The Wrong Side of the Bed by Edward Ardizzone)

Discussing family relationships, including conflict and resolution