The Reading Thinkers Team: Quinn the Questioner Building Curious Minds
Quinn Quokka is always full of questions—and that’s what makes her such a great reader! She shows kids how to ask thoughtful questions while reading to stay curious and connected.
Meet Quinn Quokka!
Say hello to Quinn Quokka the Questioner—a cheerful little marsupial with big curious eyes and a pouch full of question cards. Quinn is a key member of the The Reading Thinks Team because Quinn loves asking questions—before, during, and after reading!
Whether it’s “Why did that happen?” or “What decision did the character make and why?”, Quinn reminds us that great readers are great wonderers. She shows children that questions aren’t just a good tool—they’re a superpower that helps us understand the characters and story better!
The more you wonder, the more you discover!
Quinn Quokka
Why Questioning Helps Young Readers
Asking questions helps children stay engaged, curious, and thoughtful while reading. It gives them a purpose for reading and helps them make sense of what’s happening.
When children ask questions, they:
- Feel empowered to explore ideas and meanings.
- Slow down and think more deeply about the story.
- Check their own understanding.
- Stay curious about characters, settings, and events.
Helping Kids Grow This Skill
Here’s how to help your young readers start thinking like Quinn Quokka:
Start With Wondering
Before reading, do a story walk through and look at the title and cover. Ask:
“What do you wonder about this story?”
Encourage questions like:
- “Who might the story be about”
- “Where is this taking place?”
- “What kind of emotion is this character showing?”
Pause and
Ponder
As you read, stop occasionally to ask:
- “What questions do you have right now?”
- “Is anything confusing or surprising?”
- “Why do you think that happened?”
You might model your own questions:
“I’m wondering why the character is hiding behind the tree. What do you think?”
WordPlay Zone
Sing a Counting Song About Ants
Why not sing The Ants Go Marching with your little learner(s)? This is a classic song that helps teach numbers and rhyme.
Get the lyrics for the song The Ants Go Marching and other classic nursery rhymes and songs!
Guess the Compound Riddle
Where ants go marching ten by ten,
You’ll find me gleefully following them.
A tasty snack, a delicious treat,
Ants are what I love to eat.
What Am I?
Teach Quinn’s Question Starters
Help kids learn to use Quinn’s favorite question words:
- Who?
- What?
- When?
- Where?
- Why?
- How?
Pair it with her thinking phrase:
“I wonder ___ because ___.”
Use a “Question Stop” Sign
Place sticky notes or small paper stop signs in a book to pause and let kids ask questions. You can call these “Quokka Questions!”
These act as visual reminders to pause and wonder. When kids reach a stop sign, it’s time for a Quokka Question Moment—a chance to ask something curious about the story.
This strategy helps young readers build the habit of thinking as they read—just like Quinn!
Picture Book Suggestions
Books that spark great questions include:
- Chalk by Bill Thomson (a wordless book that inspires tons of questions!)
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
- The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Ox & Owl Literacy
Meet Other members of the Reading Thinkers Team
Nurturing Little Minds, Sparking Big Dreams
I’m happy you’re here!
Hi, I’m Julie, the passionate creator of Ox & Owl Literacy. I enjoy empowering families and educators with wonderful resources to inspire fun, imaginative, and joyful learning opportunities for young kiddos. You’ll find lots of recommended books, reading resources, and creative learning activities on this site aiming to help children fall in love with language, books, reading, and the transformational power of stories.
