:root {
–sage: #7A9E7E;
–sage-light: #C5D9C7;
–sage-pale: #EEF5EF;
–gold: #C9963A;
–gold-light: #F0DDB0;
–gold-pale: #FBF5E8;
–pink: #D4878C;
–pink-light: #F0C8CB;
–pink-pale: #FDF0F1;
–teal: #4A8FA8;
–teal-light: #B5D4DF;
–teal-pale: #EBF4F7;
–cream: #FBF8F3;
–ink: #2D2D2A;
–ink-soft: #5A5751;
–ink-muted: #8A857E;
}
* { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
body {
font-family: ‘Nunito’, sans-serif;
background-color: var(–cream);
color: var(–ink);
line-height: 1.7;
min-height: 100vh;
}
/* ── DECORATIVE HEADER ── */
.page-header {
background: linear-gradient(135deg, #3D6B51 0%, #5A8A6A 40%, #7AA88A 70%, #4A8FA8 100%);
padding: 60px 40px 50px;
text-align: center;
position: relative;
overflow: hidden;
}
.page-header::before {
content: ”;
position: absolute;
inset: 0;
background: url(“data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=’http://www.w3.org/2000/svg’ width=’60’ height=’60’%3E%3Ccircle cx=’30’ cy=’30’ r=’1.5′ fill=’rgba(255,255,255,0.12)’/%3E%3Ccircle cx=’5′ cy=’5′ r=’1′ fill=’rgba(255,255,255,0.08)’/%3E%3Ccircle cx=’55’ cy=’55’ r=’1′ fill=’rgba(255,255,255,0.08)’/%3E%3C/svg%3E”) repeat;
}
.header-bloom {
position: absolute;
top: -30px; right: -30px;
width: 200px; height: 200px;
background: radial-gradient(circle, rgba(201,150,58,0.25) 0%, transparent 70%);
border-radius: 50%;
}
.header-bloom-2 {
position: absolute;
bottom: -40px; left: -20px;
width: 160px; height: 160px;
background: radial-gradient(circle, rgba(212,135,140,0.2) 0%, transparent 70%);
border-radius: 50%;
}
.brand-tag {
font-family: ‘Nunito’, sans-serif;
font-size: 11px;
font-weight: 700;
letter-spacing: 3px;
text-transform: uppercase;
color: rgba(255,255,255,0.75);
margin-bottom: 16px;
position: relative;
}
.page-header h1 {
font-family: ‘Playfair Display’, serif;
font-size: clamp(28px, 5vw, 48px);
font-weight: 700;
color: #fff;
line-height: 1.2;
margin-bottom: 14px;
position: relative;
}
.page-header h1 em {
font-style: italic;
color: var(–gold-light);
}
.header-subtitle {
font-size: 16px;
color: rgba(255,255,255,0.85);
max-width: 520px;
margin: 0 auto;
font-weight: 400;
position: relative;
}
/* ── LEAF DIVIDER ── */
.divider {
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
gap: 12px;
margin: 32px 0;
color: var(–sage);
font-size: 18px;
opacity: 0.6;
}
.divider-line {
height: 1px;
width: 60px;
background: var(–sage-light);
}
/* ── MAIN LAYOUT ── */
.container {
max-width: 780px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 48px 24px 64px;
}
/* ── INTRO BLOCK ── */
.intro-block {
background: white;
border-left: 4px solid var(–sage);
border-radius: 0 12px 12px 0;
padding: 28px 32px;
margin-bottom: 40px;
box-shadow: 0 2px 16px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.intro-block p {
font-size: 15.5px;
color: var(–ink-soft);
margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.intro-block p:last-child { margin-bottom: 0; }
.intro-block strong {
color: var(–ink);
font-weight: 700;
}
/* ── SECTION HEADINGS ── */
.section-heading {
font-family: ‘Playfair Display’, serif;
font-size: 24px;
font-weight: 600;
color: var(–ink);
margin-bottom: 20px;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 12px;
}
.section-heading .icon {
width: 36px; height: 36px;
border-radius: 50%;
display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
font-size: 16px;
flex-shrink: 0;
}
/* ── HOW TO USE ── */
.how-to-use {
background: var(–gold-pale);
border-radius: 16px;
padding: 32px;
margin-bottom: 40px;
border: 1px solid var(–gold-light);
}
.how-to-use .section-heading .icon {
background: var(–gold-light);
color: var(–gold);
}
.steps {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
gap: 14px;
}
.step {
display: flex;
align-items: flex-start;
gap: 16px;
}
.step-num {
width: 32px; height: 32px;
border-radius: 50%;
background: var(–gold);
color: white;
font-weight: 700;
font-size: 14px;
display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
flex-shrink: 0;
margin-top: 2px;
}
.step p {
font-size: 15px;
color: var(–ink-soft);
padding-top: 4px;
}
/* ── QUESTION TABLE ── */
.table-section {
margin-bottom: 40px;
}
.table-section .section-heading .icon {
background: var(–sage-light);
color: var(–sage);
}
.stage-cards {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
gap: 16px;
}
.stage-card {
border-radius: 14px;
overflow: hidden;
box-shadow: 0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.06);
}
.stage-header {
padding: 14px 22px;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 12px;
}
.stage-label {
font-family: ‘Playfair Display’, serif;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: 600;
color: white;
}
.stage-badge {
font-size: 11px;
font-weight: 700;
letter-spacing: 2px;
text-transform: uppercase;
background: rgba(255,255,255,0.25);
color: white;
padding: 3px 10px;
border-radius: 20px;
}
.stage-card.before .stage-header { background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(–teal) 0%, #5FA3BC 100%); }
.stage-card.during .stage-header { background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(–sage) 0%, #90B894 100%); }
.stage-card.after .stage-header { background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(–pink) 0%, #E09DA2 100%); }
.stage-body {
background: white;
padding: 18px 22px;
border: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.06);
border-top: none;
border-radius: 0 0 14px 14px;
}
.question-list {
list-style: none;
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
gap: 10px;
}
.question-list li {
display: flex;
align-items: flex-start;
gap: 10px;
font-size: 14.5px;
color: var(–ink-soft);
}
.q-mark {
font-family: ‘Playfair Display’, serif;
font-size: 20px;
font-weight: 700;
line-height: 1.2;
flex-shrink: 0;
}
.stage-card.before .q-mark { color: var(–teal); }
.stage-card.during .q-mark { color: var(–sage); }
.stage-card.after .q-mark { color: var(–pink); }
/* ── SCAFFOLDING GUIDE ── */
.scaffold-section {
background: var(–pink-pale);
border-radius: 16px;
padding: 32px;
margin-bottom: 40px;
border: 1px solid var(–pink-light);
}
.scaffold-section .section-heading .icon {
background: var(–pink-light);
color: var(–pink);
}
.scaffold-intro {
font-size: 15px;
color: var(–ink-soft);
margin-bottom: 22px;
}
.scaffolds {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 14px;
}
@media (max-width: 540px) {
.scaffolds { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
}
.scaffold-card {
background: white;
border-radius: 12px;
padding: 16px 18px;
border: 1px solid var(–pink-light);
}
.scaffold-type {
font-size: 11px;
font-weight: 700;
letter-spacing: 2px;
text-transform: uppercase;
color: var(–pink);
margin-bottom: 6px;
}
.scaffold-quote {
font-family: ‘Playfair Display’, serif;
font-style: italic;
font-size: 15px;
color: var(–ink);
line-height: 1.5;
}
/* ── TRY TONIGHT ── */
.tonight-section {
background: linear-gradient(135deg, #3D6B51 0%, #4A8FA8 100%);
border-radius: 20px;
padding: 36px 40px;
position: relative;
overflow: hidden;
}
.tonight-section::before {
content: ‘🌙’;
position: absolute;
top: 20px; right: 30px;
font-size: 52px;
opacity: 0.2;
}
.tonight-section .section-heading {
color: white;
margin-bottom: 8px;
}
.tonight-intro {
font-size: 14px;
color: rgba(255,255,255,0.75);
margin-bottom: 22px;
font-style: italic;
}
.tonight-questions {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
gap: 12px;
margin-bottom: 28px;
}
.tonight-q {
background: rgba(255,255,255,0.13);
border-radius: 10px;
padding: 13px 18px;
font-size: 14.5px;
color: white;
display: flex;
gap: 12px;
align-items: flex-start;
border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.15);
backdrop-filter: blur(4px);
}
.tonight-q-label {
font-size: 10px;
font-weight: 700;
letter-spacing: 2px;
text-transform: uppercase;
color: var(–gold-light);
min-width: 44px;
padding-top: 2px;
}
.closing-line {
font-family: ‘Playfair Display’, serif;
font-style: italic;
font-size: 16px;
color: rgba(255,255,255,0.9);
text-align: center;
border-top: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.2);
padding-top: 22px;
}
/* ── FOOTER ── */
.page-footer {
text-align: center;
padding: 24px;
font-size: 12px;
color: var(–ink-muted);
letter-spacing: 0.5px;
}
.page-footer a {
color: var(–sage);
text-decoration: none;
font-weight: 600;
}
/* ── ANIMATIONS ── */
.fade-in {
opacity: 0;
transform: translateY(18px);
animation: fadeUp 0.6s ease forwards;
}
.fade-in:nth-child(2) { animation-delay: 0.1s; }
.fade-in:nth-child(3) { animation-delay: 0.2s; }
.fade-in:nth-child(4) { animation-delay: 0.3s; }
.fade-in:nth-child(5) { animation-delay: 0.4s; }
@keyframes fadeUp {
to { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
}
/* ── PRINT BUTTON ── */
.print-bar {
background: white;
border-bottom: 1px solid var(–sage-light);
padding: 10px 24px;
display: flex;
justify-content: flex-end;
gap: 10px;
}
.btn-print {
background: var(–sage);
color: white;
border: none;
padding: 9px 20px;
border-radius: 8px;
font-family: ‘Nunito’, sans-serif;
font-size: 13px;
font-weight: 700;
cursor: pointer;
letter-spacing: 0.5px;
transition: background 0.2s;
}
.btn-print:hover { background: #5A8160; }
@media print {
.print-bar { display: none; }
.page-header { print-color-adjust: exact; -webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; }
.stage-card.before .stage-header,
.stage-card.during .stage-header,
.stage-card.after .stage-header,
.tonight-section { print-color-adjust: exact; -webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; }
}
Words That Bloom
Make Every Story a
Conversation That Grows
A gentle framework for reading together — before, during, and after the story.
These templates guide you in asking gentle, open-ended questions before, during, and after a story. Each stage activates a different part of comprehension — prediction, reasoning, and reflection — without turning reading into a test.
When you use this framework, you’ll help your child build understanding, empathy, and confidence step by step.
✦
How to Use
1
Choose one or two questions from each stage.
2
Keep it light — treat it like curiosity, not a quiz.
3
Use follow-up prompts from the Response Scaffolding Guide below to keep the conversation going.
📖
Pre · During · Post Question Templates
Before Reading
Predict
- ? “Look at the title — what do you think will happen?”
- ? “What do you notice on the cover?”
- ? “Have we read any stories like this before?”
- ? “What do you think this story might be about?”
During Reading
Reason
- ? “Why do you think the character said that?”
- ? “What might happen next?”
- ? “How do you think she feels right now?”
- ? “What do you notice in the picture?”
After Reading
Reflect
- ? “How did the story make you feel?”
- ? “What was your favorite part?”
- ? “Did the ending surprise you?”
- ? “What do you think the author wanted us to learn?”
💬
Response Scaffolding Guide
When your child answers, try one of these gentle responses to encourage deeper thinking and keep the conversation flowing:
Encourage Thinking
“That’s interesting — why do you think so?”
Invite Checking
“Let’s look at the picture to check.”
Build Language
“Can you say that in another way?”
Affirm Observation
“I like how you noticed that detail!”
✨
Try This Tonight
Pick one question from each stage and one scaffolded response:
Before
“What do you think this story might be about?”
During
“Why do you think he said that?”
After
“How did it make you feel?”
The goal isn’t right answers — it’s connection, curiosity, and confidence.
Please click here to download the Make Every Story a Conversation That Grows
Templates: Pre–During–Post Reading Templates
Make every story a conversation that grows with time.
These templates guide you in asking gentle, open-ended questions before, during, and after a story. Each stage activates a different part of comprehension—prediction, reasoning, and reflection—without turning reading into a test.
When you use this framework, you’ll help your child build understanding, empathy, and confidence step by step.
How to Use
-
Choose one or two questions from each stage.
-
Keep it light—treat it like curiosity, not a quiz.
-
Use follow-up prompts from the Response Scaffolding Guide to keep the conversation going.
Pre–During–Post Question Templates
|
Stage |
Example Prompts |
|---|---|
| ⏰ Before Reading | “Look at the title—what do you think will happen?” “What do you notice on the cover?” “Have we read any stories like this before?” “What do you think this story might be about?” |
| 📖 During Reading | “Why do you think the character said that?” “What might happen next?” “How do you think she feels right now?” “What do you notice in the picture?” |
| 🌈 After Reading | “How did the story make you feel?” “What was your favorite part?” “Did the ending surprise you?” “What do you think the author wanted us to learn?” |
Response Scaffolding Guide
When kids answer, try one of these gentle responses to encourage deeper thinking and keep the conversation flowing:
Encourage Thinking:
“That’s interesting—why do you think so?”
Invite Checking:
“Let’s look at the picture to check.”
Build Language:
“Can you say that in another way?”
Affirm Observation:
“I like how you noticed that detail!”
🌟 Try This Tonight
Pick one question from each stage and one scaffolded response.
“Before we read, what do you think this story might be about?”
“During: Why do you think he said that?”
“After: How did it make you feel?”
The goal isn’t right answers—it’s connection, curiosity, and confidence.