Reading with a grandchild can be one of the sweetest parts of the day. You snuggle in, open the book, turn the first page, and prepare for a magical literacy moment.

Then you ask, “Do you like this book?”

Your grandson says, “Yes.”

And there it is. The conversation is over before it even put on its shoes.

Now, there is nothing wrong with a yes-or-no question. We all use them. They are simple, quick, and sometimes exactly what we need. “Are you ready?” “Do you want to read one more page?” “Is that puppy silly?” Those questions have their place.

What does “piece of cake” really mean to a child? In this playful blog, I explore how idioms like “cat got your tongue” and “over the moon” can spark laughter, build language skills, and even offer clues about how children understand nuance and figurative language.