This is a collaborative action research project, funded by the United Kingdom Literacy Association, involving myself and the deputy head teacher of a small primary school. The aim of the project is to design and implement a series of interactive reading circles with primary school children. We use picture books to introduce children to critical literacy: examining author intentions, how convincing a story or idea is, how it positions the child as reader and what isn't said or denied. As part of the reading circles, we develop age appropriate and simple ways for children to learn about the meanings of visuals and modes such as colour or size.