These wordless picture books are told completely through their illustrations. They are books with no words or on occasions just a few words. Sharing these wordless picture books with a child give you a chance for literacy based conversations. Every reader listens or speaks and creates their own version of the story in their own words. Sharing wordless books also shows them the idea that, in many picture books, the story and the pictures are tied together. Elementary school aged children often enjoy putting in writing their original story to accompany a wordless picture book. Sharing wordless picture books is a great way to build necessary literacy skills, including listening, vocabulary, comprehension and a greater awareness of how stories are put together.
There are several ways you can share wordless picture books with your child.
- Remember that there are no right or wrong ways to read a wordless picture book. One of the best benefits of sharing wordless picture books is how each child can create their own story or stories from the same set of pictures.
- Spend some time looking at the cover and discussing the books title. Based on those two topics, make a few guesses about how the story will turn out. Enjoy the pictures and show a few things to your child, but don't worry too much about telling a story just yet. Just enjoy the pictures and get an idea of what the book is all about.
- Take a picture walk through all the pages of the book first. Enjoy the art work, which are often in great detail. Look carefully at the expressions on characters faces and the setting and the use of multiple colors. Talk to each other about what you have seen. These conversations will enrich the storytelling experience. Know more beta reading
- Now go back through the book for a second time and get ready for some terrific storytelling. Consider going first and acting as a character for your child. Spice it up. Have the characters use different voices, add some sound effects and use interesting words in your version of the story book.
- Have your child read you the book with their story. Remember the words that your child uses when they tell the story. Help your child expand his sentences or thoughts by encouraging him to add details from the illustrations details. Ways to encourage more detail is by asking W questions: Who? Where? When? Why?
- Finish your wordless picture book sharing by asking a few easy questions. Which pictures helped you tell the story? What was your favorite part of your story? Have you had a time like the one in your story?
Sharing wordless picture books is a great way to build important literacy skills, including listening, vocabulary, comprehension and a greater awareness of how stories are told as the storyteller often uses a beginning, middle and end format. For a book with few words you will be surprised at all the talking you will do and all the fun you will have!
