They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So what about a whole book of pictures?
Wordless books are told entirely through their illustrations. Sometimes they have just a few words or none at all. And while you might think it’s a little tricky to read a book with no words, sharing wordless books with your child is a literacy-rich experience that is bound to give you lots to talk about!
Babies on Track is a delightful set of wordless books made right here in Alaska by Best Beginnings.
If your child is very young it will be up to you to provide the narration at first. We have lots of tips to share to help! Just telling the story helps your daughter understand that stories have a beginning, middle, and end. These are important narrative skills being developed that also reinforce the connection between words and pictures.
As she gets older you can give your daughter a chance to tell you the story, unlocking a whole new set of creative skills you can build on that let her imagination run free. Reading is about getting meaning out of the symbols in front of us – whether that symbol is a letter or a picture. In fact, there are a whole host of skills for preschoolers and older children to be gained from reading wordless books, even if they can read! So embrace the wordless book, knowing that by “reading” them together, you’re helping your son or daughter develop important skills they need to read and learn successfully.
