Empowering The Youngest Readers: Reading Without Words
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4Empowering the
Youngest Readers:
Reading Without Words
In the Classroom or Library:
Incorporate wordless picture books into the curriculum:
• Share wordless picture books with smaller groups of children where possible. This allows all children
to closely follow the action in the story and take turns participating.
• Before reading, explain to the students that they are about to read a wordless picture book, which
means the story is told completely through the illustrations. As they read, they will take turns telling
what is happening based on what they see in the pictures.
A NOTE TO
• On the first spread, model narrating the story for the students. Note important story elements such
EDUCATORS:
as the characters and setting. On pages with multiple images, explain that readers should follow the
pictures from left to right and top to bottom.
Many times, we ask
• Go through the rest of the book slowly with the students. At each page turn, allow them a few seconds
young readers to listen
of silence to take in the images. Then ask a different child to tell what is happening on each page.
to a story and try to
If a student struggles, support him or her by asking leading questions and providing key vocabulary.
picture the images of
SUGGESTED TITLES:
the action in their
minds. By sharing
The Snowman
A Ball for Daisy
wordless (or nearly
by Raymond Briggs
by Chris Raschka
wordless) picture
A dreamy tale of a boy and
Any child who has ever had a
the snowman he built, who
beloved toy break will relate
books, we ask young
comes to life at night to have
to Daisy’s anguish when her
readers to exercise their
some old-fashioned winter fun.
favorite ball is destroyed by a
imaginations in just the
When the boy awakes the
bigger dog. Chris Raschka explores in pictures the
opposite way. Young
next morning, did any of it really happen,
joy and sadness that having a special toy can bring.
readers can “read” the
or was it all a dream?
Winner of the Caldecott Medal
images of the picture
Grades K–3
Grades Preschool–2
HC: 978-0-394-83973-8 • PB: 978-0-394-88466-0
HC: 978-0-375-85861-1 • GLB: 978-0-375-95861-8
book and create the
narrative for the action
Beaver Is Lost
Time Flies
in their minds. Wordless
by Elisha Cooper
by Eric Rohmann
picture books can help
A young beaver is
Inspired by the theory that birds
accidentally separated from
are the modern relatives of
young children think
his family. Follow Beaver
dinosaurs. On a stormy night,
about the basic
as he’s chased by a dog,
a bird finds its way into the
elements of storytelling,
visits a zoo, and even finds himself in the middle
dinosaur halls of a natural history museum—and
and are perfect for the
of a busy city street.
sees the dinosaur skeletons come to life. Eric
youngest children who
Grades Preschool–2
Rohmann uses color to show the dramatic transfor-
HC: 978-0-375-85765-2 • GLB: 978-0-375-95765-9
may not have the skills
mation, and to highlight the bird’s narrow escape.
A Caldecott Honor Book
or confidence to read
Mine!
Grades K–3
text on their own. They
by Shutta Crum
HC: 978-0-517-59598-5 • PB: 978-0-517-88555-0
are also perfect when
GLB: 978-0-517-59599-2
Illustrated by Patrice Barton
working with a group of
Have you ever had a toy you
Bluebird
really really liked? Have you
children with mixed
by Bob Staake
ever had a lot of toys you
reading abilities or
Follow the journey of a
really really liked? Have you ever said “MINE!”?
English language
bluebird as he develops a
If so, this book is for you! An adorable, playful,
learners, since
friendship with a young boy
picture-based book about two very young
and ultimately risks his life to
understanding the story
children and an adorable dog navigating the
save the boy from harm. Both simple and evocative,
is not contingent on
troubles and triumphs of sharing.
this timeless and profound story will resonate with
Grades Birth–Preschool
reading the text.
readers young and old.
HC: 978-0-375-86711-8 • Board: 978-0-375-86346-2
EL: 978-0-375-98887-5
Grades Preschool–3
HC: 978-0-375-87037-8 • GLB: 978-0-375-97038-2
EL: 978-0-375-98904-9
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