Wordless picture books are so much more than a story without words. Because they rely on illustrations rather than text, any child can be drawn in and enjoy the stories independently and have their imaginations sparked! Also, wordless picture books provide opportunities for cuddle-up, cozy time with mom or dad. Here are some suggestions for getting the most out of sharing a wordless picture book with your child:
- As you look at the pictures, point out and name objects, colors, shapes, and actions. You can expand on this by using sounds, for example, “Puppy!! Look, puppy. Arf, Arf! Puppy.” These simple interactions are actually very powerful in helping your child build vocabulary.
- Create your own story based on what you see. It can be a different story each time—be creative! What’s important is that your story is sequenced with a beginning, middle, and end so that your child begins to learn to tell his own story.
- Limit the number of questions you ask. Instead of asking, “What is this?”, simply point and name or use a sentence that your child will imitate when she/he begins talking. For example, “The brown puppy is playing with a red ball.”
- If your child wants to tell the story, don’t interrupt or correct. Let her use her imagination and be an enthusiastic listener!
Your Speech-Language Pathologist can provide you with even more ideas on sharing wordless picture books with your child.
These links have lists of recommended wordless picture books.
http://www.barbaralehmanbooks.com/barbaralehmanbooks.com/books.html