Wordless books teach valuable literacy skills

I recently composed a short video about my favorite wordless book, Flora and the Flamingo.  It got me thinking about all the great wordless books out there not being recognized enough as tools for reading.  Most people think that wordless books are for babies.  The truth is, these books are amazing tools for teaching important literacy skills to children of all ages such as vocabulary, sequencing, and comprehension.  Plus, they are super fun.  So let's talk a bit about wordless books and what to do with them.

If you are using wordless books with very young children, these books are a great way to begin modeling correct handling of books and the different parts of a book.  For instance, you can point out and name the cover, the title of the book, and the spine of the book.  Show your child the title of the book and where the author's name is located.  Before you start the book, explain that you will start at the beginning, then read the middle, and finally you will read the end of the book.

Take a picture walk before "reading" the book.  Look at the cover and just a few of the pictures inside the book and consider asking your child what they see in the pictures and what they think the story will be about.  Will this be a happy book?  A funny book?

I love these books because there really isn't a right or wrong way to tell the story.  While the author provides us with picture prompts hinting at what is going on, it is up to the reader to interpret the story and weave the events together.  You can help guide your child through ways we tell a story by using words like, "in the beginning," "next," "and then," "after that," and other words we use to sequence events in a story.  This helps your child build a foundation for understanding the structure of stories and that stories have a clear sequence with a beginning, middle, and an end.

Wordless books also offer an excellent opportunity to build thinking skills.  When we look at wordless picture books we are in charge of building the story and this takes some thought.  Who are the characters?  What are the clues in the pictures telling me?  What do I think will happen next?  These are all very important skills especially as children enter older elementary years and beyond.  As you go through a story make sure to point out some key elements like...

a.  who are the characters or who are the important people in the story?
b.  where the story is happening
c.  what is the problem in the story?  what are the characters trying to accomplish?
d.  how do the characters feel about the problem?
e.  what is the plan for solving the problem?
f.  did they solve the problem in the end?  Was everybody happy with how things worked out?

This is like a checklist for story telling.  As you model these components of a story and explain them to your child, let them take a turn telling the story to you.  Listening to you tell a story and then having your child teach the story to another friend or even stuffed animals is a great way to reinforce these skills.

Older children can get lots of enjoyment from wordless books as well.  There are some great wordless books for this group with complex story plots requiring higher level critical thinking skills and attention to detail.  Children who read these books might be encouraged to write their own story down to go with the pictures.  Kids who are artistically inclined might create their own wordless picture book and then tell you the story.  All of these activities reinforce comprehension skills, word choice and vocabulary, and send the message that reading is important.  Check below for some of my favorite wordless picture books for kids.

The Flower Man by Mark Ludy
Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Tuesday by David Wiesner
Sidewalk Circus by Paul Fleischman and Kevin Hawkes
The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Molly Bang
You Can't Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman
Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee
Unspoken:  A Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
The Only Child by Guojing
Bluebird by Bob Staake

Speech-Language Pathologists, Language, and Reading

The field of speech-language pathology has evolved significantly from the traditional picture most people have of a professional helping someone to speak.  The contemporary speech-language pathologist, or SLP, works with children on areas related to listening, comprehension, reading, and spelling, in addition to the traditional roles of speaking, or articulation.

As research continues to build, the important relationship between language and reading becomes more apparent.  Oral language is the foundational skill for learning to read and because SLPs are language experts, seeking the help of an ASHA certified SLP is a great first step if your child is struggling with beginning reading.

Children with reading difficulties typically have some kind of language difficulties as young children.  These can range from very subtle to more severe.  If you are seeing early warning signs of dyslexia such as difficulty with rhyme or trouble learning letter sounds or names, talk to an SLP about language screenings/evaluations that can help identify problems early and begin working to strengthen skills.

Children with reading difficulties often begin to struggle with related areas such as vocabulary and comprehension because they aren't able to read the materials that expose them to grade-level words and complex story structures.  SLPs are experts in areas of vocabulary and comprehension and can offer support, screenings, evaluations, and/or treatment.

Don't wait if you feel your child is struggling with language or literacy.  Seek help from a speech-language pathologist or other qualified professional.  You can find the valuable help of SLPs in your local school districts or in private practices in your area. Your local speech-language pathologist can provide you with information, screenings, evaluations, consultations, and/or treatment.