Wordless picture books tell countless stories...

Pictures are really worth a thousand words. Have you and your kids read wordless picture books? I have read wordless picture books with my own children and used them many times in therapy sessions to help those who struggle with creative writing.

Reading generally has been drummed into parents as a fantastic thing to do together with your kids. It encourages the love of books, literacy and language development. 

Wordless picture books encourage your child to tell the story. This is an important skill when it comes to creative story writing at school.  It helps them to observe how authors tell a story even when there are no words. 

According to their age and abilities... kids can observe the setting, characters, problem, events and resolution of the story.  They can sequence events as beginning, middle and end parts of the story.  They can add dialogue, expression and feelings.  They can explore language; naming objects, adding verbs, adjectives, adverbs... etc.

Wordless picture books spark imagination!

These books are examples of wordless books that I have used in therapy sessions to encourage creative writing and handwriting skills.

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"Wordless picture books encourage your child to tell the story."

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I have listed a few ways that wordless books can be used at home, in school and therapy sessions.  You may focus on different goals depending on your child's age and current difficulties.  You may also work through a progression over different "sessions" at the pace suitable for your child.

For example, If you have a school-age child who has difficulty with handwriting and putting thoughts on paper; you may choose to focus on your child describing and telling with the wordless books without a pencil/paper component.  If you have at toddler, you may spend many times facilitating the story for your child when one day they decide to "read" the book for themselves. 

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Facilitated story telling
The adult describes what is happening using the pictures on each page.  You may make mention of the setting, characters, problem and resolution. You may initially tell the story with action words moving the pages quickly to engage a child with poor attention. Over time, you may add more detail and making the story more elaborate.

Joint story telling
The adult prompts the child to notice things in the pictures to "tell" the story. For example, What is the person wearing? Are they hot or cold? Why did they do that action? How do they feel? What is the character doing now?   

Child guided story telling, adult writes.
The child "reads" the story with some prompting when they have difficulty describing the picture or need help to add to the story with adjectives, adverbs and character feelings. The adult writes down the child's story.  Re-read the story with what is written.

Child guided story telling, joint writing.
The child "reads" the story with some prompting.  Child also writes story using a story map.   {Look out for future posts about story maps.  If you want a sneak peek have a look below and at the Your Kid OT shop.} The adult helps guide the child through the story map, providing connecting words as necessary. Re-read the story with what is written.

Independent reading and writing with a story map.
The child reads the story to themselves and uses the story map to write down the story. Re-read the story with what is written.

Independent reading and writing.
The child reads the story to themselves and writes down the story. Re-read the story with what is written.

Pages from "Sunshine" by Jan Ormerod,

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Pages from "The secret box" by Barbara Lehman.

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Pages from "The Red Book" by Barbara Lehman.

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Pages from "Where's Walrus?" by Stephen Savage.

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Pages from "Polo and Lily" by Regis Fallen

Note: Some of these books contain affiliate links for purchase from the Book Depository.  Also check your local library for these titles and more wordless books.

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Story Maps are available at the Your Kids OT shop.

A "Story Map" is a visual guide for writing that divides the story into sections such as introduction, problem, resolution.      

Look out for more about story maps in the near future!

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Have you "read" wordless picture books with your children?  Have you used them as a therapist? What's your favourite wordless picture book?