Have you read a wordless book? In books without words, the illustrations carry the story. There are many great titles available.

What makes wordless books special?

There is no right or wrong way to read a wordless book. These books are flexible and open-ended. The narrative can be told in different ways.

Wordless books are also very accessible. They can be enjoyed in any language. They can be read at any reading level. The language can be simple or complex.

What skills do wordless books support?

Even without words, picture books can help develop skills in:

• Visual literacy – making sense of what you see
• Observation and paying attention to detail
• Predicting and inferring
• Understanding story structure and sequence

When wordless books are enjoyed together, they also support:

• Listening and speaking
• Vocabulary and comprehension
• Storytelling

Wordless books can also be a foundation for creative writing.

Using wordless books can build confidence and independence in using books for beginning or struggling readers. This helps build a foundation for engaging with and enjoying books.

How do you read a wordless book?

Here are some steps you can follow:

1. Look at the cover.
2. Read the title.
3. Do a picture walk.
4. ‘Read’ the story. Be as dramatic as you like.
5. Ask questions.
6. Take turns telling the story.

More tips for sharing wordless books from the Scottish Book Trust are:

• Describe what you see.
• Point things out.
• Go beyond the pictures.
• Use story language.
• Play with the story.

Wordless Book Recommendations

8 Wonderfully Wordless Picture Books

31 Days, 31 Lists: 2020 Wordless Picture Books

The Best Wordless Books to Build Literacy & Comprehension Skills!

Our Favorite Wordless Picture Books – from Reading Rockets

Our Favorite Wordless Picture Books – from Read-Aloud Revival

Learn about another wordless format you can enjoy in Wordless Videos as Teaching Tools.