Book Recommendation: Look for Pictures

Foundation for Early Learning is delighted to feature a guest blog post from Kristin Piepho of Sno-Isle Libraries, a member of the Early Learning Public Library Partnership. If you are interested in being featured in the Foundation's blog, please contact Joel Ballezza, Communications Manager at joel@earlylearning.org.

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Here’s a riddle for you:  what has no words, yet helps children build vocabulary and learn narrative structure?  A wordless picture book!

As a children’s librarian, I frequently come across puzzled adults at the picture book shelves glancing over selections such as The Snowman by Raymond Briggs or Zoom by Istvan Banyai and wondering how on earth to “read” these.  I encourage them to allow their children to invent their own stories by interpreting and describing the actions in the pictures.  Few books spark such creativity and interactivity as a story without words.

Sharing such stories can also provide a fun opportunity to bond.  At a recent early literacy presentation, my heart warmed as I watched a mother share a wordless picture book with her 18 month old daughter.  As she turned the pages, her voice softened, “look at the girl, what is she doing?  Yes, she’s running away from the wave.  Uh oh… the wave splashed her and she’s all wet!”  The daughter smiled and helped turn the pages.  Though still not yet talking in full sentences, she was fully engaged.

Here are a few favorites to share with your favorite little one that both of you will enjoy:

Mirror by Jeannie Baker
Side by side collages compare a typical day of shopping in Australia and Morocco, showing that even though we may not drive the same vehicles or eat the same food, we are all connected.

Wave by Suzy Lee
A little girl spends her day teasing a playful wave in this gorgeous book, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2008.

The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
It’s no surprise that this stunning book won the 2010 Caldecott Medal!  Pinkney has taken the classic Aesop tale to the African Serengeti.

Chicken Thief by Beatrice Rodriguez
Oh no, fox has run away with chicken!  How will the animals rescue her?  Does she even need to be rescued?

Chicken and Cat Clean Up by Sara Varon
When Chicken starts a housecleaning service with best friend Cat, Cat does everything wrong – but maybe Cat has another skill to share with the world.  While this book has a few incidental words (mainly onomatopoeia), it still relies on the pictures (and the child) to tell the story.