The Lion & The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

Wordless picture books are a great way to encourage reluctant readers, motivate storytelling, and prompt creative writing. I was blessed to receive the Caldecott Medal winning book,  The Lion & The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney from a Twitter Elementary Librarian colleague, Ernie Cox. It was serendipitous that our kindergarten and first grade teams had just read another version of this story to our students.

When I introduced this book to students, I talked about how the illustrations in most picture books tell the story. I then modeled how to “read” a wordless picture book. I narrated parts and I added dialogue where appropriate. For example, “As the lion squeezed his paws around the mouse, the mouse screamed, “HELP!”…But no one heard his cries.” During the second reading, I call on students to “read” each page. When they narrate, I encourage them to think about describing how a character feels (and why),  body language, the setting,  and encourage them to add  dialogue to enhance their storytelling. They always surprise me with the humor and specific details they choose to add to the story.

Did you know that Big Universe has wordless picture books? Use these titles to get your little ones “reading”:

Wordless picture books on Big Universe

Ben's Big Dig on Big Universe

Ben's Bunny Trouble on Big Universe

1. Read to your child every day. Choose a specific time and/or spot. Make it special.
2. Make it fun! Act out the text or animate your voice for the characters and events in the story.
3. Read wordless picture books with your children. Create a story for your child based on what is happening on each page. If your child is old enough, ask your child to “read” the story to you.
4. Tell your child stories from your childhood. This weaves in your family history, and your child will appreciate hearing about your youth.
5. Read a fairy tale to your child and have him/her act out the parts ofthe story. This is especially fun if you have dress-up clothes for your child to wear.
6. Read to your child’s interests. If your child likes cars and trucks, read aloud books about cars and trucks. If your child likes princesses, read aloud books about princesses. Books read aloud don’t always have to be fiction, choose some nonfiction pieces, too. Talk to your child about the difference between fiction and nonfiction texts.
7. Read poetry aloud. Poetry is often a neglected genre, but can help your child learn to feel the rhythm of a text.
8. Read stories with predictable texts. This will get your child interested in the story, and he/she will learn to figure out what comes next. This is an important stage in literacy development.
9. Create a special area for your child’s books in the house. A cozy corner just for him/her will encourage your child to enjoy reading.
10. Let your child choose his/her own books when at the library or book store. Even if they aren’t of the highest quality or at your child’s reading level, you are sending the message that his/her choices are important.

Wordless Picture Books

Pancakes for Breakfast by Tommy dePaola

10 Minutes till Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann

Truck by Donald Crews

A Boy, a Dog, a Frog, and a Friend by Mercer Mayer

Fairy Tales

Fairy Tale Classic: Easy-to-Read Collection by Harriet Ziefert

Poetry

Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young Edited by Jack Prelutsky

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Poetry Speaks to Children edited by Elise Paschen

The Bill Martin Jr. Big Book of Poetry edited by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson

Predictable Texts

Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin, Jr.

Chicka, Chicka, Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Good Night ,Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

What favorites do you and your preschooler read aloud?  Do you have any other suggestions for ways to engage preschoolers in literacy?

Dawn Little (aka Links to Literacy) also blogs at www.teachingwithpicturebooks.wordpress.com where she provides educators with picture book lessons based on comprehension strategies and the Six Traits of Writing.  In addition, she blogs at www.literacytoolbox.wordpress.com where she provides educators and parents with tips and tools to enhance the literacy lives of children.  She is the founder and operator of Links to Literacy, a company dedicated to providing interactive literacy experiences for children and families.  Find out more at www.linkstoliteracy.com