Wordless Books
- Benjamin Tinsley
- May 5, 2021
- 2 min read
I love teaching French, and I really have little interest in ever leaving the language classroom. My Master’s degree is actually in Literacy, though, and I’m a certified Reading Specialist.
While I’m not at all trying to become a full-time reading specialist, I learned SO MUCH about language acquisition in my studies and there really is so much overlap in what a reading specialist does to develop emergent literacy in L1 and what a modern language teacher can do to develop proficiency in L2.
One great strategy is the use of wordless books. Not to be confused with picture books, a wordless book literally only has illustrations that tell a story. This helps young readers better grasp story elements like characters, setting and plot (key components of literacy), without getting tripped up with the decoding piece, which is actually only a small part of how we measure literacy.
So for the modern language teacher, what is a wordless book but a series of Picture Talks?
Today was supposed to be my school’s version of Field Day, but it got cancelled at the last minute due to weather, leaving me with three classes that I was not expecting to teach today. I figured it was a great opportunity to take a look at I Walk With Vanessa, by Kerascoët. I own the Kindle book, so I just projected the Kindle Cloud Reader and we walked through it.
Each of the three classes are at very different levels of proficiency, so it was an interesting (and very successful, if I may say so myself) exercise in scaffolding and differentiation.
In the coming days we’ll have the opportunity to do retells, re-enactments, re-draws, all that!
Highly Recommended! 10/10
Wordless books are fascinating because they prove stories can still feel powerful without heavy dialogue. I remember using illustrated books with my younger cousin during a difficult apartment transition after our landlord suddenly changed policies. While helping my aunt organize everything, we also searched for renters insurance Texas near me to protect their belongings before moving again. Sometimes quiet storytelling connects people better than long explanations ever could.
Wordless books are really interesting because they allow readers to create their own interpretation of the story through images and imagination. I think they are especially useful for encouraging creativity, observation, and discussion since every reader may see something different. They also show that communication does not always need words to be meaningful. It reminds me how students sometimes feel pressure with technical work and search write my Java assignment during stressful times, though practicing coding regularly usually builds stronger confidence and understanding.
Fantastic exploration of “wordless books” such a powerful format to engage children’s imaginations. At Inklink Publishing, we understand that visual storytelling takes craft, even without many words. For authors and creators looking for dedicated support, our children’s book writing services offer customized help from ideation and illustration to manuscript development and final formatting. Whether you’re working on a traditional narrative or a wordless concept, we’re here to elevate your vision and reach young readers in meaningful ways.
Love this! I'm also a French teacher and will be finished with my master's degree in Literacy this fall. So much powerful overlap! Thanks for sharing:)