How to Read a Wordless Picture Book

Wordless, adjective: without using words. without speaking.

Working in the children’s picture book industry, we often hear, “oh, wordless? I don’t get wordless picture books because I don’t know how to read them to my child. I don’t know what to say.”

“It’s wordless,” we reply. “You don’t have to say anything.”

A wordless picture book is an opportunity to engage your child in a story without having to read the given text. You can describe each page as you see it or you can have the child explain what they see. You can make up a story based on the illustrations or have the child make up a story. Even better, do it together! But most importantly, you can sit and share a book.

Reading with your child is a time to share a moment with them. Both of you are going to learn from the book and from each other. With a wordless book, you can have a different experience every time you turn the page. Read the book in silence and each will see something different.

We are proud that Ripple Grove Press is releasing its first wordless picture book in spring of 2017: Graduation Day by Piotr Parda.

While there are many discussions and articles out there about wordless picture books, Piotr Parda and RGP thought it would be best to present the idea in another way: wordless!