WORDLESS PICTURE BOOKS Their use goes back to primitive cave drawings and later medieval tapestries and stained glass windows.

IMPORTANCE / USE Help children understand sequential nature of plot Accustom children to left-to-right reading Encourage invention of detail/embellishment Provide valuable insights into children’s language abilities

Monitor children’s comprehension through oral responses Encourage children to find books a source of pleasure Teach/reinforce relationship between print and sound

CHARACTERSTICS Usually all pictures, but may include a handful of words Animals predominate; given human characteristics Fantasy; doing unusual things

Tell sequential story, series of related information ex: Life cycle of butterfly Usually printed on cloth, board, or glossy paper with a durable binding

REASONS FOR POPULARITY Children more visually oriented than ever More accessible than other types of books – don’t need to be a good reader or a reader at all to derive pleasure Plot and action-oriented, which appeals to children Allow broader interpretation of author’s intent/message than books with words

HOW TO EVALUATE How has illustrator used the elements of art (line, color, proportion, detail, space, shape, etc.) Story quality: –Is there a discernible story line and a logical and/or exciting plot? –Is there an intriguing setting?

–Do the characters engage and hold reader’s interest and attention? –Is there a theme? –Could a child easily piece together elements in each picture in a logical sequence? –Is it really a children’s book or a book more for adult readers in children’s format? Ex: Would a child appreciate the humor, theme, nuances, puns, etc.?

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