How to Use Wordless Picture Books: A Step-by-Step Guide

A wordless picture book tells its story only through pictures, so the words come from the people sharing it. That makes it one of the easiest ways to get a child talking, whatever their reading level or home language. This guide uses the free Lost Ball story as an example, but the steps work with any StoryTalkKit pack and with wordless books from the library.

What you need

• The printed wordless version of the story. Lost Ball is free: sign in and download it here.
• The short-text version, which comes with every pack. Keep it aside for later.
• A quiet spot where you can sit side by side and both see the pictures.
• About 10 to 15 minutes. Short and relaxed works better than long and thorough.

1. Look through all the pictures first

Go through the whole story once without stopping to ask questions. Let the child turn the pages or point. This first look gives them the shape of the story: who is in it, where it happens and how it ends. In Lost Ball, that is a child, a park, a ball that rolls away and a happy ending.

2. Go back and talk about each picture

Now return to the first picture and take your time. Use a question ladder, starting with easy questions and moving up only when the child is ready:

• Describe: "What do you see? Where are they?"
• Infer: "How does the child feel now? How can you tell?"
• Predict: "What will happen next?" Ask this before moving on to the next picture.
• Connect: "Have you ever lost something? What did you do?"

Wait after each question. Five seconds can feel long, but it gives the child time to think. Pointing, a gesture or a single word is a full answer.

3. Repeat and add a little

Respond to what the child says by repeating it with one or two more words. If they say "ball", you might say "Yes, the ball rolled under the bench." This shows the next step in language without correcting them. If they are quiet, describe the picture yourself in short, clear sentences and keep the conversation going.

4. Tell the whole story together

Once you have talked about each picture, go through the story again from beginning to end. Use time words: first, then, next, at the end. Take turns: you tell one page, the child tells the next. Later, invite the child to "read" the whole story to you or to a toy.

5. Compare with the short-text version

Now bring out the short-text version. Read it together and compare: "In our story, the child was sad. What does this one say?" Children are often proud that their own telling is longer or different. There is no right version; the short text is just one possible way to tell it.

You can also write down a few of the child's own sentences and read them back together. Seeing their words on paper is a powerful moment for early readers.

6. Turn it into a sequencing activity

Every pack also contains picture cards. Mix them up and put the story back in order, or lay out the first and last cards and ask what happened in between. See the guide to sequencing cards for more ideas.

Adapting for different children

• Pre-readers: keep it playful and short. Naming things and pointing are a great start.
• Children learning English or another language: tell the story in the home language first, then try three or four key words in the new language. Every pack is available in seven languages.
• Speech and language therapy: wordless stories are useful for narrative retell, wh-questions, describing and sentence building. Choose a 4-scene story first and move to 6 or 8 scenes as the child grows in confidence.
• Groups and classes: work with four or five children so everyone gets a turn. Each child can tell one picture.

Common questions

What if the child tells a completely different story? That is fine. Ask what in the picture made them think so. Many tellings fit the same pictures.

How often should we use the same story? Repeating a familiar story is helpful. Each time, children tend to add more detail.

Do I need to ask all four kinds of question? No. Choose the ones that fit the child today. Describing alone is a good session.

These materials support shared conversation. They do not replace an individual plan from a qualified professional.

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