Moon Bear by Clare Helen Welsh

Wordless books are an engaging resource for children and families of all ages. Clare Helen Welsh has a wordless book published now and she shares some tips and reasons to why we should be sharing wordless books.

 

WORDLESS WONDERS – Getting the Word Out about Wordless Picture Books

By Clare Helen Welsh

 

In a world dominated by videos, reels and screens of all kinds, wordless picture books can offer a unique, enchanting and very visual reading experience. Wordless books rely almost entirely on the visuals to tell a story and at first glance, this might seem simplistic. But I believe their impact can be profound, stimulating imagination, engagement and skills in ways books with words might not.

Here are three reasons to champion wordless picture books and some magical examples:

Wordless Picture Books are Universal

Wordless picture books speak a universal language, accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds. This universality reminds us that despite our differences, we are united by shared experiences and storytelling.

At the 2024 Bologna Children’s Book Fair, I read Senza Fine by Zongxi Deng, simultaneously with another person at the Silent Stories exhibit. It was powerful and deceptively simple story, about a man who chooses which animal to be reincarnated as when he passes away. We didn’t communicate in words – I don’t think we spoke the same language – but we made eye contact, we smiled and communicated through body language as we turned the pages and connected over our love for this book and its impactful end… and all without saying a word.

WORDLESS BOOK RECOMMENDATION: Senza Fine by Zongxi Deng

What happens when someone dear to us passes away? Maybe not everything disappears, but something, or someone, remains in a different form for them to continue to be close to those they love. This wordless illustrated book, winner of the Silent Book Contest Junior 2023.

Wordless Picture Books Stimulate Creativity and Talk

Without written directions, wordless books allow readers to create their own interpretations and narratives. This open-endedness encourages creativity, as each reader might envision a different story or uncover hidden layers of meaning within the same series of illustrations. Adults can engage children in discussions about the story, asking them to describe what they see and predict what might happen next, thereby enhancing verbal skills and fostering a love for storytelling. And each time the story is shared, it can be different – what a treat

WORDLESS BOOK RECOMMENDATION: The Midnight Fair by Gideon Sterer and Mariachiara Di Giorgio

Far from the city, but not quite in the countryside, lies a fairground. When night falls, and the fair is empty, something unexpected happens. Wild animals emerge from the trees, a brave raccoon pulls a lever, and the rollercoasters and rides explode back into bright, neon life. Now it’s time for the woodland creatures to have some fun…

Wordless Picture Books Encourage Inference and Critical Thinking

The absence of text in wordless books naturally means a greater emphasis is placed on the visuals. Readers are encouraged to scrutinize the illustrations, picking up on subtle details and inferring meaning from expressions, actions, and settings. This enhances observational skills and promotes critical thinking. Young readers, in particular, benefit from this as they learn to ‘read’ images and develop an understanding of storytelling elements such as plot, character, and setting without relying on words. Inference is an important skill in the reading curriculum, but analytical thinking of this kind is not limited to the reading of wordless books. It’s one that can be applied to other areas of readers’ lives – readers of all ages, not just the very young. In fact, wordless picture books often tackle difficult and profound themes.

WORDLESS BOOK RECOMMENDATION: Migrants by Issa Watanabe

The migrants must leave the forest. Borders are crossed, sacrifices made, loved ones are lost. It takes such courage to reach the end. At last, the journey is over and the migrants arrive. This is the new place. Through extraordinarily powerful images, Migrants narrates the journey of a group of animals that leaves behind a leafless forest. With forceful

simplicity, Migrants shows us the courage, loss and underlying hope migration takes. And that arriving in a new land may mean burying a portion of the past.

I hope you agree that reading wordless picture books can be a highly interactive and enriching experience.

Here are some tips for sharing wordless books with children:

· Point Out Details: Ask the reader to describe what they see on each page. Notice the colours, shapes, characters, and setting.

· Explore Emotions: Discuss the emotions depicted in the characters’ faces and body language.

· Create a Narrative: Encourage the reader to create their own story based on the images. Ask open-ended questions like, “What do you think is happening here?” or “What might happen next?”

· Use Descriptive Language: Use rich and varied language to describe the scenes, which helps the child learn new words.

· Different Perspectives: Suggest telling the story from different characters’ viewpoints to expand their imagination.

· Use Expressions and Voices: Use different voices and expressions to make the storytelling livelier and more engaging.

· Create New Endings: Encourage the readers to think of alternative endings or additional adventures for the characters.

· Relate to Personal Experiences: Connect the story to the reader’s own experiences. For example, if the book shows a family having a picnic, talk about a time you shared food outside.

· Cultural Connections: If the book depicts scenes from different cultures, discuss these and how they might be similar or different from your own culture.

· Take Your Time: Allow the reader to take the lead and explore each page at their own pace without rushing.

· Stay Engaged: Show enthusiasm and interest in the story they are creating. Your engagement will encourage them to be more involved and imaginative.

· Read Multiple Times: Revisit the book multiple times. Each reading can reveal new details and allow the reader to deepen their understanding and enjoyment of the story. Notice and talk about any new observations or changes in their storytelling with each reading.

Reading a wordless book can be an alien experience for children and grownups who are more comfortable reading books with words, but in my experience it can be fun, engaging and fruitful.

I know this because I have worked on my own almost-wordless picture book with illustrator Carolina T. Godina and the team at Frances Lincoln children’s books.

WORDLESS BOOK RECOMMENDATION: Moon Bear by Clare Helen Welsh and Carolina T. Godina:

Ettie is afraid of the dark. Every night, her Mummy calls, ‘Time for bed, Ettie!’ The curtains pull shut, her bedside light blinks out and Ettie is surrounded by the deep inky cloak of the dark… But one night, Ettie meets Moon Bear who is afraid of the light, and together, they help each other face their fears.

I’ve so enjoyed sharing the magic of wordless stories with readers and families at school and festivals, with more events in the diary. In particular, I am interested in using Moon Bear to inspire reading confidence, helping children and families to read at their own pace, making them an active participant in the storytelling, knowing there is no right or wrong way to read our book.

In conclusion, wordless picture books are a testament to the idea that a picture is a thousand words. They can gift readers with a richer understanding of storytelling, more imagination, more creativity, a deeper connection and much more – a world of magic waiting to be discovered by readers of all ages.

Clare Helen Welsh is a children’s writer from Devon. She writes fiction and non-fiction picture book texts – sometimes funny, sometimes lyrical and everything in between! Her latest picture book is called ‘Moon Bear,’ illustrated by Carolina T. Godina and published by Frances Lincoln. You can find out more about her at her website www.clarehelenwelsh.com or on Twitter @ClareHelenWelsh . Clare is represented by Alice Williams at Alice Williams Literary and is the founder of #BooksThatHelp.

 

Views expressed are not necessarily those of the Federation.