Our Montessori Bookshelf: Wordless Picture Books Part 2
Because we love wordless picture books so much, we wanted to share a few more of our favorites. If you are exploring wordless picture books for the first time, or have been enjoying them for quite a while, we hope you enjoy this collection.
If you are looking for some new ways to “read” wordless picture books, we offer these tips:
When you first look at the book, think about the experience as a picture walk. Notice and discuss the illustrations and details, especially how they tell a story of what is happening.
The next time you explore the same book, take time to name what is happening on each page. This is a little bit like constructing the outline of the story.
The third time you “read” the book, narrate the story as if you were reading text.
After these experiences, invite your child to use their own words to tell the story of what they see.
These steps strengthen children’s ability to be storytellers. As they “read” wordless picture books, they build the skills for their own future story writing.
Just a quick reminder that the books we are sharing are grounded in the real world. There are some wonderful fantasy-based wordless picture books for older children, too. Our two-part collection is appropriate for any age!
By Chris Raschka
This award-winning book shows a bit of life from a dog’s perspective. The story begins with Daisy, the dog, and her big red, beloved ball. When Daisy goes on a walk and another dog plays with (and bursts) the ball, Daisy tries to still use it but to no avail. The kindness of children shines through and Daisy gets a new ball (as well as a new friend).
By Daniel Miyares
A simple origami boat leads a young boy on a neighborhood adventure. The story begins with a bit of rain and puddles of fun. But what happens when the boat drifts away and through the grate? The arc of the story, as well as the use of color in this book, bring a resounding sense of a young child’s struggle, the support that allows for resilience, and the joy of possibility.
By Jeff Newman and Larry Day
This lovely story of loss and connection begins with a girl gazing sadly out her window and a little dog in the rain. The simple line drawings, with just the right splash of color, give us clues about the girl’s own lost dog as she brings this new pup into her care. We witness the two bonding only to discover that this dog is someone else’s lost pet. The story unfolds with the girl’s internal struggle (brilliantly illustrated), her decision to return the dog to its owner, and her discovery of another dog wanting to be found.
By Jerry Pinkney
Based on Aesop’s fable of the same name, this richly illustrated book uses every space on the page to show the expansiveness of the African Serengeti and the power of relationship. The story begins when a mouse escapes an owl, only to find itself on the back of a lion. Given the gift of freedom, the mouse returns the favor when the lion gets caught in a trap. The illustrations are enhanced by the sounds in written form. The squeaks, growls, roars, and scratches remind us of the power of communication in all its forms!
By Jeannie Baker
Inspired by her travels and the idea of seeing ourselves reflected in those who could be considered strangers, Baker has created two stories within one book: one set in southern Morocco and the other in her home of Sydney, Australia. Each story follows a family throughout their day, from waking up to meals to errands to time as a family. The lives of the boys in each story may look very different, yet Baker offers a delightful challenge to find what connects them.
By Daniel Miyares
When a new boy moves in next door, a young girl’s curiosity gets the best of her especially after he uses planks from the fence to create a ladder up a tree. When she goes to investigate, she discovers not only a new friend but also the power of collaboration. As they create a treehouse together, even the leaves of the tree come to life with color and joy.
Click here for a downloadable PDF of this booklist! We hope you and your children enjoy these books as much as we do!
Holding
Holding, with skin-to-skin physical contact between the mother and newborn, is ideal immediately after birth. Being held during the weeks after birth continues to be important for the child’s feeling of acceptance and assurance.
The infant should feel physically secure when held. Ultimately, though, emotional communication when being held is most important for the infant. They need to feel love and acceptance transmitted through touch, which thus provides a sense of trust.
Handling
In addition, the infant needs their mother and caregivers to handle them lovingly while dressing, changing, bathing, and otherwise caring for them. During these times of “handling” when a caregiver uses their hands to care for an infant, it is important for the caregiver to make a meaningful connection. By collaborating and communicating with the infant, caregivers establish yet another form of trust and ultimately social security.
In providing these caregiving routines, it is critical to establish a predictable pattern while also respecting the infant’s biological rhythms. The newborn is trying to adjust to day and night while also establishing a sleeping schedule that meets their needs. Having an order to the daily activities is essential for providing a frame of reference. For example, it is best to have one parent give the baby a bath at the same time each day, such as before bedtime. This process of establishing meeting points provides a sense of predictability and thus security for the child. These daily activities should also include time for the child to move on their own and experience appropriate sensory richness in the environment.
Feeding
Through feeding, the mother and infant develop a powerful sense of togetherness and direct union, thus establishing physical and psychological unity. With this in mind, how breastfeeding happens is significant. Even though a baby needs support in coming to the breast, they should be allowed the freedom to choose when to suckle. This establishes a fundamental basis for their relationship with food. Food can always be offered with love and placed before someone, yet not inside, a person. This establishes healthy boundaries.
Eventually, the mother and infant will be in communication about feeding so that the mother will recognize the child’s signs of hunger and the child will feel secure in their ability to have their needs met. This relationship around feeding forms the basis for the child’s understanding not only of how food is nourishment but also how to relate to others. It also helps when the mother can give her total attention to her nursing infant.
Key Experiences
Through these key experiences of holding, handling, and feeding, the infant forms a fundamental understanding of their environment. With positive experiences during the symbiotic period, the child develops a trust that their needs will be met. They experience how their environment is a place in which they feel safe. This eventually leads to being able to confront new situations with assurance.
The symbiotic period is an important foundational time for the mother and child. The collaborative experience provides mother and child with the physical, psychological, and emotional basis for the next stages. After the six to eight weeks of the symbiotic period, the newborn should have a basic understanding that the external world will be responsive to their needs. The mother will feel secure in this new relationship with her child. Mutual needs and close connections lay the foundation for all the wonderful development to come!
Curious to learn more? Be sure to check out Understanding the Human Being: The Importance of the First Three Years of Life by Silvana Quatrocchi Montanaro. Another informative resource is Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin by Ashley Montagu.