Ninth International Conference on The Image

Abstract

The wordless picturebook is a unique genre of literature – one that is exclusively visual without need for accompanying text. Empirical studies have consistently demonstrated the benefits of wordless books in children’s emergent literacy development, including their ability to promote advancements in narrative comprehension, theory of mind, metacognition, and visual awareness. Regrettably, there is a lack of research on the potential advantages of educational resources where wordless literature serves as the central focus for instruction. Acknowledgement of this gap served as the catalyst behind the “Wordless Books and Emergent Narrative Development: A Handbook for Educators.” This presentation will provide an overview of author’s handbook which is based on a review and synthesis of existing literature in the field, as well as feedback acquired through practising teachers. The presentation will also outline the next proposed stages of research for the handbook, including its upcoming implementation into the classroom to investigate its instructional potential and overall practicality for use by primary educators.