Reception Reading Books.

This week your child will be given their first Reading Journal and reading book which will be a wordless book. A wordless book is a book that tells a story purely through the illustrations. Wordless picture books are valuable tools for literacy development as they engage children, regardless of reading level, in prediction, critical thinking, meaning making and storytelling. By guiding your child’s interaction with a wordless book you can also develop a richer vocabulary and greater understanding of story structure.

How to read a wordless picture book with your child:
At first it might feel a little strange to sit down to “read” a wordless book with your child but here are some tips to get you started:

1. Begin by looking at the cover. What can you see? What clues to the story does the cover illustration show?
2. Read the title. Does the title give you any ideas for what the story might be about? Make predictions about the story based on the cover and title.
3. “Read” the story. You might go first, inviting your child to add to your story as they see fit. Add sound effects and interesting voices.
4. Encourage your child to take a turn telling their own version of the story.
5. Ask questions about the book — which is your favourite illustration? Do you have a favourite part of the story or a favourite character? Can you tell about a time you have felt like the main character or found yourself in a similar
   situation?

Please ensure that you bring the Reading Journal and reading book to school each day so that we can hear your child read throughout the week. We will then change their reading books accordingly. Continuing on from the wordless books, your child will then progress through the different book bands in line with their developing phonic knowledge. We ask that you try to hear your child read every night and please always record this in their Reading Journal.