Reluctant Readers
Introduction
Some young children love to curl up and listen to a story, but plenty of others would rather wiggle, wander, or go build a tower somewhere else. If that sounds familiar, you’re in good company. Some kids just aren’t ready to sit still and listen yet, and that’s completely normal. They’re busy, curious, hands‑on little humans who learn best by doing. Not everyone grew up loving books, and if reading aloud feels awkward or stressful for you, you’re not alone there either. The good news is that enjoying books together doesn’t have to look like a picture‑perfect storytime. And it definitely doesn’t have to involve long stretches of sitting still.
This is where wordless picture books can work a little magic. Because there are no written words, there’s no pressure to “read it right.” You and your child get to explore the pictures together, notice little details, make guesses, and build the story in your own way. It becomes a back‑and‑forth conversation instead of a battle. And, research shows that kids actually use more language when sharing a wordless book than when listening to a book with text. When children get to lead the storytelling, they naturally talk more, think more, and engage more. You get to decide how long or short the story gets to be.
Gather Materials
Head to your local library and take a peek at a few of our favorite wordless books.
- Journey by Aaron Becker
- Stormy by Goujing
- Flashlight by Lizi Boyd
- Wallpaper by Thao Lam
- Mirror by Suzy Lee
- Mayhem at the Museum by Luciano Lozano
- Night Out by Daniel Miyares
- Another by Christian Robinson
- Chalk by Bill Thomson
- Grasshopper by Tatiana Ukhova
- Tuesday by David Wiesner
- The Light Side by Dan Misdea
Note: Small parts pose a choking hazard and are not appropriate for children age five or under. Be sure to choose lesson materials that you feel are safe for your child and that you are comfortable letting your child use.
Activity
Trying this at home or in a car waiting for a parent or sibling, should feel easy and fun. Grab a wordless book. Sit together for a moment (even a short moment counts) and open to a page that catches your child’s eye. Instead of “Let’s read,” try something low‑key like, “What do you think is happening here?” Let your child flip pages, skip around, or even stand up and act out what they see. If they only offer one word, you can build on it. If they wander away after a page or two, that’s still a win. You’ve created a positive moment with a book, and that’s what matters.
The goal isn’t to finish the story, it’s to make books feel fun, flexible, and pressure‑free. When kids feel successful and in control, they’re much more willing to come back for more. Over time, these small, playful moments help build vocabulary, attention, and an understanding of how stories work. Most importantly, they help reluctant listeners (and sometimes reluctant grown‑ups) discover that books can be a shared adventure rather than a chore.