Telning Publishing House · For teachers
Wordless picture books for the classroom
Every child can join in, whatever language they speak at home.
Telning books have no words, so the whole class can tell the story together. One picture per page, one change per page, and a fork with two endings to talk about. This page shows how teachers use them with a whole class, a small group, or one child.
Why do wordless books work in class?
Speech therapists often use wordless books to get children telling stories. The same clear sequence works for a class.
Every child can join
No reading level, no language barrier. A child who speaks Arabic at home and a child who speaks Swedish tell the same page.
The children do the talking
With wordless books, adults ask more open questions and children say more. The book is the stage; the talk is the play.
One picture, one change
Simple pages keep attention on the story. Children with less language can still follow and take part.
A fork to argue about
Two endings side by side. Half the class picks one, half the other. Then: why?
TADA for the classroom
The same four steps as at home: Talk, Ask, Decide, Act. Three ways to run them.
Whole class
15–20 minutes
Show one page at a time on the screen or hold the book up. Ask one question per page and take three answers. At the fork, vote with hands, then ask two children why.
Small group
15 minutes
Four to six children, one book. Each child tells one page in turn. The group chooses the ending together and has to agree on a reason.
One-to-one
10 minutes
The child holds the book and tells the whole story. You ask, wait, and add one word. Good for a child who is new to the language of the classroom.
Topics you can teach with the books
Feelings and life skills, in the words children use. In teacher language: SEL.
Feelings
Naming a feeling, seeing it in a face and a body, noticing it change.
Friends
Sharing, taking turns, joining a game, saying sorry.
Choices
Seeing two ways, thinking about what happens next, picking one and saying why.
Everyday life
A new place, a first day, a visit to the doctor, bedtime.
The teacher pack is coming
Discussion questions for every book, a fork page for the whole class, and a short TADA plan. Leave your email and we send it when it is ready.
Thank you! We will write when the pack is ready.
Want the science?
The TADA page has the research in plain words, with sources.