What are picture books, and why are they useful? | Series 1, Episode 32

Episode 32 transcript

What are picture books, and why are they useful?

For many of us, the earliest books we remember from childhood are picture books with big illustrations and simple stories. These books use images and often only a few words to tell a story, capturing children’s interest and opening the door to reading and learning. In a picture book, the illustrations are as important as the text, and sometimes there is no text at all. Young children learn to follow the pictures long before they can read the words. This visual form of storytelling engages children and draws them into the narrative.

What is a Picture Book?

A picture book is generally a short book where illustrations carry much of the storytelling. The text, if included, is usually minimal and works together with the images to present the story. For example, a picture book might have a sentence or two on each page alongside a full-page illustration. In some cases, picture books have no text – these wordless picture books convey the entire plot through artwork. Whether it’s a simple board book for toddlers or a graphic novel for teens, the defining feature of a picture book is that the visuals are central to understanding the story.

Children’s picture books come in many forms. For toddlers and preschoolers, they often feature straightforward narratives and sometimes interactive elements (like lift-the-flap pages). For older children, picture books can tackle more complex themes or even take the form of comics and graphic novels. No matter the format, the combination of imagery and text in a picture book creates a multi-sensory reading experience that can engage readers of all ages.

Picture Books vs. Illustrated Books

It’s important to distinguish picture books from other illustrated books. In a true picture book, the story relies on the illustrations as much as (or more than) the words. If you removed the pictures, much of the story’s meaning would be lost. But in an illustrated book (such as a chapter book with a few drawings), images are only there to support the text, and the text alone could still tell the story. In a picture book, the images and words work together as a unified whole. Each illustration adds details and context that the words might not fully explain on their own. This close interplay between visual and written storytelling sets picture books apart as a distinct form of literature.

Why Are Picture Books Useful?

Picture books are not only entertaining – they also serve many educational and developmental purposes for children. Here are some key benefits of picture books for young readers:

• Early Language and Literacy Development: Picture books often form a child’s first exposure to reading. Sharing picture books with infants and toddlers helps them start recognising sounds, words, and images. By listening to the text and looking at the illustrations, children begin to link spoken words with objects and actions, building their vocabulary and comprehension. Many picture books use rhythmic or repetitive language, which helps young kids develop an ear for patterns in language. Adults reading aloud will often point to the pictures and name things, reinforcing language development. Reading picture books together has been shown to boost early vocabulary growth and storytelling skills, laying the foundation for learning to read independently.
• Story Comprehension and Critical Thinking: Picture books help children understand how stories work. The sequence of images in a picture book guides kids through a clear beginning, middle, and end. Young readers learn to follow the plot by observing what happens in each picture and listening to the accompanying words. The illustrations act as a visual guide, reminding children of the events and characters, which makes it easier for them to retell the story in order. Picture books also encourage kids to think about what’s happening beyond the words on the page. Children often examine the images for clues and context. They might predict what will happen next based on a character’s expression or a detail in the scene. For example, seeing dark clouds in an illustration might prompt a child to guess that it’s going to rain in the story. This habit of making predictions and inferences (figuring out things that aren’t directly stated) is an important part of comprehension. By combining text and pictures, picture books invite young readers to solve little puzzles – like figuring out why a character is sad or how a problem might be solved – which builds their reasoning skills.
• Social and Emotional Growth: Many picture books explore emotions, relationships, and moral lessons in a simple way that children can understand. Through characters and illustrations, kids see examples of feelings like happiness, anger, fear, and empathy. Talking about a picture book’s story can help children learn to identify their own feelings and understand others’ feelings. For instance, if an illustration shows a character who looks upset, an adult might ask, “What do you think is making them sad?” These discussions help kids develop empathy and emotional awareness. Picture books often show how characters deal with problems or how they treat each other, which leads to conversations about fairness, kindness, and making good choices. By seeing situations and reactions in pictures, such as friends sharing or someone being left out, children can safely explore these topics and learn social skills. They also learn to recognise facial expressions and body language from the drawings, which helps in real-life social interactions. In short, picture books provide a gentle way for children to gain insight into feelings and relationships.
• Imagination and Creativity: Picture books fuel children’s imagination. The visuals in these books inspire kids to think creatively and explore new ideas. A child might pretend to be a character from a favourite picture book or draw a picture inspired by the story. Wordless picture books especially encourage creativity because each reader can tell the story in their own words. With no set text, children have the freedom to interpret the images however they want. It’s common for two kids to come up with completely different stories while “reading” the same wordless book. This kind of open-ended storytelling nurtures creativity and confidence. Picture books can also spark creative projects. After reading a story, children might create their own little books, act out the plot with toys, or come up with an alternate ending. Because picture books often feature inventive art styles and fantastical scenarios, they help children think outside the box. Engaging with these stories can inspire kids to use their own imagination in play and in learning.
• Engaging Reluctant Readers and English Learners: Picture books appeal to children who are hesitant to read or who struggle with reading. The illustrations make the experience less intimidating by providing context and clues to the story. Even if a child finds some words difficult, they can still follow the plot through the pictures. For a reluctant reader, finishing a short, illustrated story feels more achievable and rewarding than tackling a long block of text. This builds confidence and can motivate them to read more. Picture books are also very useful for children learning English as an additional language. The pictures help explain what’s happening when the words are new or unfamiliar. Kids can enjoy the story and pick up new words without feeling overwhelmed. Wordless picture books are especially adaptable – a child can narrate the story in their own language or practice English by describing the pictures, all without the barrier of difficult text. Older students who aren’t ready for full-length novels can still engage with sophisticated themes through age-appropriate picture books and graphic novels. Overall, picture books make reading accessible and enjoyable for all kinds of learners, regardless of their reading level.
• Interactive Reading and Bonding: Reading a picture book is often an interactive, shared experience. When parents and children read picture books together, they talk about the story as it unfolds. A child might point at a picture and ask a question, or predict what will happen next. The parent can guide the child by asking, “What do you see happening here?” or “How do you think this story will end?” This kind of back-and-forth conversation makes storytime engaging and helps the child understand the story better. It also strengthens the bond between adult and child. Snuggling up with a book and discussing the pictures creates a warm, supportive environment for learning. In the classroom, teachers use picture books to spark discussion and active participation. For example, a teacher might show a page to the class and ask students what they notice or what they think a character might be feeling. Picture books can lead to wider learning activities too – a story about insects might prompt a science project, or a story about a faraway place might inspire a geography lesson. Because they are short and visual, picture books can hold children’s attention and invite them to share their ideas. In these ways, picture books turn reading into a social activity that encourages curiosity and communication.

Picture books play an important role in children’s literacy and education. They bridge the gap between looking at pictures and reading text, helping kids move from interpreting images to understanding written words. By engaging young readers on multiple levels – visual, auditory, emotional, and intellectual – picture books help build reading skills and a lifelong love of stories. Whether enjoyed at bedtime or used in a classroom lesson, picture books combine fun with learning in a format children enjoy and relate to.

Further Reading

• Strouse, G.A., Nyhout, A., & Ganea, P.A. (2018). The Role of Book Features in Young Children’s Transfer of Information from Picture Books to Real-World Contexts. Frontiers in Psychology, 9:50.
• EBSCOpost (2017). Seeing Is Believing: The Benefits of Picture Books for Building Reading Skills. EBSCOpost blog.
• Knight, R. (2017). The Power of Picture Books in the Primary Classroom. University of Nottingham Primary Education Network.
• Goriot, C., Jongstra, W., & Mensink, L. (2024). A Literature Review on the Benefits of Wordless Picture Books for Children’s Development. L1 Educational Studies in Language and Literature, 24(1), 1–26.
• Browse our list of classic picture books for children.