Reading is more than just the words on the page.

I have planned a long blog about reading.  How it is more than just decoding the words and when using a picture book the pictures are not there to help the children decode the words but to add to the narrative and enhance the story tenfold.  However, I am now on holiday, we have a new website to launch, a publisher deadline looming for the new book and two children to keep entertained.  If you would like to read a great blog about reading and picture books then I recommend this blog by @sputniksteve.

This blog is going to be about a little boy called Monty. (here he is below)  
Monty is going to be two years old in July and already he likes sharing books with his Mummy, brother and me - his Daddy. 
Today we visited Bamburgh Castle and he chose, alongside a sponge sword, this beautiful book by Petr Horacek.  This is what happened when we got back to the cottage and read it. 

'Puffin Peter' is a story about two puffins; one called Peter and one called Paul. One day whilst out diving there was a 'big, big storm.  Peter was lost.' 

At this point, Monty put his finger on the image of the puffin farthest right and said, "Ohhh!" with a very sad face.  For those of you who do not speak toddler 'Ohhh!' means something very bad has happened - like the dog stealing his biscuits, being sick on himself or weeing on the living room floor.  All of these events get an 'Ohhh!' 

Why am I telling you this?  Well, I am unsure how much of the text Monty understands.  I know he can't read the words and I do not think he understands all the vocabulary when I read it to him but something here told him that something bad has happened. Something worthy of an 'Ohhh!'

We turned over to be greeted by this page.  Now I am pretty sure that Monty doesn't understand the term 'Pathetic fallacy' yet but he certainly understood things were not looking very good for Peter at this point in the story. Another big, "Ohhhh!" and THE sad face! 

"Yay!"  Monty shouted as he saw this image?  I asked him what and he laughed and said, "That.." whilst pointing at the whale.  

"Yes, the whale has rescued Peter!" I said.

The story continues and Peter, with the help of the whale, goes off in search of his friend Paul. 

For me the pictures in this story only enhance the tale.  They will never replace decoding when it comes to reading the words however for us today the images added something to the story.  They added drama and emotive responses.  In a world of English lessons which can be dull who wouldn't want some drama and emotions added?

​As always comments are welcomed! 

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Click the image below to purchase Puffin Peter