written by Patsy Layne
teacher's notes by Veronica Barber
illustrated by Donald L. Buchholz

Reading Without Print

Children can benefit from wordless picture books in many ways.

1. They learn to handle books from left to right and page to page.
2. They develop their creativity by interpreting the pictures.
3. They acquire self-confidence by being able to read independently.
4. They express themselves orally in their native language.

How To

It is best to work one-to-one or with a very small group. Look at each picture and let the children tell you about it. In the beginning you may need to ask questions like:

p. 3 O fea le tama? O le ä lana mea o fai?
       O le ä le mea o i totonu o le vai?
p. 4 O fea o iai nei o ia? Aiseä?

As the children talk, they tell the story. Encourage them to use their imaginations. When you reach page 13 ask:

O le ä le mea o mafaufau iai o ia?
O le ä se isi mea o le'äia toe faia?

Give them a piece of paper and let them finish the story by drawing a picture.

Variations

---Allow one child to read the book to another.

---Tape a child or small group of children as they tell the
       story. Let them listen and turn the pages.

---As children tell the story, write down their sentences on a
       piece of paper. Then let them read their own story.

---If you have access to a typewriter and can type, children
       will love to see their stories typed.

---Older children can write their own stories. Don't worry
       about spelling and penmanship! Encourage them to add
       extra information to the story.

Other Wordless Books

You can find other wordless books in your local or school library. Here are some which children enjoy:

Aliki. Go Tell Aunt Rhody. Macmillan, 1974.
Alexander, Martha. Bobo's Dream. Dial, 1970.
Alexander, Martha. Out! Out! Out! Dial, 1968.
Ardizzone, Edward. The Wrong Side of the Bed. Doubleday, 1970.
Carle, Eric. Do You Want to Be My Friend? Crowell, 1971.
Hoban, Tana. Look Again! Macmillan, 1972.
Hutchins, Pat. Changes, Changes. Macmillan, 1970.
Mayer, Mercer. Bubble, Bubble. Parents', 1973.
Mayer, Mercer. A Boy, a Dog and a Frog. Dial, 1967.
Mayer, Mercer. Frog, Where are You? Dial, 1969.
Mayer; Mercer. The Great Cat Chase. Four Winds Press, 1975.

Students add their own ending to the story.

Using English Books
There are many children's books in English which may be used bilingually. Select books in which the pictures carry the story. Follow the same procedures of talking about the book in Samoan. This will not be a translation of the English text but the child's interpretation of the pictures. If you write the sentences, remember to write what the child says. Don't try to elicit the English story. Students may ask for the English names of things in the story; if so, you may point out these words in the text.

REMEMBER, we want children to like reading so don't push them to say the English words out loud. Allow them to become comfortable with English books and soon they will be reading them silently on their own.

Making Their Own Books
After using Look Again! your students may enjoy making their own books with magazine pictures. Provide them with scissors, glue, and fasteners. Alternate pages will be plain with cut out windows. They may need to change the size, shape, and location of the window in order to fit their pictures. These books will be excellent conversation pices to stimulate conversation with their English speaking classmates.