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INSPIRED by Reggio Emilia: Extraordinary Wordless Books

Name: INSPIRED by Reggio Emilia: Extraordinary Wordless Books
Rating: 4.7 (11 reviews)

Literacy Foundations for Young Children

Created byMary Ann Biermeier, M.Ed.

Last updated 9/2026

English

What you'll learn

Discover the artistry and learn from the authors of wordless picture books.
Powerful small group readings: Tips for engaging children in creating their own stories.
Take away multiple project ideas to extend the learning in your classroom.
Helpful discussion prompts which make connection to the ELA standards.
Ways to create Documentation Panels which make children's learning visible to all.
Tips for creating literacy rich learning environments.
Download examples of lesson planning guides.

Course content

7 sections • 42 lectures • 2h 25m total length

Introduction to Wordless Books4:14
An introduction to Extraordinary Children's Books: Wordless Books - this introduction describes the course organization by author/illustrator. The course outline is provided in your download section.
Download Resources1:43
Download Resources
A review of process to download lecture resources within Udemy.
Please download the Course Overview.
Wordless Books: Creating Literacy Rich Learning Environments3:45
Wordless Books: Creating Literacy Rich Learning Environments
Illustrators of wordless picture books go beyond creating lovely pictures. These masterpieces must draw you in, yes with their actual drawn nature; but also with their ability to tell the story with every detail, every expression, every movement and page turn.
A large part of a wordless picture book is expressing things that are difficult to put into words. You know that saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”? There is a reason that saying exists. An artist can put more emotion into a tiny character’s face sometimes than a whole paragraph of text would accomplish to express it.
The illustrated action means something. This is often displaced with multiple drawings on a page - much like a comic strip. Notice the design changes. Think about it. Talk about what action is unfolding.
Wordless picture books have a plot, setting, characters, costumes, emotions, and drama, …every single thing needed for a complete experience – and they express it all with pictures.
These are some of the most stunning works of art possible, containing levels of subtext within every stroke, mark, and dot. Savor the images. Note the details. Think about the color palette, the movement of the story. The experience is always worth it.
Literacy Rich Learning Environments are created with intent. In our classrooms, every space (indoors and outdoors) has books present. From the block center to the art easels, books are connected to the activity. In the Reggio Emilia Approach, we use books to drive the learning. This is especially true as children work on projects together.
Literacy rich learning environments:
Books are present in every space (inside and outside).
Books are read in small groups so children as see the images and engage with the story.
Books are used in project investigations, connecting literacy to creativity.
Please find attached here suggestions on how "read" wordless picture books in your classroom, A Word about Wordless Pictures Books.
A Word About Wordless Books2:22
Wordless Books: Creating Literacy Rich Learning Environments
Illustrators of wordless picture books go beyond creating lovely pictures. These masterpieces must draw you in, yes with their actual drawn nature; but also with their ability to tell the story with every detail, every expression, every movement and page turn.
A large part of a wordless picture book is expressing things that are difficult to put into words. You know that saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”? There is a reason that saying exists. An artist can put more emotion into a tiny character’s face sometimes than a whole paragraph of text would accomplish to express it.
The illustrated action means something. This is often displaced with multiple drawings on a page - much like a comic strip. Notice the design changes. Think about it. Talk about what action is unfolding.
Wordless picture books have a plot, setting, characters, costumes, emotions, and drama, …every single thing needed for a complete experience – and they express it all with pictures.
These are some of the most stunning works of art possible, containing levels of subtext within every stroke, mark, and dot. Savor the images. Note the details. Think about the color palette, the movement of the story. The experience is always worth it.
Literacy Rich Learning Environments are created with intent. In our classrooms, every space (indoors and outdoors) has books present. From the block center to the art easels, books are connected to the activity. In the Reggio Emilia Approach, we use books to drive the learning. This is especially true as children work on projects together.
Literacy rich learning environments:
Books are present in every space (inside and outside).
Books are read in small groups so children as see the images and engage with the story.
Books are used in project investigations, connecting literacy to creativity.
Please find attached here suggestions on how "read" wordless picture books in your classroom, A Word about Wordless Pictures Books.
Please find in your download tab tips on reading wordless pictures books.
Library Books Awards: Finding Extraordinary Books2:24
Library Books Awards: Finding Extraordinary Books
This course is created with intent to celebrate fine works of artistry in children's literature. Here we bring into focus stories that celebrate life and families, grit and determination, chasing our dreams, and laughing out loud.
We want to place books in children's hands which bring joy into their lives. Books for which children return to again, and again.
The American Library Association annually provides awards to authors and illustrators of children's books. The Randolph Caldcott Medal (picture books) and John Newbery Medal (books with words) selects the most distinguished American picture book for children published by an American publisher in the United States in English during the preceding year. These books are labeled with a golden medallion.
Honor books may also be named. These books are also truly distinguished, labeled with a silver medallion.
As educators and parents, these awards help us find extraordinary books for young children. Look for them in your local library or fine book store.
Please find attached here are three listings (2025) for the Caldcott, Newbery, and Honor awards.

Introducing Bill Thomson: The Typewriter5:19
Introducing Bill Thomson: The Typewriter
Bill Thomson is a well known illustrator of children's books. His most notable wordless pictures books are Chalk (2010), Fossil (2013), and The Typewriter (2016 ).
Thomson's artwork has received more than 75 awards in the most prestigious juried illustration competitions country including the NY Society of Illustrators, the Los Angeles Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, Step Inside Design, and Three By Three.
Thomson's children’s books have been recognized as the National Parenting Publications' Gold Award, the American Library Association's Children's Book Notable, the International Reading Association's Teacher's Choices, Booklist's Editor's Choice, and the International Reading Association's Children's Book Award Notable.
In this lecture we take a close look at The Typewriter, modeling questions you might ask children as you read the book together.
Please find attached here Discussion Prompts for The Typewriter. In this publication we connect children's learning to the English Language Arts standards (ELA).
It is my hope that you can use the Discussion Prompts as a model for all the books presented in this course.
Extending the Learning: Making it Real with The Typewriter4:52
Extending the Learning: The Typewriter
When is a wordless picture book no longer wordless? In The Typewriter, characters are typing words that modify the story. As most of our students have never seen a crash print typewriter, we wondered what would happen if we brought real typewriters into the classroom?
In this video we take a look at the excitement of using an old typewriter. The extraordinary way this process made spelling meaningful and purposeful. Children are not only typing their names, but also words from the book!
Also, later in year the children are creating their own story books. One girl wants to type the words for her story book on the classroom computer. This is clearly an extension of the learning inspired by The Typewriter.
Enjoy!
Extending the Learning: Sequence the Story Pictures2:49
Extending the Learning: Sequence the Story Pictures
Create a simply game of sequencing the story using pictures from the book. In this video we show you the game and attached here are directions. The directions also include the 4"x4" images you see in this video.
Recalling a story and sequence of events is foundational to language and literacy development. Story sequence is the order in which events take place in a narrative. In simplest terms, sequencing a story means identifying the main narrative components — the beginning, middle, and end— as a first step towards retelling the events of the story in logical order.
Story sequencing is also a precursor for more sophisticated ways of understanding narrative text structure, such as determining cause and effect, which students will need to access more complex text. Sequencing is also an important component of problem-solving and imagining different outcomes.
The ability to place events or steps in logical order is invaluable across the curriculum, whether it’s identifying the steps for solving a math problem or the series of events that led to a turning point in history.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.3; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3
Download the Picture Sequencing Game1:10
In your download tab, download the Picture Sequencing Game with includes 4"x4" images from the book.

Introducing Aaron Becker: Journey3:53
Introducing Aaron Becker: Journey
In this lecture we introduce Becker's trilogy: Journey (2013), Quest (2014), and Return (2016), and A Stone for Sascha (2018). We spend time reviewing the story presented in Journey (2013).
A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny.
The Magic of Aaron Becker: Quest and Return2:45
The Magic of Aaron Becker: Quest and Return
Becker wows us once again with extraordinary landscapes, dark forces and heroes with his publications Quest (2014) and Return (2016) completing the trilogy.
The Magic of Aaron Becker: A Stone for Sascha4:46
The Magic of Aaron Becker: A Stone for Sascha
Absolutely beautiful images transport us through time as we follow a meteor, transformed through human forging and carving. The stone finds it's way through cultures, conflicts, and worship. At the end of it's long journey, the golden stone finds it's way into the hands of a little girl.
An Interview with Aaron Becker4:55
An Interview with Aaron Becker
Lush illustrations carry us through the grief of one girl as she mourns the loss of her pet dog. Becker reaches across the curriculum as he draws on Geology, History, Social Studies and Family Heritage. The really great books teach across the curriculum.
Extending the Learning: Celebrating Family Heritage4:43
Extending the Learning: Celebrating Family Heritage
In this lecture we provide a brief description of our classroom book, Me and My Family which is created by the families themselves. The template can be found in your download tab.
Also in this lecture we present the PASSPORTS Project which invited families to come into the classroom and share stories about their family heritage. We mapped across the globe. We shared different languages, foods, customs and religious ceremonies.
Enjoy this exceptional classroom endeavor that connected all of us through our family heritage.
Please download the Me and My Family book template, Tips for Extending the Learning, and Complimentary Book List for A Stone for Sascha and the PASSPORTS project.
Family Heritage Download PDFs1:29
Family Heritage Download PDFs
Please download the Me and My Family book template, Tips for Extending the Learning, and Complimentary Book List for A Stone for Sascha and the PASSPORTS project.
Aaron Becker: Your Guide to Reading Wordless Books3:15
Aaron Becker: Your Guide to Reading Wordless Books
Please find in your download tab this guide to reading Journey and Quest.

Introducing Chris Raschka3:12
Introducing Chris Raschka
Raschka is prolific creator of children’s picture books with nearly 100 publications.
His most awarded wordless picture book is A Ball for Daisy which won the Caldcott Medal in 2012. He followed on this award winning publication with Daisy Gets Lost.
An Interview with Chris Raschka1:53
An Interview with Chris Raschka
Raschka shares techniques of color, designs, tools in creating wordless picture books.
A Ball for Daisy3:06
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
Read through with a few questions modeled. Follow along as a small group of students read the book together.
Design and Rhythm of Wordless Pictures Books3:55
Design and Rhythm of Wordless Pictures Books
Chris Raschka discusses the design of wordless books, the way images are displayed and creating actionable scenes. Multiple publications are used as examples.
Extending the Learning with A Ball for Daisy5:50
Extending the Learning with Storytelling
Revisit the storybook, selecting one full page from the book. Ask a small group to join you in discussing what is happening in the story. Write down the children's words and ideas. Create a documentation panel by printing the children's stories and display the book near by.
Biermeier provides instruction on how to interact with children, to allow them more time to think about what the story is all about. A classroom film is provided as an example.
There is nothing more powerful than spending time with a child one-on-one, looking at the pictures and imagining the story. With intent we tell children they are authors, they are illustrators.
One thing is for certain: What we pay attention to, we get more of!
Daisy Gets Lost2:30
Daisy Gets Lost by Chris Rasckha
Read through with a few questions modeled.
Documenting Children's Stories5:14
Documenting Children's Stories - Documentation Panels
The Reggio Emilia approach calls on teachers to act like researchers. Intimately tied to Emergent Curriculum and the Project Approach, it reflects an Action-Research Model. In this, the documentation drives modifications to the curriculum as children reveal new interests, struggles, and developmental milestones.
The pages which follow provide a template for documentation panels and example of a few of the way teachers create these panels for their classrooms and hallways.
Please download Documenting Children's Stories and Documentation Panel Examples

Introducing Barbara Lehman2:02
Introducing Barbara Lehman
Barbara Lehman has illustrated numerous early readers and has created several notable wordless books. She received the Caldcott 2005 honor book award for the Red Book, which she followed on with Red Again. These clever wordless books center on children finding the Red Book which ultimately leads to them finding each other. Lehman connects us to diverse environments and cultures through visually uncluttered illustrations.
The Red Book4:18
The Red Book and Red Again by Barbara Lehman
Questions for children are modeled in this review of The Red Book and Red Again.
A Conversation with Barbara Lehman: Design & Rhythm of Wordless Books5:31
A Conversation with Barbara Lehman: Design & Rhythm of Wordless Books
Lehman is interviewed by fellow authors, describing her creation of the Red Book series.
Rainstorm3:59
Rainstorm by Barbara Lehman
A read through with questions prompts for Rainstorm.
The Secret Box3:58
The Secret Box by Barbara Lehman
Questions for children are modeled in this review of The Secret Box.
Extending the Learning - Maps3:26
Extending the Learning - Maps
Emergent Curriculum in Practice is demonstrated in the way teachers follow the interests of children. Really all of Barbara Lehman's books take us on a journey. Maps are used often in her stories and this is not missed by the children.
The teachers ask parents to bring in maps of places the children have visited, like Disneyland or the Zoo. The also found several board games that feature maps, like Candyland. The teachers have a sense that to map a place, one needs to have a lived experience with that place. What better place to map than the playground!
Please find attached here a brief description of Emergent Curriculum in Practice.
Follow that Map! Books that Drive the Learning4:24
Follow that Map! Books that Drive the Learning
The children continue to build maps that are three dimensional using materials from our recycle center. In the video a young boy shares his map creation based up the book, Follow that Map!
The Project continued as the children created maps to special treasure boxes on the playground. Children follow the map to find the treasure box.
The teachers decided to use the block and wooden animals as a new material. They recreated the map of the Phoenix Zoo.
These are simple projects that build relationships with place and friends. The children now have a shared experience of following the books, playing with materials to create the maps, creating the maps together.

Introducing David Wiesner4:13
Introducing David Wiesner
David Wiesner is a three time Caldcott Medal awards winner (Tuesday in 1992, The Three Pigs in 2002 and Flotsam in 2007,). Wiesner is also three-time Caldcott Honor award winner (Free Fall, Mr. Wuffles, and Sector7).
Weisner’s wordless masterpieces are loved by children and adults alike, these beautiful and whimsical illustrations transport us into imagery places and humorous situations.
What follows is a brief description of the honor books, followed by a deeper look at Flotsam and Tuesday. In addition, we learn a lot about the author in a conversation with David Wiesner.
Tuesday and Flotsam by David Wiesner7:32
Tuesday and Flotsam by David Wiesner.
Questions for children are model in this review of the wordless picture books by David Wiesner. This is followed by an interview with David Wisener on his creation of Tuesday.
Free Fall and Mr. Wuffles by David Wiesner5:17
Free Fall and Mr. Wuffles by David Wiesner
Questions for children are model in this review of the wordless picture books by David Wiesner. This is followed by an interview with David Wiesner on his creation of Mr. Wuffles.

Introductions: The Lion & the Mouse0:34
Jerry Pinkney's The Lion and the Mouse won the Caldcott Honor Medal in 2010.
Jerry Pinkney: The Lion and the Mouse1:52
Jerry Pinkney: The Lion & the Mouse
We follow an interview with Jerry Pinkney and his creative re-thinking of the classic Aesops tale, The Lion and the Mouse. Awarded the Caldcott Medal 2010.
Matthew Cordell: Wolf in the Snow5:54
Matthew Cordell: Wolf in the Snow
We follow an discussion with Matthew Cordell and his creation, Wolf in the Snow. Awarded the Caldcott Medal 2018.
Mark Pett: The Girl and the Bicycle3:18
Mark Pett: The Girl and the Bicycle
We follow a story of grit and determination as a young girl works hard to raise money for a new bike. A Caldcott contender 2015.
Ingrid & Dieter Schubert: The Umbrella2:04
Ingrid & Dieter Schubert: The Umbrella
Follow along as a young pup takes the ride of his life! Another journey across the globe that is sure to bring laughter.
Jeff Newman & Larry Day: Found3:41
Jeff Newman & Larry Day: FOUND
Jeff Newman & Larry Day touch our hearts with their creation, Found. Follow along as a young girl discovers a lost dog. Although she quickly falls in love with the pup, will she is compelled to make the right choices and return the dog to it's family. This is story about:
What we lose.
What we find.
What we give back.
And… how we love.
All Things with Joy!1:27
All Things with Joy!
Loris Malaguzzi, the founder of the schools of Reggio Emilia, always said we must teach with joy, seek joy.

Learn how to turn on NOTIFICATIONS in you ACCOUNT SETTINGS to received coupons for other INSPIRED BY REGGIO EMILIA courses.
References0:32
Book references, Interviews and Music copyrights. Please see attachment.
BONUS Discussion1:41
Catalog of INSPIRED BY REGGIO EMILIA professional development series. DOWNLOAD PDF and coupon.

Requirements

ECE certification or degree in Early Childhood Education
Homeschool educators and Micro schools
Parents of children age 3-8

Description

EXTRAORDINARY WORDLESS BOOKS: Literacy Foundations for Young Children

2.25 PDHs - ECE Educators love the INSPIRE courses!

Discover 30 wordless masterpieces in this online course.

A STORY BOOK without sentences seems to be a strange idea. Yet, wordless picture books are excellent for non-readers, dual language readers, and especially struggling readers. Children do not need to worry about decoding words, phonics, or sentence structure. Children create stories using their own words by "reading" the illustrations.

Wordless picture books can be read by people of all languages. Moreover, they build relationships between children and adults as they develop the story together.

In this way, these artistic masterpieces are a powerful tool in the development of language and literacy.

This course includes a review of 30 award winning wordless publications and offers documentation on extending the learning through classroom projects.

Authors:

Bill Thomson

Aaron Becker

Chris Raschka

Barbara Lehman

David Wiesner

Jerry Pinkney

Matthew Cordell

Mark Pett

Ingrid & Dieter Schubert

Jeff Newman & Larry Day

What Educators are Saying:

These are top-rated courses on Udemy. Read below raving reviews. Purchase with confidence INSPIRED Teachers courses:

Emily – “I love learning about all the different Reggio ideas to implement into my classroom. I can't wait to test out these ideas!”

Alefiyah – “The course is totally about what I believe and strongly feel for about the learning system. its helping me understand myself better. Thank you.”

Victoria – “Very user friendly. Instructor is clear and easy to understand.”

Zeenat – “I really enjoyed this course!”

Tara – “This is exactly what I was looking for to start my own learning of the Reggio Emilia approach. I love the resources that are provided.”

Renee – “I appreciate the passion of the instructor. I was more involved as it wasn't a dry lecture, but a passionate one. It was helpful to have the "wrap up" at the end to bring home the points of the videos. Thank you. I gained more knowledge from this course. I would like to learn more. I do own a digital copy of the 100 Languages of Children, older edition, but it is pretty dry and I am not a textbook learner. I am a visual/doer learner. Reggio learner one might say. :)”

Maria – “I am amazed by this course as of right now. I am feeling emotional and looking to learn all about Reggio Emilia. I am beyond happy to have found this approach. I am getting this course to work as a teacher in a Reggio Inspired school and I can not be more excited!! Thank you! Mary Ann Biermeier, your course has been an eye opening to me.”

Liz – “Its so rich. Concise yet powerful. Passionately presented.”

Welcome to class!

Mary Ann Biermeier, M.Ed.

Who this course is for:

Early Childhood Educators
Higher Education ECE content developers
Teacher Training
Parents of children 3-8 years
Home schools and Micro schools

INSPIRED by Reggio Emilia: Extraordinary Wordless Books

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Extraordinary Wordless Picture Books5 lectures • 14min

Bill Thomson4 lectures • 14min

Aaron Becker7 lectures • 26min

Chris Raschka7 lectures • 26min

Barbara Lehman7 lectures • 28min

David Wiesner3 lectures • 17min

Yet More Notable Wordless Pictures Books9 lectures • 21min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: