麻豆传媒入口

Have you ever played ? How about charades? The general premise of these games is that you have to convey information nonverbally to your partner(s) so they can say a specific phrase or the name of something. While many people enjoy improvisational games such as these, if you were suddenly forced to communicate all of your needs and wants this way, all day, every day, it would be limiting and frankly exhausting.

The games above suggest two strategies for compensating for a language barrier: drawing and gesturing. For most adults, a sudden language barrier would be inconvenient but manageable; for a young child entering a new classroom where they don鈥檛 know the primary classroom language, a language barrier can make the school day experience seem overwhelming, frustrating, and interminable. 

Fortunately, there are picture books available that feature the theme of language barriers. Perhaps more important, they also suggest nonverbal language 鈥渂ridging鈥� activities for young children to consider. Activities such as drawing, dancing, cooking, and building a snowman are some of the collaborative activities featured in the 12 books below. 

Reading the picture books below allows young children, regardless of their primary language, to see, listen, and consider the activities in each book and formulate their own nonverbal communication strategies to add to their ever-growing relationship-building tool kit to benefit each child in a classroom.

12 picture books featuring activities that serve as language bridges

, by Kat Zhang, illustrated by Charlene Chua. Lin is a new student in Amy Wu鈥檚 class who doesn鈥檛 speak English. Amy uses her powers of observation and creativity to formulate assorted school and home plans to make Lin feel included and welcome. Author Kat Zhang in this video. Corresponding teacher resources are available on the publisher鈥檚 website and featured at the end of the book. (Preschool鈥揼rade 3)

, by Minh L锚, illustrated by Dan Santat. A grandchild and grandfather speak different languages but soon discover that they have a special way of communicating through their mutual love of drawing. A corresponding is available on the Reading Is Fundamental website. Author Minh L锚 in this video, and illustrator Dan Santat shares his . (Preschool鈥搆indergarten)

, by Young Vo. Dat is a young boy who has recently undertaken a big voyage to move away from one home and arrive at another, where everything is different. He finds it especially challenging to navigate his way through a school day attempting to understand a language that sounds to him like 鈥済ibberish.鈥� Author-illustrator Young Vo in this video. (Preschool鈥揼rade 3)

, by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Hyewon Yum. While their parents attend an English class, a group of young children gather to play in a playroom next door. A young girl named Luli addresses the problem of uniting this group of children who each speak a different language by hosting a celebratory tea party in the playroom. A corresponding educator鈥檚 guide is available on the publisher鈥檚 website. (Preschool鈥揼rade 2)

, by M贸nica Mancillas, illustrated by Erika Meza. Mariana and her mother drive to Abuelita鈥檚 for a family reunion. Mariana is anxious because she doesn鈥檛 speak Spanish and she doesn鈥檛 know these family members. Abuelita and Mariana ultimately lovingly communicate via looking at picture books, cooking, and sharing hugs. There are corresponding on M贸nica Mancillas鈥檚 website, and in this video. (Preschool鈥揼rade 3)

, by Marie-Louise Gay. Mustafa has recently moved from far away to a place where he now searches for what is familiar. While playing in the park, he meets a girl named Maria. Although their languages are different, they manage to communicate through the outdoor activities that they can do together in the park. A corresponding teacher鈥檚 guide is available on the publisher鈥檚 website. Author-illustrator Marie-Louise Gay . (Kindergarten鈥揼rade 3)

, by Debora Pearson, illustrated by Shrija Jain. A young girl reflects on the comforts of her familiar old home and the challenges of her new home. Will she ultimately find something that feels familiar in this new place? Yes! Ultimately it鈥檚 making a friend that helps the little girl feel at home. (Preschool鈥揼rade 3)                      

, by Deborah Kerbel, illustrated by Isaac Liang. This wordless picture book features two young children who become new neighbors. One child speaks only Arabic and the other child communicates using American Sign Language. They use gestures, drawing, and sharing food to communicate and ultimately initiate a friendship. (Preschool鈥揼rade 2)

, by Dinalie Dabarera. A little girl and her grandfather may speak different languages, but they communicate perfectly through activities such as playing dress-up, cooking, and going on nature walks. (Preschool鈥揼rade 1)

, by Jessica Betancourt-Perez and Karen Lynn Williams, illustrated by Gina Maldonado. A little girl in the United States looks out her window on a winter day and sadly thinks about her father and friends in Colombia. She will be starting school in January, but what she anticipates will be her first day of school in America winds up being her first snow day. She is initially disappointed but then plays in the snow with a neighbor, who coincidentally is also a future classmate. A corresponding is available on coauthor Karen Lynn Williams鈥檚 website. (Kindergarten鈥揼rade 3)

, by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez. This book features two groups of children with two languages to navigate on one playground. All of the children soon discover that their similarities transcend their differences as they identify and learn games, songs, and dances that unite them in play. (Kindergarten鈥揼rade 3)

, by Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Naoko Stoop. Two little girls meet on a snowy day to exchange banter in English and Japanese, and together they build one monstrous snow creature. (Preschool鈥揼rade 3)