ABSTRACT
Photo books are based on a language experience approach which takes the child’s own language and experience as a starting point. The books are based on the child’s personal experiences, where the child and people around him or her are the main characters in the book. Children can be exposed to reading simple words from a very young age, linked to photos or pictures related to events that are meaningful to them. Listening and speaking (or signing), reading and writing are all combined to make a multi-sensory approach. If children are not yet cognitively able to match pictures to objects or pictures to pictures, they will need some early pre-reading practice before they can be expected to match the printed word. Drawing pictures and writing at the same time will help them to make the connection that print carries meaning.
