Stunning Vocabulary in Picture Books is Important

Talk to your children.

Why? Because…

“Gains in oral vocabulary development predict growth in comprehension and later reading performance” (Elleman, Lindo, & Compton, 2009; cited by Neuman & Taylor, 2013).

And…

Vocabulary, in particular, is very highly correlated with reading comprehension in the upper elementary years (Duke & Carlisle, 2011; Baumann, 2009; Wagner, Muse & Tannenbaum, 2007).

Read to your children.

Why? Because…

Effective teachers of reading know that encouraging their students to read trade books, both in and out of school, is the best way to bolster their students’ vocabulary. As books are rich in academic words, the extended reading of trade books not only increases vocabulary in terms of quantity, but it also enhances vocabulary in terms of quality. “Written language, including the language found in children’s books, is far more sophisticated and complex than is spoken language, even that of college educated adults” (Cunningham & Zibulsky, 2013; Allington, 2012; Hayes, 1988). Compared to written language, spoken language is “lexically impoverished.”

The amount of students’ reading is strongly related to their vocabulary knowledge. Students learn new words by encountering them in text, either through their own reading or by being read to. Increasing the opportunities for such encounters improves students’ vocabulary knowledge, which in turn improves their ability to read more complex text. “In short, the single most important thing you can do to improve students’ vocabulary is to get them to read more.” (Texas Reading Initiative, 2002).


Three Tiers of Vocabulary

Educator and author of Bringing Words to Life, Isabel Beck, has categorized all words into three tiers.

Tier I
-Most basic words
-Rarely require instruction in school
-Examples: clock, baby, happy

Tier II
-Words that are high frequency for mature language users and are found across a variety of domains
-Not so common in everyday language
-Instruction adds productivity to an individual’s ability
-Examples: coincidence, absurd, industrious

Tier III
-Words whose frequency of use is quite low and is often limited to specific domains
-Best learned when needed in a content area
-Examples: isotope, lathe, peninsula

Therefore, when teaching vocabulary, it makes the most sense to teach Tier II words.

 
So what does this mean for writers?

It means that educators specifically choose well-written picture books that contain tier II vocabulary words. It means that writers should be aware of this and not shy away from such vocabulary words when writing. Often, I hear writers discussing using “higher level” vocabulary words in picture books. And whether it's appropriate or not. But they typically clump together tier II and tier III words together as this "higher level vocabulary." However falling into this assumption will cause writers to fill picture books with inappropriate “higher level” vocabulary that will make the picture book inaccessible for young readers. 

Knowing the difference between the tiers and having an understanding of effectively using tier II words will make a picture book reach a much wider audience. 

 
Is there a list of all tier II words?
No. (Not that I know of.) Because the list would be way too large.  However, even within tier II words, writers and educators can choose the “best” tier II words to use for instruction.

For example think about this:
-Is the word interesting? Useful? Will it be in other texts?
-Can you define the word using vocabulary the student will understand?
-Will the word help with the major understanding of the selection?

What About Moose?

No. Moose is not a tier II word. However, What About Moose? by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Rebecca J. Gomez is a fine example of a picture book that makes great use of tier II words. This would be a wonderful example even if this book were written in prose. However, Corey and Rebecca's rhymes are never predictable, always clever, and go beyond the simple one-syllable rhymes. (Example: work zone/megaphone, concern/stern, all imperfections/careful inspections, advice/precise, straighter/dictator, pounded/surrounded.)

This book has it all!

-Flawed, yet likable character.

-Strong character want and problem.

-Clever, original rhyme.

-A never stumbling, perfect meter.

-(I hate using LOL, but the humor in this book is literally the laugh out loud kind.)

-Perfect pacing.

-Satisfying ending.

-And for a book that is geared toward a younger audience, the use of vocabulary will make your four year old smarter (as well as your ten year old.)

 
Check out some of the stunning vocabulary used in this amazing picture book:

 
divvied

trotted

announced

caution

commands

crank

pace

concern

overseeing

stern

jotted

imperfections

careful

inspections

spouted

advice

precise

glare

tromping

mumbled

dictator

manned

clambered

complete

hefted

surrounded

hollered

muffled

hopeless

groaned

grumbled

huddled

plotting

 

 
What About Moose? Well, it’s simply splendid, engaging, and full of stunning vocabulary!