Guide to Picture Books in Early Education
“Our children are near the top of the global leagues when it comes to the mechanical skill of reading but near the bottom when it comes to reading ‘for pleasure’. We’ve taught them all the steps and the names of all the tunes. But they’re not dancing.” Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Waterstones Children’s Laureate
Read on to discover how picture books can reignite that joy, foster a deep love of storytelling, and help children not just read but truly dance with language, imagination, and meaning, establishing the roots of a lifelong reading journey in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 (KS1).
From the very first page a child turns, a journey begins. Picture books are more than charming tales with beautiful illustrations, they are essential tools for developing oracy, enriching vocabulary, and nurturing language, creativity, critical thinking, and emotional literacy in young learners — including reluctant readers and children who struggle with reading comprehension.
In EYFS and KS1, the right picture book can do far more than entertain, it can transform a child’s relationship with reading and ignite a love of stories. For struggling readers, picture books provide an engaging and accessible entry point into literacy.
If you’re a teacher, librarian, or parent looking to enrich your classroom or home library, this guide will explore why picture books matter and how to use them effectively. Plus, we’ll show you where to find the perfect Picture Book Collections, including Book Bands and Accelerated Reader™ levelled sets, hand-picked for you at School Bargain Bookshop, a trusted source of books for schools, books for teachers, and books to encourage reluctant readers.
Why Use Picture Books?
“Children’s experience of reading must be built on access to stories and books that speak to their lives and spark their imaginations.” Reading Rights Interim Report, Spring 2025
Picture books are a cornerstone of early childhood education, especially reading in EYFS and KS1. They introduce children to rhythm, vocabulary, and narrative structure, while also offering an accessible, engaging entry point into the world of books. By reflecting diverse experiences, cultures, and emotions, picture books speak directly to children’s own lives, helping them see themselves and the world around them.
For reluctant readers or struggling readers, especially, the visual cues in picture books reduce cognitive load, making reading feel more approachable and fun. Children who struggle with reading comprehension benefit from the scaffolding that illustrations provide — helping them make meaning as they listen, look, and begin to decode. For early learners who often think visually and concretely, picture books are powerful tools that nurture curiosity, imagination, and a lifelong love of storytelling.
Do Picture Books Enhance Language Development?
Absolutely! Illustrated stories support early language acquisition by exposing children to rich vocabulary, varied sentence structures, and storytelling elements in meaningful contexts. Repetition, rhyme, and rhythm are hallmarks of many picture books — they reinforce linguistic patterns and invite verbal interaction. These features not only support literacy but also play a vital role in developing oracy: the ability to express oneself fluently and effectively through spoken language.
Scaffolded discussions around illustrations further extend children's language by encouraging prediction, questioning, and description, helping them make connections between images, words, and meaning. With each shared reading, children build fluency, confidence, and comprehension. For books to engage reluctant readers, the combination of language and image is key.
How Can Picture Books Support Personal, Social and Emotional Development?
Picture books are powerful tools for social and emotional development, helping children explore empathy, friendship, diversity, and emotions in a safe, accessible way. Books can open the door to conversations about feelings, and reflect different family structures, cultures, or abilities — an essential step toward creating inclusive classrooms.
From the Reading Rights Interim Report (2025):
“The books children read should reflect and affirm their identity, while also introducing them to lives beyond their own.”
Many picture books explore emotions, relationships, challenges, and understanding through relatable characters and situations. These stories help children to identify feelings, understand others’, and learn age-appropriate strategies for navigating social situations. Books which help children identify and understand emotions, build resilience, and nurture kindness are particularly important for struggling readers, who may find emotional resonance and support through storytelling.
Do Illustrations Help with Pupil Engagement and Comprehension?
Definitely, illustrations do far more than decorate a page, they play an essential role in storytelling. They convey key elements of the narrative, provide visual clues that support comprehension, and help children sequence events, especially pre-readers. Illustrations actively engage children, especially reluctant readers or those who struggle with reading comprehension, encouraging them to make connections, infer meaning, and stay involved with the story. High-quality artwork sparks curiosity and creativity, inviting exploration beyond the written text. Visual literacy is the ability to interpret, evaluate and create images and picture books are one of the first ways children encounter this mode of communication. Listening to stories while simultaneously looking at supportive illustrations builds visual literacy as children interpret the meaning of words and pictures together.
For early learners, particularly those with English as an Additional Language (EAL) or Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), illustrations provide vital visual context. They act as bridges to understanding, offering accessible and inclusive pathways into the narrative. In this way, picture book illustrations are powerful tools that enhance both engagement and deeper comprehension for all pupils. That’s why books for struggling readers should always include strong visual support — something that picture books offer in abundance.
Where Can Schools Find Age-Appropriate Picture Books?
Building a classroom library with well-chosen picture books can feel overwhelming and soon become expensive. As well as EYFS Picture Books and KS1 Picture Books, School Bargain Bookshop offers a wide range of carefully curated books for schools, specially designed for early years and key stage 1 learners. These collections include:
- Book Band Collections
- Accelerated Reader™ Levelled Books
- Diverse and Inclusive Books
- Special Offers & Book Bundles
How Can Picture Books Be Used in the Classroom?
To get the most from picture books, consider:
· Reading stories aloud to the whole class or in small groups, incorporating open-ended questions
· Pairing stories with creative play or drawing activities
· Promoting oracy by encouraging children to retell stories, describe illustrations, and share their opinions
· Engaging in group storytelling or sequencing exercises
· Dramatising characters and settings to boost language skills
· Using books as prompts for story retelling, character descriptions, or creative writing
· Linking stories to PSHE, history, or science topics to reinforce cross-curricular learning
· Exploring new vocabulary explicitly and revisiting key words during discussions
· Encouraging children to make predictions and inferences based on illustrations and text
· Using picture books to support personal, social and emotional learning by discussing characters’ feelings and choices
· Creating book corners or cosy reading areas to foster independent reading and exploration
· Inviting children to create their own picture books inspired by the stories read
· Using picture books to introduce cultural diversity and promote inclusivity
And don’t forget: use books to engage reluctant readers by allowing choice, matching interests, and building confidence through repetition and positive reading experiences.
Most importantly, share picture books just for the sheer joy of it!
What Are the Benefits of Banded Picture Book Collections
Book Bands offer a structured way to monitor progress and provide appropriate challenge. For classrooms, they ensure that children are reading books aligned with their decoding and comprehension levels, while still enjoying age-appropriate themes and illustrations.
Book Banded collections from School Bargain Bookshop include a range of enticing picture books for EYFS and KS1, making it easy for schools to stock classrooms and libraries without compromising on quality or variety. These highly illustrated Book Banded titles are ideal books for struggling readers, offering support without sacrificing enjoyment or challenge.
Where Can I Find Picture Books Levelled by Accelerated Reader™?
Many educators use Accelerated Reader™ to track reading progress and encourage reading for pleasure. At School Bargain Bookshop, our Accelerated Reader™ Collections for lower years (LY) include carefully selected picture books that are already levelled, making them easy to integrate into your existing AR library. These are perfect books to encourage reluctant readers, especially those who benefit from goal-oriented reading programmes.
How Can I Build a Diverse and Inclusive Picture Book Library on a Budget?
Creating a truly inclusive library means actively seeking out books that reflect a broad spectrum of races, cultures, abilities, genders, and family types. This ensures all children feel seen and valued in their reading experiences.
To support schools in doing this affordably, School Bargain Bookshop offers diverse and inclusive bundles perfect for school libraries or classrooms. These bundles are ideal if you’re seeking books for schools that promote inclusion and support struggling readers by offering engaging, relatable stories. Browse our Picture Book Collections to discover a rich selection of diverse and inclusive titles.
Picture Books as Foundations for Lifelong Readers
In early education, the humble picture book is a key building block of reading, learning, and connection. For all children — and especially struggling readers — picture books nurture imagination, unlock language, and help children make sense of themselves and the world.
As the Reading Rights Interim Report reminds us:
“Reading should not be a privilege, but a right — a right built on access, inclusion, and inspiration.”
Let’s put picture books at the heart of our classrooms and libraries and watch young readers — even the most reluctant readers — thrive.
Explore Affordable Picture Book Collections for Your School
Browse School Bargain Bookshop for a wide range of age-appropriate, high-quality books for struggling readers, books to engage reluctant readers, and books for teachers looking to inspire reading for pleasure — including Picture Books for EYFS and KS1.
What to Read Next: A Guide to Encouraging Reading for Pleasure at Home — Spread the joy of reading for every child with top tips, practical ideas, and the best book collections to nurture a love of reading beyond the classroom.
