10 November 202119 December 2022 Kirsten

Picture Books to Teach Inference in the Classroom

Picture Books to Teach Inference in the Classroom

Teaching inference is not an easy task. These picture books are a great way to teach inference to your students, no matter their age. You will also find a list of questions to use with these books.

Why Use Picture Books to Teach Inference?

Making inferences involves reading between the lines by analysing what is not directly said by the author. Students can do this by using their own experiences and knowledge along with the text and illustrations.

Teaching inference with picture books, particularly wordless ones, gives your students the opportunity to use facts, reasoning and illustrations to make an inference about something in the book. (See example discussion questions below).

Inference and Prediction

It is easy for children to confuse inference with prediction, but there is a difference.

Inference involves the reader making an educated guess based on information in the book and their own knowledge.

Prediction is what the reader thinks will happen in the story and will be confirmed (or not) while reading.

Discussion Questions to Teach Inference

What is [character] doing?
Where is [character]?
Why is [character] ….?
Why do you think [character] …?
When did the situation/event happen?
How do you know?
How do you think [character] feels about the situation/event?
Why was it important to [character] to …?
Why do you think [character] feels …?
Why did [character] say …?
What made [character] behave/react in that way?
What is [character] thinking about/feeling?
Why doesn’t [character] …?
What can you infer from the illustrations?
Why did the author …?
Why did the author choose the title [title]?

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Picture Books to Teach Inference

During a read-aloud session use these books to teach inference. Focus on asking your students to read between the lines when information is implied by the text or illustrations.

Wordless books are particularly useful books to teach inference. You can find more information about wordless books at 7 Reasons Why Wordless Picture Books are so Powerful.

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy

14 Cows for America tells the true events of kindness and compassion. After the devastating attacks on 9/11, a Maasai village in Kenya wanted to express their sympathy to a grieving America. They presented a gift of 14 cows, a symbol of life to the Maasai. Use to teach Africa, drawing conclusions, inferring, compassion, kindness, visualizing, and empathy.

AAAlligator! by Judith Henderson

A boy overcomes his fears to get to know and make friends with a lonely alligator. The townsfolk are not so accepting and the mayor insist it is driven out of town. Once the community sees the kind and helpful side of the alligator they help it hide from the mayor. Use to discuss social justice, empathy, kindness, loneliness, acceptance and inferring.

The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach

A bear gets lost after falling asleep in a truck full of berries. He wakes up in the city and explores the unfamiliar environment. He finds himself in a park and confronted by a delicious-looking sandwich. Checking to see if anyone is watching, he gobbles up the sandwich before fleeing back to the forest. But is this a true story or a tall tale, and who is really narrating? Use to teach perspectives, first-person narration, inference.

The Boy Who Grew Flowers by Jen Wojtowicz

Rink Bowagon is ignored by his teacher and classmates because he sprouts flowers from his body. He notices the new girl wears a flower in her hair and has one leg shorter than the other, so Rink makes her a special pair of shoes. Excited, she invited him to the school dance where he discovers the flower behind her ear is just his flowers. Use to teach inferring, self-acceptance, and identity.

The Bracelet by Yoshiko Uchida

Emi, a young Japanese girl, wears a special gold bracelet, a gift from a friend. Soon after, she enters an internment camp because she is Japanese-American and looks like the enemy. While in the camp, Emi loses the bracelet, but learns that she doesn’t need it to remember her friend and better times. Use to teach about memories, WWII and inference.

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

Farmer Brown’s cows type him a letter demanding electric blankets. They go on strike when he refuses their demands. Duck takes an ultimatum from Farmer Brown to the cows and they agree to exchange the typewriter for the blankets. But, the next day Farmer Brown gets a note from the ducks demanding a diving board for their pond!

Dear Juno by Soyung Pak

Juno communicates with his Korean grandmother through a series of drawings. She sends back letters along with photos and toys so Juno understands their meaning. Reinforces themes of communication, letter writing and relationship skills.

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

An art teacher encourages Vashti to make a mark, a dot, prompting Vashti to create a wide range of dot paintings. She displays her work at the school art show and inspires a young boy to make his own unique mark. Promotes reflection, perseverance, a growth mindset and creativity.

Doug-Dennis and the Flyaway Fib by Darren Farrel

Doug-Dennis lies about stealing his best friend's popcorn. As the lie getting bigger and bigger it carries him to the land of lies. It is only by telling the truth that Doug-Dennis can find his way home to his best friend Ben-Bobby.

Draw! by Raúl Colón

A young boy suffering from asthma draws images of Africa in his sketchbook. His imagination transports him from the confines of his bedroom to a safari adventure with elephants, zebras, giraffes, lions and gorillas. Use this wordless book to discuss creativity, imagination, and inferring.

Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis

Insects surround a new, green shoot and ask “Du iz tak?” They use a ‘ribble’ to climb the stalk and build homes on its branches. The shoot grows into a beautiful flower, but as the seasons change it wilts and the insects say goodbye to their home. Promote communication, a sense of community, vocabulary and inferring.

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Two people discuss whether an image is a rabbit or a duck. They each argue their own point of view, even though the optical illusion could be a rabbit or a duck. Use to teach inference, perspectives and perception.

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett

Annabelle finds a box of colourful yarn which never runs out no matter how much she knits. When an evil archduke steals the yarn it's magic no longer works. When the yarn finds its way back to Annabelle and the magic continues. Promotes determination, integrity, perseverance, respect and being a risk-taker.

The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee

After a young clown bounces from a train, a reluctant farmer saves him. The grumpy, lonely farmer cleans off the happy clown’s makeup to reveal a scared child. Their growing friendship is interrupted as the train reappears and the clown is returned to his family.

Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe

A young boy loves the jar full of fireflies he has just caught, but when their light starts dim he sets them free to keep them alive.

Flotsam by David Wiesner

A young boy discovers an old camera on a beach. When he develops the images, they are not at all what he expected. He discovers an underwater world he didn’t know existed. One photo shows a child holding a photo of another child, who is also holding a photo of a child and so on. They all returned the camera to the beach for someone else to discover its magic. Use this wordless book to teach inferring, making connections and interpretation.

Fossil by Bill Thomson

A boy and his dog accidentally find a fossil that comes to life. He excitedly breaks more rocks, revealing more fossils. This excitement stops when he discovers a tetradactyl which flies away with the boy’s dog. Use this wordless book to teach about plot, problem and solution, inference, and cause and effect.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Over the course of a boy’s life, he asks a tree to help him and she gives him everything she has. It is only on reflection, as an old man, he feels gratitude and thankfulness towards the tree.

Gleam and Glow by Eve Bunting

During the civil war, a Bosnian family are forced to flee from their home. They left their two pet goldfish, Gleam and Glow, in the pond, in the hopes they might survive. After months living in a refugee camp, the family return home to find everything destroyed, except for the pond full of shimmering goldfish. Use to teach about war, immigration, voice, persistence, inferring, and synthesizing.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

Bear asks the animals if they have seen his lost, red, pointy hat, but they all deny having seen the hat. He feels dejected and worries he will never see his hat again. When a deer helps him remember the bear goes to confront the animal responsible. Promotes responsible-decision making, manners, cause and effect, honesty and integrity.

The Line by Paula Bossio

A girl picks up a black pencil line that transforms into a slide, hoop, jungle vine, bubbles and a tightrope. The line then transforms into a big, hungry monster before it turns into a bear which saves her. The line continues onto the back of the book where we discover who drew the line. Use this wordless book to teach inference and prediction.

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey Wood and Don Wood

The narrator tries to persuade a mouse to share the red, ripe strawberry it has just picked. The mouse hides, disguises and locks the strawberry away. The narrator suggests there is only one way to stop a big, hungry bear from eating it, they must eat it together. Will the tactic work? Use to teach creative thinking, sharing, problem & solution and inferring.

Mango Abuela and Me by Meg Medina

Mia's Abuela comes to live with her family but she is sad about leaving her sunny, colourful home. Though they speak a different language they learn to communicate and develop a touching relationship.

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

Take in the detail of fourteen black and white drawing by the eluvise artist, Harris Burdick. He only provides the title and a caption to each illustration, so it is up to the reader to create the story from what they see. Check out the website for more details. Use this wordless book to teach creative writing, perspectives, inferring and asking questions.

The Night Gardener by Terry Fan

William wakes to see a tree had transformed into an owl. This was followed by a cat, a rabbit, a parakeet and an elephant. One night William spots the Night Gardener, who invites William to help. The change in seasons erases all evidence of the Night Gardener, but William and the neighbourhood are changed forever. Promotes a sense of community, social awareness, appreciation and inferring.

No David! by David Shannon

David is a boy who breaks the rules; flooding the bath, jumping on the bed, and breaking a vase. His mum repeatedly says “No!” until David apologises and he gets his mother's forgiveness. Promotes themes of behaviour, manners, love and forgiveness.

Red by Jan De Kinder

At first, a girl finds it funny when another student is teased for blushing. Soon, she realises she must stand against the bully but is fearful. Through her compassion and integrity, she finds the courage to do what is right. Use to teach inferring, integrity, courage, compassion, and social justice.

The Royal Bee by Frances and Ginger Park

Based on the childhood of the author’s Korean grandfather. Young Song-ho’s poverty prevents him from attending school. Eager to learn, he listens to lessons at a local school. Discovered by a teacher who sees his potential, he is invited to attend the school. Use to teach inferring, determination, courage, and prediction.

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnet

Sam and Dave plan to dig up something spectacular but they keep missing their prize. Their dog keeps digging until they all fall down into what seems to be their backyard. But is it? Promote themes of inferring and perseverance.

Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young

Six blind mice feel different parts of an unknown object and discuss what they think it is. Their differing views cause an argument, each thinking their own opinion is correct. The seventh and final mouse explores the whole 'Something' and understood it was an elephant. This Indian folktale promotes themes of mathematics, perspectives, senses and inferring.

Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton

A group of friends try to catch a beautiful bird in the forest. They sneak over to the bird but it flies away at the last minute. When all their plans to catch the bird fail they come up with a new one when they see another animal to catch.

Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson

A girl picks colourful flowers poking up through the cracks in the pavement. She places her flowers on a dead sparrow, a sleeping man and into a dog’s collar. At home, she places flowers in her mother’s hair and a few on her brother’s head. This wordless book promotes kindness, generosity, making a difference and inferring.

Smoky Night by Eve Bunting

Daniel and his mother watch the LA riots happening in their neighbourhood. After going to bed, they wake to learn their building was on fire. Daniel hesitates as they evacuate because he cannot find his cat, but it is later found by a firefighter. Use to discuss racism, communities, conflict, synthesising, inferring and perspectives.

Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth

A teacher helps a young girl see beyond her scary feeling for her neighbourhood. She looks for the beauty in her community with the help of her neighbours. Her beautiful journey helps her feel happy and hopeful. Promotes a sense of community, poverty, responsibility and hope.

Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

Set in 1939 Harlem, Cassie Louise Lightfoot lies on the roof of her apartment, the tar beach. She imagines flying over the buildings and bridges of New York and dreams of helping her family out of poverty. Use to teach perspectives and inference.

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel

As a cat takes a walk different animals see him very differently. Their perception of the cat depends on their own point of view. Some animals only see a blur, others see something big and scary, while others only see a tiny dot from the sky.

This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

A small fish wearing a hat admits "this is not my hat". He stole it from a big fish. A fish who is soon the on the hunt for his hat and the dishonest fish. The fish carries on its journey, sure it will get away with the crime, unaware that the big fish is searching for his hat. The last we hear of the little fish is him swimming into the reeds with the big fish following behind. Promotes honesty, integrity, conflict and responsible decision-making.

Tuesday by David Wiesner

It’s Tuesday and everything is normal. Suddenly, frogs levitate on their lily pads and travel towards a nearby town. They fly around the neighbourhood to the surprise of its residents who wake up wondering what happened. Use this wordless book to teach inferring, questioning, and prediction.

Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg

Two ants leave the safety of their colony and venture into the unknown dangers of a kitchen to find delicious sugar crystals. The lucky ants escape an assortment of dangers to return home with the tasty crystals. Use to teach inferring, prediction, problem and solution, and different perspectives.

Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole

A girl is frightened when she discovers a slave hiding in a barn. Her compassion takes over when she sees the fear in their eyes and cares of them even when slave hunter come looking for the escaped slave. She is rewarded with a doll as a token of gratitude. Use this wordless story to teach about slavery and civil rights, courage, compassion, inference, prediction and asking questions.

Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne

Four different characters retell events of a visit a local park from their own perspectives. Check out the illustrations carefully as they are full of meaning. Promotes different perspectives, relationship skills, questioning and voice.

Zoom by Banyai Istvan

Nothing is quite what it seems in this wordless picture book. The reader zooms into pictures within pictures until they get closer and closer to the action.

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What Next?

What are your favourite books to teach inference?

Using individual pictures is another way to get your student inferring. Check out this website, Once Upon a Picture. I came across it recently and it has a page with images and inference questions.

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