There really are no words and all our pictures are tested by people with moderate and severe learning disabilities who can't read. People who never learnt to read or who are wary of the written word are often more visually literate than people who love words. The pictures do tell stories but there is also room for the reader to tell their own story - the story they see in the pictures. This can be very revealing about their own inner world, their own understanding of the information presented. The stories also explore feelings and emotional reactions. The stories prompt discussion and there is plenty to talk about in each story.

Books Beyond Words are books in which the readers on their own, in a group or with another person (family member, supporter, therapist, doctor, nurse etc) tells the story their own way – projecting into the illustrations their own experience, aspirations and anxieties.

There really is no right or wrong way to read these books, but here are some ideas that families, supporters and professionals have found useful:

1. Read the book carefully yourself before introducing it to someone who needs support to read it.
    
2. Encourage the person you are supporting to tell the story as they see it in the pictures.
    
3. Depending on their response, prompt them to say what is happening:

   Who do you think that is?
   What is happening?
   What is he or she doing?
   How is he or she feeling now?
   Do you feel like that?

   This will help you to judge how much the person has understood.
    

4. Don't feel you have to use the whole book in one sitting. Allow the person enough time to follow the pictures at his or her own pace.
    
5. If only part of the story is relevant, then just share those pictures together.
    
6. Remember, it is not necessary to be able to read the words. People will take the meaning they need from each picture.
    
7. Provide as much support and reassurance as is needed by the person you are supporting, and answer their questions honestly.
    

Suggestions of where to find more information about the topic of each story are provided at the back of each book.