Contemporary Dialogue

Abstract

The study explores how picture books influence reading comprehension among emergent learners. It reflects how visual narratives along with textual elements contribute to literacy development, engagement, and critical thinking. Drawing from schema theory (barlett,1932) and reader response theory (rosenblatt,1978) the research explores how illustrations integrated with textual narratives enhance engagement, meaning-making and critical thinking. Implementing a mixed-methods design- including classroom observations and structured interviews with teachers- the study assesses the pedagogical effectiveness of picture books across subjects. Findings suggest that effective use of picture books enhance literacy by supporting prediction, sequencing, visualisation, and contextual interpretation. the study advocates for the integration of picture books as inclusive, multimodal learning resources that support diverse learning styles and foster lifelong love for reading.