group illustration of all the characters from the Sherri Eri book collections.

What If Your Child Could ‘See’ the Story — Even With Their Eyes Closed? Inside picture books where words lead, and pictures follow

What If Your Child Could ‘See’ the Story

— Even With Their Eyes Closed?

Inside picture books where words lead, and pictures follow

Everyone thinks picture books are all about the illustrations. But what if the magic lives in the words? The ones that Tickle the imagination.

A young child is sitting comfortably with their eyes slightly wide and a soft smile of discovery. All around their head, the air is filled with a dazzling explosion of colorful light—swirls of bright blue, neon green, sun-yellow, and playful purple form shapes like stars, animals, and abstract patterns. The kid's face is bright with the glow of these internal thoughts, a powerful image of the infinite, vibrant world that exists within their own mind. The background is a soft blur, emphasizing the vividness of the imagination on display.

That’s the kind of story I write.

Stories where:

  • An owl paints himself purple and pink and practices saying “Moo” 
  • Farts poot and toot their way to saving the day 
  • Kittens strut sideways like ancient Egyptians

I write for every child — especially those who can’t see the page. So they can follow the story, picture the world, and come along on the adventure.

Because sometimes, the best pictures aren’t on the page. They’re the ones your child builds in their mind.

7 Things That Happen When Words Take the Lead

1. Sound pulls kids in. 

Words like “bloops” and “poofs” turn stories into soundscapes.

2. Kids paint their own pictures. 

Language becomes the brush. Imagination does the rest.

3. They feel more.

Without pictures, kids tune in closer — and connect deeper.

4. Words stick.

Rhythm and rhyme make new vocabulary land naturally.

5. No pictures? No problem.

Descriptions are built into the storytelling, not tacked on.

6. Every child belongs.

Blind, sighted, bouncy, quiet — all kids get the full experience.

7. Writers rise to the challenge. 

When words carry the story, every syllable matters — and it shows.

🎧 Want to Hear How These Books Sound?

From The Fart Brigade

Illustration from Sherri Eri’s book The Fart Brigade featuring a bunny character hopping. The high-contrast artwork includes rhythmic on-screen text used for inclusive literacy and Story-oke read-aloud sessions.Illustration from the inclusive children's book The Fart Brigade by Sherri Eri. Featuring a high-contrast horse character with a swishing tail and rhythmic storytelling text designed for multi-sensory literacy and Story-oke.
The Fart Brigade book cover

From I Am Not an Owl… or Am I?

High-action illustration from Sherri Eri’s book I am not an owl or am i. Features Hoot the owl in a dramatic fighting scene with bold, high-contrast art designed for inclusive storytelling and visual accessibility.High-contrast illustration from the inclusive children's book I am not an owl or am i by Sherri Eri. Featuring a coiled snake character and dramatic storytelling text designed for low-vision accessibility and Story-oke sessions.
Book cover art by Sherri Eri for "I am not an owl or am i." Featuring a high-contrast illustration of a big-eyed owl on a branch, designed for low-vision accessibility and inclusive children's storytelling.

From Walk Like An Egyptian Kitten 

Character illustration of Nefertiti from Sherri Eri’s Walk Like An Egyptian Kitten. A high-contrast scene featuring a kitten at a mirror, designed for inclusive literacy and supporting the rhythmic storytelling style of the Cool Kitty Series.
Book cover art by Sherri Eri for "Walk Like An Egyptian Kitten." A high-contrast illustration from the Cool Kitty Series featuring Egyptian-themed kitten

From the upcoming Reindeer Princess and The Snow Owl 

Upcoming illustration for Sherri Eri’s "Reindeer Princess & the Snow Owl." This action-packed scene features a sorcerer, a snow owl, and a reindeer princess in a high-contrast battle sequence. Part of the Picture the Book inclusive storytelling brand.

You don’t just read these stories.

You feel them. 

You hear them. 

You see them — even with your eyes shut.

🧒 Who Are These Books For?

For kids who: 

  • Are blind or just learning to listen
  • Love rhyme, rhythm, and silly sounds
  • Dream big and laugh out loud
  • Build entire worlds in their minds 

And for grown-ups who believe stories should reach every child — not just the ones who can see the page.

🤔 Isn’t This Just ‘Show, Don’t Tell’?

Not quite.In most picture books, the “showing” is done by the pictures. The words are there — but the illustrations do the heavy lifting.

In my books, the words pull their weight. They don’t just set the scene — they bring it to life.

Yes, there are beautiful illustrations. But if your child can’t see them? The story still unfolds, loud and clear.

Because the words tell what’s happening — the way grown-up books do — so every child can picture the action, no matter how they read.

The result? No child gets left behind.

Why Picture the Book Is Different?

At Picture the Book, my words work as hard as the pictures so no one feels left out. 

They build a world your child can enter — eyes open or closed, heart smiling.

📚 Want a Picture Book That Doesn’t Rely on Pictures, Yet Is Perfect For:

  • Bedtime 
  • Read-alouds 
  • Classrooms 
  • Long rides and quiet afternoons? 
A child engaging with inclusive storytelling from the Picture the Book brand. The background features characters from Sherri Eri's series, illustrating the brand's core philosophy: "Words lead, pictures follow." This highlights the focus on multi-sensory and accessible literacy for visually impaired readers.

Browse my collection at www.picturethebook.com

Sherri Eri is a Singapore-based children’s author and founder of Picture the Book. She writes inclusive picture books and audiobooks shaped by rhythm and carefully chosen words — so children can follow the story even if they can’t see the illustrations.

 

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