EVERY CHILD DESERVES A STORY
Making Picture Books Accessible Through Audio Description
Children’s picture books are filled with vibrant illustrations that help bring stories to life. But for children who are blind or have low vision, much of that visual storytelling is inaccessible. Audio description helps bridge this gap. It is a narrated track that describes visual elements such as settings, characters, and actions. In children’s picture ebooks, audio description can provide rich detail about illustrations, enabling blind and visually impaired children to engage more deeply with the story.
Audio description not only enhances comprehension
but also promotes inclusion and imagination. By describing what others can see, it levels the playing field and offers a more immersive experience. Children who are blind can better understand character expressions, follow the plot, and appreciate the emotional tone of the story. This kind of engagement supports literacy and helps all children—regardless of their visual ability—feel connected to books and storytelling.
Accessible picture ebooks with audio description are becoming increasingly available. Public libraries, online retailers, and inclusive publishers are starting to offer more of these resources. Some non-profit organizations and digital reading platforms also provide curated selections of audio described books. As awareness grows, so does the opportunity for families, educators, and libraries to offer stories that every child can enjoy.
Creating audio described picture books is both rewarding and impactful. It involves writing a script that narrates the visuals and recording the audio in a way that flows with the story. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or storyteller, contributing to this growing field can make a big difference. With every described picture and narrated page, we move closer to a literary world that welcomes every child—where stories are not just seen, but truly heard and felt.