摘要：The training of a capable reader demands the interaction of different codes and should begin in early childhood. The article suggests that not only the inner side of children’s books must be read at schools, but also their covers, so that the reader may learn how to develop his/her ability to interact with the codes presented as well as his/her capacity for understanding the book as a whole. In that sense, the starting point for the reader should be the outward sign of the book´s content. From this perspective, this study brings a proposal of reading the covers of two books, Balaio de gatos and Todo cuidado é pouco. By doing so, it hopes to help the comprehension of those books.This study is based on Greimas’ Semiotics theories (1991) and on some reflections by Zilberman (1984) about the nature of children’s literature. Guidelines are provided on how to read books covers, which could be adopted by teachers as a tool to better deal with children’s books.
关键词：Leitura;Literatura-Métodos de Ensino;Literatura Infanto-Juvenil;Crianças-Livros e Leitura;Reading;Literature-Teaching Methods Children and Youth Literature;Children- Books and Reading;Lectura;Literatura-Metodologia de la Enseñanza
