Wordless picture books are a lovely way to engage children in the storytelling process. They build reading comprehension, increase vocabulary (Yes! Even without text!), and spur the imagination. Plus, tired parents can get their kids to read their own bedtime stories! Some parents shy away from reading wordless books, but don't be afraid!
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As a mom of two children with a 4 year age gap, I benefited greatly from wordless picture books. Both boys could participate and they played off each other, each one noticing different aspects of the picture. I even think sometimes my younger son learned more about the books from his brother than he did from me.
MORE: Wordless picture books are perfect for reading to siblings of different ages. Learn more tips.
Wordless Picture Books
Here are some of my favorite wordless picture books, but there are so many more, and a useful technique for finding more is to look for books by the same author.
Journey (series) by Aaron Becker
This trilogy of wordless picture books is gorgeous and is an absolute must read. Using a red crayon, a girl draws a red door on the wall of her room. Stepping through the door, she enters into a parallel world where adventures with flying carpets, evil rulers, airships, and daring escapes await.
MORE: If you're not a wordless book convert be sure to read my parent tips for sharing wordless books with your kids.
The Line in the Sand by Thao Lam
This clever wordless book explores the concept of conflict, asking readers to ponder how, why, and when we let arbitrary lines divide us. As monsters play at the beach, one of them takes a stick and draws a line in the sand. When the monsters start to change their action in reaction to the line, this concrete division acts as a metaphor for something greater. Fortunately for the book's characters, and hopefully for those of us in the real world, the line is eventually destroyed.
MORE: Picture Books that Teach Meaningful Values
Tuesday by David Wiesner
I have never met a single person who didn't say "I love this book!" Wiesner's surreal book, in which flying frogs invade a town at night, is full of humor and mystery. Wordless books like this one grow with a child. As kids get older they discover more and more detail in the illustrations, and when they are younger, looking at wordless books encourages a positive engagement between parent and child. In fact, it's been shown that parents who read wordless books use more complex vocabulary than when chatting about books with text.
I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët
This lovely title is about the power of kindness and its role in creating friendships. New girl, Vanessa, is being bullied by a schoolmate. Another girl sees this happen and after some thought decides to walk with Vanessa to school. Soon, they are joined by others and the bully retreats. I love how this simple book can start an important conversation about how being the first person to do the right thing can help others to find the courage to follow.
MORE: Picture Books about Kindness
The Last Zookeeper by Aaron Becker
Becker's beautifully detailed illustrations depict a futuristic world. Earth has been flooded, but endangered species, once housed in a zoo, have survived. A giant robot, NOA, rescues the animals by building an ark and taking them to a new home.
MORE: Science Fiction Picture Books
Hank Finds an Egg by Rebecca Dudley
Using photographs of dioramas, Dudley brings to life the story of a little bear who finds an egg and wants to return it to its nest. The mise-en-scène of the action in the forest is delightful as Hank attempt to reach the nest in a variety of ways. Eventually, Hank is able to return the egg to its mama, and is rewarded with a trio of new friends.
The Carpenter by Bruna Barros
Find it: Amazon
This book will inspire kids to explore the possibilities of ordinary objects. A boy becomes enraptured with the possibilities of a measuring tape, and he abandons electronic screens in order to create and construct. Marvelous.
Here I Am by Patti Kim
A lovely story about an immigrant boy getting used to living in a busy American city, where the noise, food and people are all strange and new. I love the way the wordlessness of this book relates to how an immigrant might feel when he can't understand the language of his new home.
Flashlight by Lizi Boyd
A child takes a flashlight outside on a dark night. Each page shows the objects in the light, which is what the child sees, but readers will still be able to view the creatures in the dark. A wonderfully whimsical and magical tale that will spark questions about how we view the natural world and what we might be missing. Delightful.
MORE: Beyond Lift the Flap: Interactive Picture Books for Kids
Deep in the Forest by Brinton Turkle
Find it: Amazon
A wordless book that will teach kids to think critically as they read a version of the classic fairy tale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears in which the roles are reversed and a bear explores an empty house in the forest.
MORE: Favorite Classic Fairy Tale Picture Books
Midnight Fair by Gideon Sterer
In this enchanting tale, readers will discover the delightful and often humorous marvels that take place after hours at a traveling carnival.
Time Flies by Eric Rohmann
This 1995 Caldecott Honor Book will fascinate every kid who has ever been captivated by the dinosaurs at a natural history museum. In his debut picture book Rohmann's illustrations of a bird trapped in a dinosaur exhibit draw inspiration from evolutionary theories.
Flora and the Flamingo (series) by Molly Idle
Molly Idle has written an entire series about Flora, and this is the first. This story of friends learning to move in harmony is not only wordless, but a lift-the-flap book and completely delightful.
The Boy and the Airplane by Mark Pett
Find it: Amazon
Pett's charming book is also a lesson in perseverance and growth mindset! When his new plane gets stuck on a building, a boy must figure out how to retrieve it.
Changes, Changes by Pat Hutchins
Author Pat Hutchins (Rosie's Walk, Goodnight, Owl!) is a sentimental favorite of mine. In this winsome story, two toys find build a block house. When things start to go awry, they cleverly rebuild to keep up with the changing situation.
MORE: Picture Books to Inspire Imaginative Play
Rainstorm by Barbara Leham
Find it: Amazon
Barbara Lehman is a master wordless storyteller. The Red Book was her Caldecott-winner, but I love Rainstorm, a book which reminds me of the classic hidden passage-way fantasies of childhood. It is an imaginative story about a boy who finds a magical underground tunnel that leads to a faraway island and a new group of friends.
Wonder Bear by Tao Nyeu
Find it: Amazon
This oversized book was a winner with both my 4- and 8-year-olds who started narrating the story to each other. I barely had to get involved! One day, a girl and boy start a garden. The packet of seeds grows steadily into watermelons, but the hat they planted quickly grows into a magical vine that signals the beginning of a whimsical adventure.
A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog (series) by Mercer Mayer
Mayer's classic series about a boy, a dog and a frog is irresistible. In the first book, the pictures tell the story of a boy trying to catch a frog while he dog looks on. These books are particularly delightful for kids who like to make silly noises when reading wordless books. The humor will solicit all sorts of giggles and sound effects. Not to be missed.
MORE: Funny Picture Books to Read Aloud
Truck by Donald Crews
If I were to hazard a guess, I would say I read this book 38,568 times to each of my sons. That's an exact number. Crews' signature bold graphic style illustrates the cross-country journey of a truck loaded with bicycles.
MORE: Construction Work Picture Books
Chalk by Bill Thomson
Bill Thomson's incredibly detailed and realistic illustrations are the center point of this story about a diverse group of kids who discover a bag of chalk that brings drawings to live. My son gasped a knowing, "Ohhhh!" when the plot came to its clever conclusion.
MORE: Picture Books to Inspire Young Artists
Wave by Suzy Lee
Suzy Lee has several popular wordless books under her belt. I love this one about a girl's day at the shore simply because it is so very, very, happy. You will smile.
MORE: Books About Happiness to Make You Smile
Zoom (series) by Istvan Banyai
Wordless picture books are particularly suited for stories that hinge on changing perspective. Such is the case with Zoom and as you might guess from the title, the action (if one might call it that) is the ever increasing distance the reader maintains from the opening image. But distance is not the only perspective that changes...
MORE: Picture Books about Observation and Perspective
Mirror by Jeannie Baker
Find it: Amazon
I love this wordless picture book which compares and contrasts the a day in the life of an Australian and a Moroccan family. Lovely and a good conversation starter.
Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson and Sydney Smith
This is such a lovely story of how important it is to notice the little details around us. While her dad is preoccupied with the "busy" things of life (cell phones, charging ahead), a young girl picks the flowers in sidewalk cracks and begins to give them away in random acts of kindness which begin to transform the lives around her.
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
I just love the movement in Raschka's illustrations. And the story is quite emotional, as well! It's a story of one dog's love for his ball and what happens when that ball meets with misfortune.
Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day
Baby's mom leaves Carl the Rottweiler in charge when they head out. Carl may be a bit too lenient as a babysitter, but he sure is fun. This über-popular book has several sequels.
MORE: My Favorite Toddler Books I'll Miss Reading
The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard by Gregory Rogers
Find it: Amazon
I adore this book so much! A boy chases a runaway soccer ball backstage only to find himself transported to the world of Shakespeare. The bard chases the boy off the stage and they embark on a chaotic journey around Elizabethan London, picking up a bear, an imprisoned baron, and leaping onto a barge carrying Queen Elizabeth.
Sector 7 by David Wiesner
During a trip to the Empire State Building, a mischievous cloud takes a boy up to "Sector 7," where the clouds are formed. When the clouds decide they want to become something other than amorphous blobs, the boy takes matters into his own hands. Amazing.
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
This classic story of a snowman who flies around the world with a boy is known to many, but it wasn't until recently that I read the entire book. My verdict: magical and yet so sad! But the kids love it and the illustrations are lovely.
MORE: Wonderful Wintery Picture Books
Oscar's Tower of Flowers by Lauren Tobia
Oscar is staying with his Nana, were he initially feels nervous, sad and lonely being without his mother. Nana wants to make him feel at home so when she sees him watering a plant she takes him to the store to buy seeds and gardening supplies. The wordless format of the book allows the reader to focus in on Oscar's emotional life and the journey from trepidation about being in a new place to joy at his gardening success.
MORE: 42 Picture Books About Strong and Gentle Boys
Migrants by Issa Wantabe
This gorgeous, wordless picture book tells the story of a difficult journey undertaken by a group of diverse migrants. They travel with only a few belongings, are followed by the personification of death, face the hardship of weather, the fatigue of exertion, and the cruelty of rough seas. Sadly, not all the refugees make it to the destination, a place where flowers bloom on the trees.
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Tan's wordless, surrealist science fiction storytelling and utterly gorgeous illustrations depict one man's journey to a new land, where everything is new and strange. Alien language dons the signs, signaling to the reader the man's encounter with a foreign tongue. Unusual mechanics, like floating elevators communicate to us the way immigrants feel out of place in a new culture. But amidst the discombobulation is hope, caring actions from others and new friends. Best for ages 8 and up.
Even in Australia says
I love Suzy Lee's books but they are not a hit with my kids. However, we all love Jan Ormerod's Sunshine and its companion book, Moonlight. The first follows a girl through her getting-ready-in-the-morning rituals, as her very sleepy parents have trouble waking up. The second shows her bedtime rituals and how her parents deal with bedtime problems.
Erica says
Ormerod's books were candidates for this list! I love those, too. If I ever make a 2nd list those will be on it for sure.
Erica says
My kids liked Suzy Lee's Wave, but not Shadow, so much, although I thought Shadow was wonderful.
Janelle @ Brimful Curiosities says
We haven't looked at Rainstorm yet, but do like Barbara Lehman's books. The Secret Box is one of our favorites. Other favorite wordless books include Red Sled by Lita Judge (nearly wordless) and Pinkney's The Lion and the Mouse. Noah's Ark by Peter Spier is also pretty awesome. The most unusual wordless picture book we've seen is Yellow Umbrella. It comes with a musical CD to listen to while you turn the pages.
Erica says
Love Red Sled! Can't wait to read Red Hat this spring. I didn't include it because it does have some sounds. I thought the Lion and the Mouse was gorgeous, but my kids weren't that into it. I really wanted to read Yellow Umbrella, my library didn't have a copy.
maryanne @ mama smiles says
I am so thrilled you wrote this post! I adore wordless picture books, and most of these were new to me. Thank you!
Erica says
Yay, I love introducing people to new books!
silly eagle books says
I love this list--many are new to me--I'll have to see if our library has them. One of our favorites is called Sea of Dreams by Dennis Nolan. The artwork is incredible! 🙂
vanessa
Erica says
Yes! I love Sea of Dreams. I was going to include that one! My brain is a sieve. Sigh. It will have to wait until the next list.
Bethany @ No Twiddle Twaddle says
I really like Wave and the Carl books. My kid doesn't really like wordless books unfortunately though. Have you read Lights Out? That's another one of our favorites.
Natalie says
Strangely, daughter never liked wordless books - perhaps I suck as a storyteller 🙂
PragmaticMom says
I love wordless picture books but I have to say that I was puzzled at first how to "read" them. It does take a different mindset from the norm which is fun.
thepicturebookreview says
Wow, I've only read Wonder Bear. I'm adding these to my list now. It never ceases me how many picture books are out there to read and look through.
I always really appreciate your recommendations.
Erica says
I know, I feel overwhelmed by the choices. And I usually have about 20 more books I want to put on any given list I make.
Jennifer says
These are great! a couple I don't yet know. My fave is FLOTSAM by David Weisner. 🙂
Erica MomandKiddo says
Yes, I love Flotsam, too!
Amy @ Sunlit Pages says
This is such a wonderful list! I'm so glad you included "Chalk." It is one of our very favorites. And I can't wait to check out "Flora and the Flamingo" and "The Boy and the Airplane." They both look so cute!
Erica MomandKiddo says
I'd known about Chalk since its release, but I finally got around to reading it, and I'm so glad I did.
Katie @ Youth Literature Reviews says
Erica, would you believe I guessed that this was one of yours when I saw it on the Kid Lit Blog Hop? Your book lists are the best! I've only read about half of these, but the ones I know I love. My all-time favorite wordless picture book that isn't listed here is Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola. 🙂
Thanks for sharing with us at the Kid Lit Blog Hop!
Erica MomandKiddo says
I've never read Pancakes for Breakfast, though I know so many people who love it. I need to get on that!
Penny says
I love wordless picture books but I haven't seen any of these one. Yippee! I need to buy some. Chalk and Bee and Bird look really good. I'd love to read The Snowman just because you said it was sad. You don't see many sad books these days and they are great for encouraging discussions with little ones.
Lindsay says
Wow what a great list. I am only familiar with a few of them. I used to "read" Zoom to my high school students as an introduction to perspective and point of view. Wordless books can relate to children and adults of any age. I need to check out the other ones on the list.
Renee C. says
Great list Erica. I must admit that we haven't tackled very many wordless books in our household. My kids have never been too interested in them. Of course that could just be my own failing in presenting the books to them appropriately. If you check out Link #3 in the Kid Lit Blog Hop this past week, you'll see Flood - another powerful wordless book. Thanks for linking in the Hop. 🙂
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thanks for the heads up! I'll check it out.
Pauline @ LessonsLearntJournal.com says
What a beautiful preview and great list! I'll be featuring your post as part of my Kids Books: Stories, Poems & Activities roundup from the Weekly Kids' Co-op. Thanks for sharing. xoxo P
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thank, Pauline. I really appreciate it!
Flora says
I actually really love the book Tuesday. My little one copies the facial expressions of the frogs. So cute!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Yes, I love Tuesday, too. It's so clever! The only reason I didn't put it on the list was because it does have a few words, although it certainly has the feeling of a wordless book since the story is told almost entirely through the illustrations.
Michelle says
Great list! A few of our favorites are Journey, Inside Outside, Pancakes for Breakfast and Wave (which you mentioned). Another good one is Thunderstorm. 🙂
http://averyandaugustine.squarespace.com/blog/2014/3/7/thunderstorm.html
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thanks for the suggestion!
Maria Gianferrari says
My new favorite book: Marla Frazee's The Farmer and the Clown!! My vote for the Caldecott 🙂 It's sweet, funny and oh, so poignant--you'll laugh and cry.
I also love Journey as well as Raul Colon's Draw, Jerry Pinkney's The Lion and the Mouse and The Tortoise and the Hare.
Erica MomandKiddo says
I haven't read the Frazee book yet, thanks for the suggestion! I love Journey, too! I think it came out after I made this list but it's definitely one of our favorites!
Elisabeth says
As a speech/language pathologist, I use wordless books all the time to elicit oral narrative language, sequencing, vocabulary, as well as inferential thinking skills. Love this list!! Another favorite of mine is "Pancakes for Breakfast".
Erica MomandKiddo says
That's a great one, too!
Sharlene Habermeyer says
Love these titles! Some I haven't heard of. But, have you heard of the classical wordless book, "The Silver Pony" by Lynd Ward? It's amazing--one that my children loved. He also wrote "The Biggest Bear," --another classic, but not wordless.
Erica says
Thanks for the recommendation!