Wordless picture books can be an invaluable resource for young readers. We know that sounds paradoxical, and it is. Such books encourage readers to examine the context of a story—in this case, the illustrations—in order to make meaning of the story. This skill—making meaning through context and contextual clues, rather than the words themselves—will stick with even the most advanced readers and will help catapult them forward on their literacy journey. Not only that, but wordless picture books are often full of beautiful illustrations, and minimal text encourages children to let their creative juices flow!
Here are some of our favorites:
Journey by Aaron Becker
Journey follows a lonely girl who draws a magic door on her bedroom wall. To her surprise, the door opens, leading her on an amazing journey! With her red marker in hand, the girl creates many objects to help on her journey— a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet, to name a few. Readers will delight in the action-packed illustrations. This is definitely a book that gets the creative and adventurous juices flowing!
Flashlight by Liz Boyd
With a flashlight in hand, the main character of this book shines a light on nighttime creatures and objects that many of us might otherwise miss. The flashlight shines on mice in a field, an owl in a tree, two skunks on their way, and more! Contrasting powerful black and white drawings with the colorful contents of the flashlight’s beam, this is a beautiful book.
Flotsam by David Weisner
Flotsam begins with a quick definition of flotsam, “something that floats,” followed by the explanation, “if it floats in the ocean, it may wash up on the beach.” It then follows a young boy and his science equipment as he seeks to collect such treasures. At first the flotsam is typical, like crabs or seaweed. But when an underwater camera washes ashore, the boy discovers through it a magical underwater world and connection to many others before him. With detailed, colorful illustrations, this is a memorable and remarkable tale!
Red Sled by Lita Judge
This story begins with a red sled leaning against the wall of a log cabin in a beautifully illustrated winter scene. However, readers are in for a surprise when it’s not a child who takes the sled for a ride, but a curious and fun-loving bear! Readers will delight in his adventures and those of the many animal friends that join in the fun. This charming book is sure to be enjoyed by all!
Wave by Suzy Lee
In this story, Suzy Lee captures the childhood magic and wonder of ocean waves as a little girl experiences the ocean. Although the story is told in simple watercolors and illustrations, it is packed with awe and childhood joy!
Skunk on a String by Thao Lam
Skunk on a String follows a skunk that has found himself tangled in the string of a balloon. As the skunk floats away at the mercy of the balloon, readers will delight in both his adventures and misfortunes. The illustrations are both whimsical and lovely, taking readers to many interesting destinations. And with a slightly suspenseful ending, readers are left to imagine the next place he’ll visit!
Pool by JiHyeon Lee
Pool is a lovely tale of two children at the public swimming pool who become unlikely friends. Together they embark on an underwater adventure in the depths of the seemingly normal pool, which transforms into an underwater world of amazing fish, coral, whales, and other sea life. The intricate and beautiful illustrations tell a fantastic story of adventure and friendship!
Draw the Line by Kathryn Otoshi
Two boys individually draw their own lines until they bump into one another. As they continue to draw their lines, readers will see their interactions over time, including both the good and the bad. With particular focus on expression and emotion, readers will connect with the experiences of these boys and learn about the power of friendship, togetherness, and feelings. We highly recommend this powerful book.
Float by Daniel Miyares
This story includes just three major elements: A boy, a boat, and a rainy day. These simple elements come together in beautiful ways to reveal the joys and sorrows of the little things in life. For example, when the boat is ruined, readers will feel the boy’s sadness at its loss. Yet the touching ending reminds us that despite the reality of sorrow, joy will come again!
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
The Lion and the Mouse is a wonderful retelling of Aesop’s famous fable. The illustrations of the lion, the mouse, and the African landscape are truly captivating and incredibly detailed. This powerful story, told with such moving illustrations, is a retelling that shouldn’t be missed!