top of page

Wordless

Level up literacy by using pictures to infer the story. Different each time!

Good Night, Gorilla

Bedtime, Wordless, Classics

A must-have board book for all babies. Good night, Gorilla. Good night, Elephant. It's bedtime at the zoo, and all the animals are going to sleep. Or are they? Who's that short, furry guy with the key in his hand and the mischievous grin? Good night, Giraffe. Good night, Hyena. Sneak along behind the zookeeper's back, and see who gets the last laugh in this riotous good-night romp.
average rating is 4.8 out of 5, based on 5697 votes, reviews

Peggy Rathmann

The Snowman

Wordless, Winter

The beloved, award-winning classic The Snowman celebrates its 40th anniversary! One winter's night, a little boy's snowman comes to life—and a magical adventure begins. . . . Raymond Briggs's The Snowman perfectly illustrates the wonder and innocence of childhood. On a snowy winter night, a young boy builds a snowman in hopes that it will come to life. When his wish comes true, the boy and his snowman share silly and tender moments--dressing up, sneaking around the house, skateboarding, and much more. Eventually, they soar through the beautiful night sky before saying good night. Briggs's wordless tale relates a story about imagination and friendship, as well as love and loss. This board book edition of The Snowman is a perfect gift for the holidays.
average rating is 4.8 out of 5, based on 2200 votes, reviews

Raymond Briggs

Journey

Caldecott Medal, Wordless, Perseverance

A 2014 Caldecott Honor Book Follow a girl on an elaborate flight of fancy in a wondrously illustrated, wordless picture book about self-determination — and unexpected friendship. A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When she is captured by a sinister emperor, only an act of tremendous courage and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her heart’s desire? With supple line, luminous color, and nimble flights of fancy, author-illustrator Aaron Becker launches an ordinary child on an extraordinary journey toward her greatest and most exciting adventure of all.
average rating is 4.8 out of 5, based on 1998 votes, reviews

Aaron Becker

Tuesday

Wordless, Cause and Effect, Caldecott Medal

In David Wiesner’s whimsical and elegant New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Medal–winner, the events of a delightfully unpredictable Tuesday invite readers to find the potential for the wondrousness in every day. It begins on Tuesday evening, when the frogs suddenly start to float. . . . Thrill to the humorous cascading adventures that follow in a celebration of possibility unbounded—and of unexpected cause and effect. From the genius of international superstar and three-time Caldecott Medalist David Wiesner, this entertaining, thought-provoking, and nearly-wordless tale unrolls with the precision and clarity of a silent movie. Engaging for all ages, this beloved and innovative classic is a perfect gift to enthrall the young and the young at heart.
average rating is 4.7 out of 5, based on 1472 votes, reviews

David Wiesner

The Lion & the Mouse

Wordless, NY Times Best Sellers, Caldecott Medal

This New York Times bestselling and award-winning fable of compassion and kindness, as reimagined by legendary artist Jerry Pinkney, is an essential addition to any bookshelf of children’s classics. In award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney's wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he'd planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher's trap. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively-drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling, and his stunning pictures speak volumes.
average rating is 4.7 out of 5, based on 923 votes, reviews

Jerry Pinkney

Pancakes for Breakfast

Wordless, Perseverance

Tomie dePaola's classic wordless picture book is just as fun as a serving of pancakes for breakfast! Missing ingredients and mischievous pets create one humorous complication after another for a little old lady determined to make pancakes for breakfast. Fans of such favorites as Strega Nona will love Pancakes for Breakfast.
average rating is 4.7 out of 5, based on 850 votes, reviews

Tomie dePaola

Amazon round logo
Bookshop.org Icon
Bookshop.org

A Ball for Daisy

Caldecott Medal, NY Times Best Seller, Wordless

This New York Times Bestseller and New York Times Best Illustrated Book relates a story about love and loss as only Chris Rashcka can tell it. Any child who has ever had a beloved toy break will relate to Daisy's anguish when her favorite ball is destroyed by a bigger dog. In the tradition of his nearly wordless picture book Yo! Yes?, Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka explores in pictures the joy and sadness that having a special toy can bring. Raschka's signature swirling, impressionistic illustrations and his affectionate story will particularly appeal to young dog lovers and teachers and parents who have children dealing with the loss of something special.
average rating is 4.7 out of 5, based on 403 votes, reviews

Chris Raschka

The Wanderer

Wordless, Marine Life

Without a word, The Wanderer presents one little paper boat's journey across the ocean, past reefs and between icebergs, through schools of fish, swaying water plants, and terrifying sea monsters. The little boat is all alone, and while its aloneness gives it the chance to wonder at the fairy-tale world above and below the waves, that also means it must save itself when it storms. And so it does. Readers young and old will find the strength and inspiration in this quietly powerful story about growing, learning, and life's ups and downs.
average rating is 4.7 out of 5, based on 290 votes, reviews

Peter Van den Ende

Amazon round logo
Bookshop.org Icon
Bookshop.org

Little Fox in the Forest

Wordless

Fans of Aaron Becker’s Caldecott Honor winner Journey will love this utterly enchanting wordless picture book in which two friends follow a young fox deep into the woods and discover a wondrous and magical world. When a young girl brings her beloved stuffed fox to the playground, much to her astonishment, a real fox takes off with it! The girl chases the fox into the woods with her friend, the boy, following close behind, but soon the two children lose track of the fox. Wandering deeper and deeper into the forest, they come across a tall hedge with an archway. What do they find on the other side? A marvelous village of miniature stone cottages, tiny treehouses, and, most extraordinary of all, woodland creatures of every shape and size. But where is the little fox? And how will they find him?
average rating is 4.8 out of 5, based on 138 votes, reviews

Stephanie Graegin

Brick by Brick

Wordless, Community

A little mouse innocently plucks a flower from an old wall when a brick comes loose, and he can see through it for the first time. He and the other animals gradually and resolutely remove more and more bricks, until at last they can see another group of animals. Together they use the bricks that once divided them to construct a bridge to join their islands. This clever and touching wordless board book shows that walls can become bridges when everyone works together. It’s a hopeful message that all children should see now.
average rating is 4.5 out of 5, based on 40 votes, reviews

Giuliano Ferri

Next Door

Unique Superpowers, Wordless, Community

A boy has some unexpected encounters in his neighborhood in this wordless book about celebrating differences and building bridges. In this wordless picture book, a Deaf boy and his mother enjoy a walk through their community. Together, they greet their neighbors, stop by the playground, spy a bird's nest in a tree and buy cookies at the grocery store. Later, they visit their new neighbors, a woman and her daughter, who have only recently immigrated from another country. Although the girl is shy, and the two kids speak different languages --- American Sign Language (ASL) and Arabic --- find a way to communicate and become fast friends. This sweet story by critically acclaimed author Deborah Kerbel explores the art of appreciating the world and the people around us and finding points of connection. Deaf illustrator Isaac Liang lends his lived experience to the visual story, choosing details and perspectives that reveal the world as it's experienced by the boy. At the heart of the story is a timely message about breaking down barriers and finding common ground, no matter our differences. Wordless picture books engage children's attention to detail as they follow the narrative of the story in the pictures, building their visual literacy and critical thinking skills. This book has curriculum connections to social studies lessons on community building and immigration, as well as to the character education values of empathy and kindness. It also models the practice of welcoming newcomers to our communities. A few ASL signs are demonstrated and translated within the story.
average rating is null out of 5, based on 0 votes, reviews

Deborah Kerbel

Amazon round logo
Bookshop.org Icon
Bookshop.org
Wordless

meaningful additions

Children learn and hear more than we think.  Books provide context for new and potentially confusing topics, and give caregivers a way to approach complex topics.

Balanced Rocks
bottom of page