Wordless books offer a bounty of riches. The format is accessible to everyone regardless of language or reading ability, making the books ideal for use in international settings, classes with nonnative speakers, or families with adults or children who are struggling or emergent readers.

They enrich the aesthetic lives and literacy skills of “mainstream” or “gifted” children as well, since they require visual decoding, original thinking, language production, an understanding of multiple viewpoints, and the interpretation of meaning. Since there is no single or correct story, the reader's task is to slow down and look carefully, applying everything they know about narrative to the process of “reading” the pictures. In the hands of an inspired illustrator, this is an exhilarating and deeply satisfying experience.

Yet publishers take a risk in producing these titles because many adults mistakenly believe that “reading” applies only to print. They conclude that books without words are “missing” something and are less valuable—and that developing as a reader equates, ultimately, to leaving books with pictures behind. It falls to educators, librarians, and booksellers to help them understand otherwise.

The narratives included here unfold entirely or predominantly in images. Spanning 80 years, they come from the picture-book and graphic-novel traditions. Hybrids were deemed worthy of separate study. Wordless concept books were also set aside in order to explore the story lines that seem particularly well suited to image-laden telling: chases, dreams, riffs on familiar tales, journeys, viewing, and wondrous relationships. These friendship tales often result in encounters between a child and/or those for whom it feels natural to need to invent language: animals, snowmen, aliens, robots. Viewing calls attention to itself in books that feature lenses/cameras, silent movies, frames, shifting perspectives.

This is not a comprehensive list, and the topics are not mutually exclusive. And while there are fewer wordless books for adolescents, there are some incredibly powerful and sophisticated ones; it is interesting to note that the titles for teens fall into the same thematic pools as the books for children. Perhaps pondering the perfect plots for wordless treatment will offer a structure to slip into your memory for the next time someone of any age asks for a great read.

Chases

ARMSTRONG, Jennifer. Once Upon a Banana. illus. by David Small. S & S/Paula Wiseman Bks. 2006. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-689-84251-1. PreS-Gr 4–A bustling urban setting forms the backdrop for this tale of a juggler whose monkey unpeels a banana. Sixteen words on city signs form rhymed pairs that help propel the mayhem once the slip-up starts. Small’s cast of diverse characters stage a complex string of perilous consequences until all ends well.

BANG, Molly. The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher. illus. by author. S & S. 1984. (original ed. Scholastic/Four Winds Press, 1980). Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-02-708140-4. PreS-Gr 4–This Caldecott Honor Book juxtaposes realistic, watercolor surroundings with a grey construction-paper protagonist and the blue imp who tries to steal her berries. At first the grey contrasts with the environment, but as the woman gets closer to home, she blends in, becoming harder to find. Suspenseful, shivery, and satisfying.

DROOKER, Eric. Blood Song: A Silent Ballad. illus. by author. Dark Horse Comics. 2009. (original ed. Harcourt/Harvest, 2002). pap. $19.95. ISBN 978-1-59582-389-2. Gr 8 Up–Exquisite black and blue scratchboard engravings are punctuated by strategic color images to interpret this tale of hope amidst oppression. A young (perhaps Southeast Asian) woman witnesses soldiers destroying her jungle village. Pursued, she travels by boat to an equally stifling modern city. Menstruation, music, love, and childbirth are transformative experiences.

FALLER, Régis. Polo: The Runaway Book. illus. by author. Roaring Brook/A Neal Porter Bk. 2005. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-189-8. PreS-Gr 3–While irrepressible Polo sleeps, a little creature enters the pup’s room and steals his new book. Sequential panels depict Polo’s hot pursuit involving cotton-candy clouds, a genie, belly-dancing elephants, assorted airborne rides, and other adventures that climax when he touches down in the middle of storytime. An enchanting finale.

MAYER, Mercer. A Boy, A Dog, and a Frog. illus. by author. Dial. 1967. Tr $6.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-2880-6. PreS-Gr 1–A small trim size, subtle line work, and the absence of color invite readers to pay close attention to the hilarious antics of an enthusiastic frog-catcher, his canine sidekick, and the elusive amphibian as they cavort in the creek. A “hoppy” surprise awaits the long-suffering boy at bathtime.

RODRIGUEZ, Béatrice . The Chicken Thief . illus. by author. Enchanted Lion. 2010. Tr 14.95. ISBN 978-1-59270-092-9. PreS-Gr 1–Everyone knows that foxes like chickens, so when Chicken is snatched, Bear, Rabbit, and Rooster rush to her rescue. As night follows day and the bumbling friends are “outfoxed,” the duo is enjoying chess by candlelight. Watercolor and ink sequences are, by turn, delicate, suspenseful, comedic. In a surprising (and friendly) conclusion, it seems that chickens can learn to like foxes too!

ROGERS, Gregory. The Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard. illus. by author. Roaring Brook Press/A Neal Porter Bk. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-009-9. Gr 1-6–Familiarity with Shakespeare is not essential but adds to the fun when following a young soccer player and his ball through a broken window and back in time. His appearance mid-performance infuriates the playwright; a friendly bear assists with escape. Shifting perspectives and panel sizes control the action’s rise and fall.

SAVAGE, Stephen. Where’s Walrus? illus. by author. Scholastic. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-70049-8. PreS-Gr 2–When a walrus wanders out of an open gate, his zookeeper leaps to attention. Repeating stylized images rendered in flat colors create patterns that camouflage the animal as he dons disguises to blend in with firemen, construction workers, and a chorus line. His final gig yields respect (and a new pool toy).

Dreams/Flights of Fancy

LEE, Suzy. Shadow. illus. by author. Chronicle. 2010. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-8118-7280-5. PreS-Gr 3–The gutter of each spread divides reality (a girl playing in a cluttered garage) from fantasy (the shadow world–black silhouettes on white). Her imagination, signaled by the introduction of yellow, conjures a wild jungle; objects and shadow beasts cross borders in a dramatic pas de deux until dinnertime.

NYGREN, Tord. The Red Thread. illus. by author. R & S Books, 1988. (o.p.) PreS-Gr 4–Inquisitive youngsters follow a red thread through quixotic compositions: a forest inhabited by trolls, an artist’s table coming to life, a puppet show accompanied by Picasso’s Three Musicians. The penultimate scene features a boy reading in bed, surrounded by lively literary characters. Much to find and invent.

THOMSON, Bill. Chalk. illus. by author. Marshall Cavendish. 2010. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-5526-4. PreS-Gr 2–Three children discover a party bag on a playground. The chalk inside is magical, creating, as each child picks a color and takes a turn, sunshine, butterflies, and a fierce dinosaur. Luckily one youngster holds a fourth piece. Hyperrealistic acrylic compositions, Magritte-like lighting, and dramatic perspectives heighten the drama.

WARD, Lynd. The Silver Pony. illus. by author. Houghton/Sandpiper. 1992. (original ed. Houghton, 1973). pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-0-395-64377-8. K-Gr 4–When a lonely farm boy interrupts his hardworking father to describe an encounter with a winged horse, his punishment does not prevent subsequent visits involving marvelous flights. A rooftop accident speaks volumes, and his father ultimately produces a real pony. A monochromatic palette and a touch of melodrama evoke a bygone era.

WIESNER, David. Free Fall. illus. by author. HarperCollins. 1988. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-156741-4. PreS-Gr 3–After a dream transports a boy into a human chess game, through a castle, past a dragon, and over Escher-inspired seascapes, he awakens to find himself surrounded by the objects that morphed during sleep. With the multiple meanings suggested by the title and a richly drawn world, repeated readings are repaid.

Familiar Tales

PINKNEY, Jerry. The Lion & the Mouse. illus. by author. Little, Brown. 2009. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-316-01356-7. PreS-Gr 3–The African Serengeti forms the backdrop for a lion that captures a rodent and—for reasons left for readers to ponder—releases it. His decision is rewarded, and the value of even the smallest creature is recognized in this stunning Caldecott winner rendered in expressive watercolors. A visual feast.

SPIER, Peter. Noah’s Ark. illus. by author. Doubleday, 1977. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-385-09473-3. PreS-Gr 3–This Caldecott-winning title begins and concludes on its endpapers. A 16th-century Dutch poem following the title page encapsulates the events; otherwise, the finely wrought watercolor and pencil details are wordless. Spier imagines the humor and tedium, sounds and smells, emotions and majesty of this Biblical epic.

TURKLE, Brinton. Deep in the Forest. illus. by author. (original ed. Dutton, 1976). Puffin. 1992. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-14-054745-0. PreS-Gr 2–What if Goldilocks lived in a cabin in the woods and roles were reversed? In warm scenes infused with a single color (gold), the soft black-line work creates a homey atmosphere irresistible to a fuzzy cub. Readers in the know will relish his antics and relax when he escapes.

Journeys

ANNO, Mitsumasa. Anno’s Italy. illus. by author. Collins. 1978. (o.p.) K-Gr 5–Anno’s horseback rider continues his journey from previous books into hill-town farms, past Rome’s Trevi Fountain, through Venetian canals. Along the meticulously drawn route, one can spot scenes from the life of Christ, famous works of art, Pinocchio, and other literary and cultural references. Stimulating for eye and mind.

BAKER, Jeannie. Mirror. illus. by author. Candlewick. 2010. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4848-0. PreS-Gr 4–Baker binds two books into one, allowing readers to simultaneously open stories comparing Australian and Moroccan cultures. In each, father and son journey to a type of market—one family travels by van, the other by camel. Collage constructions feature the handwoven Moroccan carpet that connects the two families.

FEELINGS, Tom. The Middle Passage. illus. by author. Dial. 1995. Tr. $75.00. ISBN 978-0-8037-1804-3. Gr 9 Up–The brutality and suffering endured by the shackled Africans as they were corralled onto ships and transported to America is revealed in this oversize volume. Expressionistic paintings contrast the ghostly white captors with the more fully realized slaves in scenes of unspeakable inhumanity and incomprehensible strength of spirit. Visceral; profoundly moving.

TAN, Shaun. The Arrival. illus. by author. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine Bks. 2007. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-439-89529-3. Gr 4 Up–Sepia-toned panels and full spreads mimic a scrapbook design appropriate to this exploration of immigration. After a man leaves his family, fantasy and reality mingle to convey his emotional and physical states. Signs in an invented language help readers identify with his confusion. The search for meaning is fruitful.

WARD, Lynd. God’s Man, Madman’s Drum, Wild Pilgrimage. illus. by author. Art Spiegelman, ed. Library of America. 2010. Tr $35.00. ISBN 978-1-59853-080-3. Gr 9 Up–Originally published in 1929, God’s Man, the first of three “novels in woodcuts,” follows the literal and spiritual voyage of an artist who receives a magic brush in a contract with a masked stranger. Light and darkness present a Faustian tale of quick fame, temptations of the flesh, fleeting fulfillment, and ultimate ruin. Powerful and provocative.

Viewing

BANYAI, Istvan. Re-Zoom. illus. by author. Viking. 1995. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-14-055694-0. Gr 1-5–As the perspective zooms out with each page turn, readers revise their understanding of this colorful, cropped, cartoon world. A close-up of a petroglyph becomes an image on a watch...on the arm of a boy...doing an Egyptian rubbing...on a movie set until it becomes clear that all the magnifications come from a single page in a book a boy is reading.

DEPAOLA, Tomie. Flicks. illus. by author. Harcourt. 1979. (o.p.) K-Gr 2–Silent movies are a natural for wordless treatment. Five “shorts” are introduced by title and then unfold in small black-and-white cells to a silhouetted audience. Topics include a loose tooth, pain-free roller-skating, and bedtime rituals. The quiet dramas and childlike caricatures may inspire budding animators.

LEHMAN, Barbara. The Red Book. illus. by author. Houghton Harcourt. 2004. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-0-618-42858-8. PreS-Gr 2–Watercolor and gouache compositions in square frames imagine a boy and girl on opposite sides of the world. Each discovers a book. When the girl opens the volume to find the boy looking out toward her and also seeing her image on his page, she finds a way to visit. Gently mind-boggling.

SEEGER, Laura Vaccaro. What If? illus. by author. Roaring Brook/A Neal Porter Bk. 2010. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-398-4. PreS-Gr 2–Cinematic techniques such as the close-up and the rewind invite readers to contemplate inclusive play. Thick, tactile oils portray a floating beach ball and the two seals who find it—as well as the third seal watching from the shore. Scattered questions composed of very few words help explore three possibilities, until a bird arrives.

WIESNER, David. Flotsam. illus. by author. Clarion, 2006. RTE $17. ISBN 978-0-618-19457-5. PreS-Gr 4–The properties and attendant framing shapes of the magnifying glass, camera, and microscope focus on photographs from a camera found on the beach. The watercolor sequence moves around the world and back in time, revealing a child holding a picture of the subsequent child (and an underwater fantasy) in this Caldecott winner.

Wondrous Relationships

BRIGGS, Raymond. The Snowman. illus. by author. Random. 1978. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-394-83973-8. PreS-Gr 3–Language is unnecessary to understand the affection between a boy and his snowman—and the child’s sadness when the creature melts. In between, however, onlookers are swept up in the wonders of electricity, false teeth, skateboards, and the twosome’s marvelous nighttime flight. Small panels propel the motion; panoramas slow it down.

NEWMAN, Jeff. The Boys. illus. by author. S & S. 2010. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-5012-7. PreS-Gr 2–Days of the week divide the retro-style action as a newcomer yearns to play baseball with neighborhood kids. The child’s appearance is gender-neutral, allowing anyone to relate. Befriended by seniors from the park bench, the youngster reverses roles with “the boys” to humorous effect until the desired connections are forged.

RIPHAGEN, Loes. Animals Home Alone. illus. by author. Seven Footer. Apr. 2011. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-934734-55-1. PreS-Gr 3–Ten different types of animals explore their environment when the homeowners leave. From the bear who wants to be “in” television to the preening rabbit searching for a mate to the racecar-driving cockroaches, children will find new things each time they encounter this hilarious, havoc-wreaking menagerie.

TOLMAN, Marije & Ronald Tolman. The Tree House. illus. by authors. Boyds Mills/Lemniscaat. 2010. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-806-6. PreS-Gr 2–In this oversize title, a polar bear and brown bear discover a tree house. After enjoying books and snacks, they host visitors, from flamingos and pandas to a peacock and a rhinoceros. Play ensues in exquisite scenes with brilliantly colored, changing backgrounds until a quiet snow falls. Understated and pleasing.

VARON, Sara. Robot Dreams. illus. by author. Roaring Brook/First Second. 2007. pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-108-9. Gr 3-9–Dog is overjoyed with his newly created robot, until their beach vacation. A rusty robot can’t walk, so Dog must abandon him. As months pass, Robot dreams of rescue, while Dog tries to both retrieve and replace him. A bittersweet ending and winsome caricatures convey the joy and pain of friendship.