I recently posted about how much I love wordless books. If you missed that post, you may want to start there for some ideas of how to put these wordless wonders to work!
Today, I’m going to be sharing some of my favorite titles with you so that you can fall in love with them too! I’ve given each of them an “award,” but really, they’re all pretty phenomenal. You can’t go wrong with any of these!
Most Realistic (Sort of!)
Chalkby Bill Thomson – If you didn’t know better, you might think the illustrations in this book were photographs. At least until the dinosaur shows up…
An Oldie but a Goodie
Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola – This was one of the first wordless books I ever saw. A simple story with a humorous twist, this story is excellent for sequencing.
Most Unique
Mirror by Jeannie Baker – With lovely, textured collage, this picture book chronicles the days of two families separated by oceans and continents, one in Morocco and one in Australia. The creative side-by-side presentation powerfully communicates the message that, although we are all different, we may have more in common than initially meets the eye.
Most Powerful
Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell – I don’t know why this one brings tears to my eyes every time we read it, but it does! Perhaps it’s the high stakes, or maybe it’s the main character’s courage and self-sacrifice. Or maybe it’s something intangible that I haven’t put my finger on quite yet.
Best for Writing
Multiple Backstories
Flotsam by David Wiesner – It’s just an ordinary day at the beach until something out of the ordinary washes up on shore. Assign each student or child a “story” to tell based on one of the photographs.
Best for Encouraging Intergenerational Connections
Drawn Togetherby Minh Le and Dan Santat – At the beginning of this story, a grandfather and grandson are separated by age, language, and culture. Art bridges those barriers and brings them together, and it’s pretty magical. If this doesn’t inspire you to draw, I don’t know what will!
Most Epic
Journey by Aaron Becker – Not many picture books can truly be called “epic,” but this wordless wonder is the first in a trilogy in which the main character goes on an adventure, finds a friend, and saves a kingdom. Yep. Pretty Epic.
Best Approach to a Challenging Subject
I See Youby Michael Genhart and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff – If you’ve ever wanted to talk with your kids about homelessness, this is a must-read! Educational backmatter for parents will help you to turn the story into a learning opportunity, and you may learn something yourself.
Funniest Nearly-Wordless Nominee #1
Ball! by Mary Sullivan – Sullivan perfectly captures the personality of a ball-obsessed pup in this nearly-wordless tale. And, if you’ve ever wondered what dogs dream about, you’ll find out here!
Funniest Nearly-Wordless Nominee #2
Dude!by Aaron Reynolds and Dan Santat – Dude! You may be surprised at how many things one word can say…
Did I miss any?
Your Turn! Which wordless books are your
favorites? I can’t wait to read them!
