10 Beautiful Wordless Picture Books
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and these wordless picture books prove it. Each of these beautiful books tells a story without words, letting the art speak for itself. Some are funny or sute while others are moving and absolutely breathtaking.
10 Beautiful Wordless Picture Books
Draw the Line
The beautiful monochromatic illustrations in Kathryn Otoshi’s “Draw the Line” tell the story of two boys drawing and connecting their lines. The result is a touching story of friendship, teamwork, and conflict resolution, all told without words.
Pool
In “Pool”, two shy girls dive deep into a crowded swimming pool and find a magical world. The use of color in the illustrations highlights the unique personalities of the girls, as well as the beauty of the undersea world they discover.
The Fisherman and the Whale
This story of a fisherman and his son saving a whale is gorgeously illustrated. So much story and emotion pours from every image, even without the use of words.
The Boy and the Airplane
This adorable story follows a boy who receives a toy airplane as a gift, only to lose it on top of the roof. After several attempts to retrieve it, another idea “takes root.”
Free Fall
A boy falls asleep reading a book, only to find himself lost in a magical world. David Eisner weaves an exciting and adventurous tale of knights, kings, and soaring swans without the use of any words.
That Neighborhood Kid
This adorable book tells a story of strangers becoming friends. In “The Neighborhood Kid” to children use the fence between their homes to build a tree house. In the process, the find friendship where they never thought they would.
Float
I must admit that it was initially difficult to look at this book without envisioning the first scene of “IT”. Have no fear, though, this story of a young boy and his paper boat has a much happier ending, no clowns allowed.
Dandelions Dream
In this magical wordless story, a dandelion becomes a real lion. My son enjoyed this one the most, and still keeps asking me about “the lion book”. I was amazed to see that he understood what was happening and enjoyed it. I think this was his favorite of the books on this list.
A Ball for Daisy
Daisy and her ball are relatable to any child who has ever broken a favorite toy. The drawings of the playful dog and her favorite ball tell a story of losing a beloved possession. There is emotion on every page, and the story is simple enough for even the youngest child to understand.
The Only Child
“The Only Child” falls into more of a graphic novel category, but the story in this one really moved me and has stuck with me. The black and white sketch-style illustrations tell the story of a lost boy trying to find his way home, who befriends a stag. It really pulls at the heart strings and paints a picture of childhood loneliness that I will not soon forget.
