Wonderful Wordless Books

Last updated: February 14, 2025

You don't always have to use words to tell a story -- sometimes an author-illustrator can convey plot and characters with only pictures. And, without text, the "reader" can narrate the story, even changing the details each time. Check out some of our favorite wordless wonders, from picture books for preschoolers to an award-winning middle grade chapter book. You'll find more visually stunning storytelling on these lists: Picture Books and Caldecott Medal and Honor Books.

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Red Sled Poster Image

BOOK

Red Sled

age 2+

Inspired, silly sledding romp perfect for winter bedtime.

Lita Judge Picture Book (2011)

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A Ball for Daisy Poster Image

BOOK

A Ball for Daisy

age 3+

Wordless story of dog's ball loss mirrors kids' emotions.

Chris Raschka Picture Book (2011)

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Flora and the Flamingo Poster Image

BOOK

Flora and the Flamingo

age 3+

Girl makes a feathered friend in whimsical, wordless outing.

Molly Idle Picture Book (2013)

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Flora and the Peacocks Poster Image

BOOK

Flora and the Peacocks

age 3+

Gorgeous look at negotiating a three-way friendship.

Molly Idle Picture Book (2016)

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Flora and the Penguin Poster Image

BOOK

Flora and the Penguin

age 3+

Girl gets a skating partner in wintry wordless whirl.

Molly Idle Picture Book (2014)

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The Lion & the Mouse Poster Image

BOOK

The Lion & the Mouse

age 3+

Retold fable with out-of-this-world art; a true keepsake.

Jerry Pinkney Friendship (2009)

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Anno's U.S.A. Poster Image

BOOK

Anno's U.S.A.

age 4+

A wordless witness to history.

Mitsumasa Anno History (2000)

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Another Poster Image

BOOK

Another

age 4+

Girl meets her match in mind-bending upside-down world.

Christian Robinson Picture Book (2019)

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Bunny & Tree book cover: Illustration of white bunny in red flower pot on wheels next to a green tree blowing in the wind

BOOK

Bunny & Tree

age 4+

Gorgeous art, elegant story of friendship in wordless tale.

Balint Zsako Adventure (2023)

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Draw! Poster Image

BOOK

Draw!

age 4+

Wildly imaginative wordless book celebrates art and drawing.

Raúl Colón Picture Book (2014)

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Flotsam Poster Image

BOOK

Flotsam

age 4+

Underwater fantasy world revealed in magical watercolors.

David Wiesner Picture Book (2006)

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Follow Carl! Poster Image

BOOK

Follow Carl!

age 4+

Wordless story will delight children & dog lovers.

Alexandra Day Picture Book (1998)

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Imagine! Poster Image

BOOK

Imagine!

age 4+

Wordless book celebrates art with magical trip to museum.

Raúl Colón Picture Book (2018)

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Quest Poster Image

BOOK

Quest

age 4+

Visually captivating story is full of adventure, wonder.

Aaron Becker Picture Book (2014)

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Return Poster Image

BOOK

Return

age 4+

Wondrous finale to fantastical wordless trilogy.

Aaron Becker Picture Book (2016)

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Sidewalk Flowers Poster Image

BOOK

Sidewalk Flowers

age 4+

Girl stops to enjoy the flowers in lovely wordless story.

JonArno Lawson Picture Book (2015)

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The Farmer and the Clown Poster Image

BOOK

The Farmer and the Clown

age 4+

Two strangers form an unlikely bond in sweet wordless tale.

Marla Frazee Picture Book (2014)

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The Red Book Poster Image

BOOK

The Red Book

age 4+

Wildly original wordless book deconstructs magic of reading.

Barbara Lehman Picture Book (2004)

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Wolf in the Snow Poster Image

BOOK

Wolf in the Snow

age 4+

Girl rescues lost wolf pup in wordless tale of compassion.

Matthew Cordell Picture Book (2018)

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A Stone for Sascha Poster Image

BOOK

A Stone for Sascha

age 5+

Beautiful art in wordless tale of loss and passage of time.

Aaron Becker Picture Book (2018)

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