Stories Without Words
Sharing wordless books is a terrific way to build important literacy skills, including listening skills, vocabulary, comprehension and an increased awareness of how stories are structured. And children love them — they can really pore over the pictures and create their own story in their own words.
Read more about Wordless Books and see a list of titles.
Browse some of SWIC's wordless picture books below.
See one you like? Request it and pick it up at the Library Front Desk. Watch a video on how to request books. You will receive an e-mail from SWIC Library in your SWIC student e-mail when it is ready for pick-up.
Spot, the Cat by
Simple and stunning images tell the story of a cat named Spot as he weaves his way in and out of a city in this wordless picture book from award-winning author-illustrator Henry Cole. Through this gorgeous visual narrative, Henry Cole shows us a day in the life of a cat named Spot. Spot sneaks away from home by way of an open window to go on a wordless journey through the city. Follow Spot as he weaves through busy city streets, visits a farmers market, wanders into a park full of kite-flyers, and beyond. But while Spot is out on his adventure, his beloved boy owner is looking for him--seeming to just miss him every time. When all seems almost lost, Spot's story reminds us that there's always a way back home. With stunningly detailed black-and-white illustrations, readers will love following Spot on his adventure--along the way finding characters and objects that appear, disappear, and reappear--and cheering for the sweet reunion at the end.
Fish by
A boy and his dog embark on a fishing journey.Their first catch of the day: a big fat letter F.Their second? A slippery I. After an epic journey beneath the lake's surface, they find what they came for - a FISH, along with some unanticipated menace from a few other letters.This clever, wordless picture book, by a popular New Yorker cartoonist, is filled with charm and heart and will have no problem swimming its way into the hearts of young readers.
Float by
A boy's small paper boat--and his large imagination--fill the pages of this wordless picture book, a modern-day classic from the creator of Pardon Me! that includes endpaper instructions for building a boat of your own. A little boy takes a boat made of newspaper out for a rainy-day adventure. The boy and his boat dance in the downpour and play in the puddles, but when the boy sends his boat floating down a gutter stream, it quickly gets away from him. So of course the little boy goes on the hunt for his beloved boat--and when the rain lets up, he finds himself on a new adventure altogether. This seemingly simply story from Daniel Miyares is enriched with incredible depth and texture that transcend words.
Owly and Wormy, Bright Lights and Starry Nights by
Out on a stargazing venture in this wordless picture book, Owly and Wormy discover that it's fine to be frightened--but it's better to be brave. Owly and Wormy want to see the stars! So they gather their telescope and their lantern and head out into the dark night, all the way to the edge of their branch. Try as they might, though, they can only see leaves...and branches...and more leaves. But these two friends are not about to let a little obstacle like foliage stop them. Armed with camping gear, galoshes--and their wits, of course!--Owly and Wormy set out once again. And this time there are even bigger challenges to face. What's that screee sound? What's that click click clicking noise? And what has happened to their telescope?! Owly and Wormy find plenty to be frightened of, but with a little bravery, they also find there are nearly as many helpful new friends on the horizon as there are stars in the sky. This wordless picture book conveys a nuanced narrative with charming illustrations that will appeal to even the earliest readers.
The Lion & the Mouse by
The Caldecott Award-winning and New York Times bestselling fable of compassion and kindness retold by acclaimed artist Jerry Pinkney. 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.
Bow-Wow Bugs a Bug by
Bow-Wow may look like your average terrier. The streets he walks may seem familiar. But just around the corner, things get a little unusual. With nary a word, Mark Newgarden and Megan Montague Cash have created a story about a bold new doggy who goes where no doggy has gone before. With a spring in his step and his tail only occasionally between his legs, Bow-Wow faces down every foe--well,almost every foe--in his path. Step aside, mutts. There's a new dog in town.
Museum Trip by
Museums: filled with mysterious, magical art and curiosities? Or secrets? And what might happen if a boy suddenly became part of one of the mind-bending exhibits? Join the fun in Museum Trip, by Barbara Lehman, the author-illustrator of the Caldecott Honor–winning The Red Book.
Flotsam by
Winner of the 2007 Caldecott Medal A bright, science-minded boy goes to the beach equipped to collect and examine flotsam--anything floating that has been washed ashore. Bottles, lost toys, small objects of every description are among his usual finds. But there's no way he could have prepared for one particular discovery: a barnacle-encrusted underwater camera, with its own secrets to share . . . and to keep. Each of David Wiesner's amazing picture books has revealed the magical possibilities of some ordinary thing or happening--a frog on a lily pad, a trip to the Empire State Building, a well-known nursery tale. In this Caldecott Medal winner, a day at the beach is the springboard into a wildly imaginative exploration of the mysteries of the deep, and of the qualities that enable us to witness these wonders and delight in them.
Sidewalk Circus by
"This delightful book will fascinate children and help them to see their world with new eyes." -- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review) Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Step right up and witness an astounding assemblage of tightrope walkers, strong men, sword swallowers, and clowns. The Garibaldi Circus is coming soon- but for those with clear eyes, the performers may already be in the ring. So get ready to sharpen your vision, and look very closely. A show like you've never seen is about to begin!
The Red Book by
A 2005 Caldecott Honor Book This book is about a book. A magical red book without any words. When you turn the pages you'll experience a new kind of adventure through the power of story.Winning a Caldecott Honor for its illustrations of rare detail and surprise, The Red Book crosses oceans and continents to deliver one girl into a new world of possibility, where a friend she's never met is waiting. And as with the best of books, at the conclusion of the story, the journey is not over.
Sector 7 by
A 2000 Caldecott Honor Book Only the person who gave us Tuesday could have devised this fantastic Caldecott Honor-winning tale, which begins with a school trip to the Empire State Building. There a boy makes friends with a mischievous little cloud, who whisks him away to the Cloud Dispatch Center for Sector 7 (the region that includes New York City). The clouds are bored with their everyday shapes, so the boy obligingly starts to sketch some new ones. . . . The wordless yet eloquent account of this unparalleled adventure is a funny, touching story about art, friendship, and the weather, as well as a visual tour de force.
Follow Carl! by
Carl is back in his ninth adventure! Children barking at a squirrel in a tree? Carrying sticks in their mouths? Begging for food? Who could be responsible for such silly shenanigans except everybody's favorite baby-sitter, Carl, who takes a group of neighborhood children on a lively game of Follow the Leader. Readers will want to follow Carl's exploits through town and country again and again, and Alexandra Day's lush autumnal landscapes are the perfect setting for the funny goings-on in the game.
Free Fall by
When he falls asleep with a book in his arms, a young boy dreams an amazing dream-about dragons, about castles, and about an unchartered, faraway land. And you can come along.
Tuesday by
The unpredictable events of a particular Tuesday unroll before the reader with the precision and clarity of a silent movie. A Caldecott Medal book.
First Snow by
The first snow has fallen. The mice children go sledding with Grandma and Grandpa. But at the top of the hill, who will go first? Bitty, the smallest mouse, is scared. When she tries, WHEEEEEE, she finds that sledding is the best! Caldecott Medalist Emily Arnold McCully captured the chills and thrills of a first sled ride when first snow was published in 1985. She has added words and created new pictures for this handsome larger edition, a companion to picnic.
Moonlight by
It's nighttime, and the little girl from the companion book Sunshine is now winding down her day: she eats her dinner, takes a bath, and says good-night to her dolls. Her dad reads her a bedtime story, but she's not quite ready to go to sleep -- she gets up for a glass of water, a hug, a reading session with her mom, and then, when both of her parents fall asleep, she's ready for bed again. Kids love routines and will be able to see themselves in this simple, wordless illustrated story.
Pancakes for Breakfast by
This wordless picture book follows the trials of a little old lady who attempts to make pancakes for her breakfast. “The optimistic determination of the woman and the gentle humor of the illustrations make this an appealing book for the very young.”--School Library Journal This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades K-1, Stories).
Noah's Ark by
★ Caldecott Medal Winner ★ "the book is a triumph, the definitive Noah's Ark."--Publishers Weekly Winner of the Caldecott Medal, an ALA Notable Children's Book, and a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year, Peter Spier's Noah's Ark has been the iconic edition of this tale for over 40 years, in print continuously since its debut in 1977. In Spier's imaginative retelling, readers witness the danger and the grandeur of the terrifying flood but also the lighter moments: Noah's wife jumping on a crate to avoid the rats; Noah shooing all but two bees from a busy hive; and all the animal babies being born in the spring. It's an illustration feat that's both majestic and tender.
Changes, Changes by
A charming, wordless picture book that the very youngest can "read" all by themselves. The little wooden couple are happy in their building-block house--until it catches fire. The solution? They transform the house into a fire engine! But then there's so much water that they have to build a boat... Follow these inventive dolls as they use their imagination to adapt to each situation they encounter.
The Hunter and the Animals by
In this wordless picture book, a hunter's efforts are thwarted by the animals of the forest.
Truck by
Truck is written and illustrated by the celebrated creator of Freight Train, Bigmama's, School Bus, and many other classic and award-winning picture books for young children. Truck was named a Caldecott Honor Book by the American Library Association and was also named an ALA Notable Book for Children. It is an ideal book to share with preschoolers, both at home and in the classroom--especially those who love books about transportation! In this wordless picture book, a large, bright red trailer truck packed with tricycles moves through pages of fog, truck stops, and crowded highways. "Beautifully executed and appealing."--School Library Journal Supports the Common Core State Standards
The Snowman by