Curriculum Center: Picture Books without Words

Frog is settling in for a relaxing day at the pond. But wait--there are other creatures at the pond as well. And some of them are out to get Frog.

Imagine a school. Any school. Be it your school, one from memory, or even a dream school. Then enter and embark on a journey of wonder and delight. Look closely. There's a letter C in the curve of a globe, a little L in the handle of a pencil sharpener, or at recess, a vibrant yellow V in a geodesic climbing dome. Can you find the letters on every page?

Told through brilliant illustrations, a colorful, wordless book takes young readers on a wonderous tour of northern Europe, seeing its landscape, geography, and architecture along the way.

The imaginative Anno takes us through Spain in his newest journey book, featuring twenty-one colorful, wordless spreads, depicting the enchanting cities and eras of this intriguing country. Discover once again the historic moments, hidden literary and artistic details, and, of course, discover Anno himself, as he wanders the unfolding countrysides. Enthusiasts, new friends and old, will be eager to take this armchair trip through Spain, a country rich in architectural and environmental beauty, and historical events.

Come along for a wonder-filled exploration of fabulous cities, picturesque villages and uniquely various inhabitants. Anno's USA is a true journey of surprise and discovery!

What if you... encountered another perspective? Discovered another world? Met another you? What might you do?

Since his wildly successful beginnings as a hip clothing designer, Archie is taking some much needed time off. As he prepares for his vacation at the beach, he packs the usual things. But at night he dreams of rain, of snorkeling, and of other fun adventures, convincing him that he'll need to pack everything--just in case!

In a heartbreaking parting, a man gives his wife and daughter a last kiss and boards a steamship. He's embarking on the most difficult journey. He's leaving home to build a better future for his family. In this wordless graphic novel, Shaun Tan captures the immigrant experience through clear, mesmerizing images. The reader enters a strange new world, participating in the main character's isolation and ultimately his joy.

A dog with a ball is one of the most relentlessly hopeful creatures on Earth. After his best little-girl pal leaves for school, this dog hits up yoga mom, baby, and even the angry cat for a quick throw. No luck. Forced to go solo, the dog begins a hilarious one-sided game of fetch until nap time.

Winner of the 2012 Randolph Caldecott Medal! This New York Times Bestseller and New York Times Best Illustrated Book relates a story about love and loss as only Chris Rashcka can tell it. Any child who has ever had a beloved toy break will relate to Daisy's anguish when her favorite ball is destroyed by a bigger dog. In the tradition of his nearly wordless picture book Yo! Yes?, Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka explores in pictures the joy and sadness that having a special toy can bring. Raschka's signature swirling, impressionistic illustrations and his affectionate story will particularly appeal to young dog lovers and teachers and parents who have children dealing with the loss of something special.

A little girl befriends a bee that takes her on a journey of discovery, revealing an action that every child can take to aid in conservation. In a wordless story told through enchanting illustrations, Bee & Me tells a tale of friendship and offers an introduction to the ecology of the natural world.

All Rupert the mouse wants is to star in a beautiful, wordless picture book. One that's visually stimulating! With scenic pictures! And style! He has plenty of ideas about what makes a great book, but his friends just WON'T. STOP. TALKING.

Bring the thrilling story of one red bird to life. When an innocent bird meets two cruel kids, their world is forever changed. But exactly how that change unfolds is up to you, in the tradition of Kamishibai--Japanese paper theater. The wordless story by master cartoonist James Sturm is like a haiku--the elegant images leave space for children to inhabit this timeless tale--and make it their own, leading them to learn an ultimate lesson they'll never forget.

A gentle wordless picture book about the difference a kind friend can make on a gray day. It's a beautiful morning, but when Cat wakes up, the world feels gray. Cat wraps up in a blanket and hides -- until Dog comes in. What can Dog do to help Cat? Dog joins Cat under the blanket and listens to Cat's worries. Dog's flashlight illuminates the darkness and brings laughter. The two friends build a blanket fort where they can make shadow puppets and find comfort in storybooks. With Dog's help, Cat discovers ways to cope until the sadness starts to lift.

In his most beautiful and moving work to date, Bob Staake explores the universal themes of loneliness, bullying, and the importance of friendship. In this emotional picture book, readers will be captivated as they follow the journey of a bluebird as he develops a friendship with a young boy and ultimately risks his life to save the boy from harm. Both simple and evocative, this timeless and profound story will resonate with readers young and old.

As Bow-Wow naps, his neighbors creep in and steal his cozy green bed. When the expressive pup tries to get it back, colorful chaos ensues as the house next door might not be exactly what he thought.

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.

A boy and his dog go walking in the swamp. They spot a frog in the water. Can they use a net to catch him?

A comic romp through Shakespeare's London featuring an intrepid little boy, a friendly bear, and--in the role of dastardly villain--the Bard himself. What happens when a boy bursts through the curtain of a deserted theatre and onto the world's most famous stage? He lands on the Bard himself and the chase is on--through the streets of Shakespeare's London. This is a rare and inventive visual feast--a runaway story about a curious boy, a magic cloak, a grumpy bard, a captive bear and a baron bound for the chopping block. It is also a richly illustrated, dramatic and very funny tale of adventure and friendship.

What will the little boy find at the top of the stairs? When a little boy sees a cat slip into the open door of an apartment building, the temptation is too great: he follows the cat into the lobby. Before continuing up the stairway, the boy picks up one of several discarded drawings that litter the floor. Another open door awaits. Drawn by the light radiating from every open doorway, the boy lets his curiosity take him on an amazing journey of discovery, which young readers can elaborate with their own versions of the story.

In this wordless story, a library book tries desperately to evade the destructive clutches of a little boy. What drives the Boy, however, is enthusiasm and love--not malice--and the Book eventually responds in kind, accepting his rough but worthy fate.

A little mouse innocently plucks a flower from an old wall when a brick comes loose, and he can see through it for the first time. He and the other animals gradually and resolutely remove more and more bricks, until at last they can see another group of animals.

A family's faithful dog and the baby left in his charge share an adventure-filled Christmas Eve.

Three children discover a magical bag of chalk on a rainy day

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... The very youngest can "read" this charming, wordless picture book all by themselves.

In this wordless story that is both funny and sweet, a fox steals a hen away from her home. Bear, rabbit, and rooster give chase, but in a twist on the usual children's story, this fox is not a villain. Rather, he tenderly holds hen as he runs into the night.

Keats departs from his traditional style for his one and only wordless picture book, Clementina's Cactus. Clementina and her father are out for a walk in the desert when Clementina discovers a lone cactus, all shriveled and prickly. But Clementina discovers there is something beautiful hiding inside that thick skin.

Pairing two seemingly disparate elements an orchestra conductor and a grove of trees award-winning artist Laetitia Devernay herself orchestrates a visual magnum opus. Her spare, yet intricate, illustrations truly appear to take flight before our eyes and her wordless narrative nearly roars with sound as the conductor prompts the leaves to rustle, then whirl, then swirl to unexpected life with each turn of the page.

This near-wordless story is so much fun that you'll be improvising aloud as the plot unfolds. It begins with an egg (no ordinary egg) and an unsuspecting fellow. And then with a CRACK and a furtive peek in the fridge, this offbeat story is off and running! Before we know it, our hero is hiding under the bed. Next he is fleeing out the door and setting himself up in some safe new digs, until swoosh, a strange invitation arrives. Both humorously retro and wholly original, with very few words and plenty of double takes, THE CROCODILE BLUES is a book with creative bite that will leave readers anything but blue.

An abandoned dog's life ends in a triumph of resourcefulness in this wordless picture book.

A dazzling wordless picture book celebrates creative problem-solving, teamwork, and the sun-splashed wonder of a day at the beach.

In this clever, wordless turnabout on the Goldilocks story, a curious bear cub wreaks havoc in the cabin of a pioneer family out for a walk. Pencil-and-wash pictures bring the forest and Goldilocks' family frontier cabin to life, infusing the tale with a satisfying warmth, a sense of love and security, and just the right touch of humor.

It's summertime and a boy and his dog are leaving behind their apartment in the busy city. His grandparents' home in the countryside feels like a different world. From the window, the curious boy sees a path leading enticingly into the forest. At each bend in the trail the boy discovers more wonders of the surrounding natural world, from towering trees to a still, silent lake. Without a word, The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky tells the heartfelt and uplifting story of a child's independent discovery of the natural world.

A classic friendship story from the beloved Eric Carle, creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This is a simple and nearly wordless picture book for children to explore in a variety of ways. Shared with little ones, the bright pictures showing a small gray mouse's search for the perfect pal help introduce colors, animals, and sounds.

A boy named Leonardo begins to imagine and then draw a world afar--first a rhinoceros, and then he meets some monkeys, and he always has a friendly elephant at his side. Soon he finds himself in the jungle and carried away by the sheer power of his imagination, seeing the world through his own eyes and making friends along the way.

When two boys draw their own lines and realize they can connect them together--magic happens! But a misstep causes their lines to get crossed. Push! Pull! Tug! Yank! Soon their line unravels into an angry tug-of-war. With a growing rift between them, will the boys ever find a way to come together again?

Dude! Dude! You have to read this book. It's totally about this platypus and this beaver who are friends. They want to go surfing but dude, there's this shark who's in the ocean, too. But don't worry. This shark approaches and you'll never guess what happens.

When a family goes to a local museum, a boy notices a homeless man sitting outside, making brightly colored origami birds. He convinces his dad to buy a bird the man makes just for him. Once inside the museum, his little sister takes the bird and launches it into the air. Is it lost? Soon another boy helps him look, and the paper bird brings two families--and two new friends--together.

The little clown and monkey miss their friend the farmer. They spend their days playing farmer together, until one day they get a surprise. Farmer has come to visit the circus! What will happen when he meets the rest of the circus family?

A baby clown is separated from his family when he accidentally bounces off their circus train and lands in a lonely farmer's vast, empty field. The farmer reluctantly rescues the little clown, and over the course of one day together, the two of them make some surprising discoveries about themselves--and about life!

After his new friend the baby clown returned home to the circus train, the farmer expected to resume his quiet and solitary life. Little does he know a playful circus monkey has followed him home! At first, the farmer isn't sure what to make of his excitable houseguest's wild sense of fun, but he soon learns that sometimes an unexpected visit can lead to a wonderful new friendship.

Climb aboard the spaceship bus for a fantastic field trip adventure to the moon! Once their bright yellow ship lands, students debark and set out with their teacher to explore. They jump over trenches and see craters and mountains on the moon's surface and even Earth in the faraway distance. But when one student takes a break to draw some pictures and falls asleep, they wake up to discover that the rest of the class and the spaceship are gone.

The same students we met in Field Trip to the Moon and Field Trip to the Ocean Deep travel to a volcano island on a yellow school bus helicopter. When they get there, one student picks flowers as they hike to the top and then accidentally slips down a crater and can't get out.

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.

Inside a tent it's cozy. But what is going on outside? Is it dark? Is it scary? Not if you have your trusty flashlight!

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.

A 2014 Caldecott Honor Book! In this innovative wordless picture book with interactive flaps, Flora and her graceful flamingo friend explore the trials and joys of friendship through an elaborate synchronized dance.

The darling, dancing Flora is back, and this time she's found two new friends: a pair of peacocks! But amidst the fanning feathers and mirrored movements, Flora realizes that the push and pull between three friends can be a delicate dance. Will this trio find a way to get back in step?

Having mastered ballet in Flora and the Flamingo, Flora takes to the ice and forms an unexpected friendship with a penguin. Twirling, leaping, spinning, and gliding, on skates and flippers, the duo mirror each other's graceful dance above and below the ice.

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 are 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. 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 and delight in these wonders.

Within this wordless picture book there are over 60 stories to be found as every window tells a different story. Discover what happens when a colorless town is visited by an unassuming old man. A house is purchased, fixed up and everything he touches turns to color. But when a flower is given to a little girl, everything changes. Every life will be impacted and transformed ...all by the actions of one.

It's a big day up in the tree that Mama bird shares with her baby. Mama bird thinks Baby bird is finally ready to leave the nest and learn to fly so he can migrate south with the rest of their flock. But Baby bird isn't so sure. Can't his mother keep bringing him worms in their nest? Can't he migrate in a hot air balloon instead? Or perhaps a car?

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.

A heart-tugging story about an abandoned dog who is looking for a forever home -- and a boy who finds him!

When a boy and his dog go for a hike, the boy trips on a fossil, and it comes to life, revealing an ancient plant. The boy is so intrigued that he breaks two more fossils that come to life--a dragonfly and a pteranodon. When these prehistoric creatures collide with present reality, the boy must figure out a way to make things go back to normal.

Fox and Hen Together continues the wordless story of The Chicken Thief. Crab's become a fast friend, Fox and Hen have an empty refrigerator, and Hen has laid an egg. The fate of her egg will take a little longer to reveal itself. Again, the chase is on, but this time Hen's in pursuit!

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.

Following the re-release of the first three books in this beloved series, here are the final three classic wordless tales. A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog, the first book in this series, launched Mercer Mayer's distinguished career over twenty-five years ago and also helped to create the wordless picture book genre. Full of warmhearted mischief and play, the books express the humorous trials and tribulations of friendship and the joy of summertime discovery. Readers will want to collect the entire set.

Following the re-release of the first three books in this beloved series, here are the final three classic wordless tales. A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog, the first book in this series, launched Mercer Mayer's distinguished career over twenty-five years ago and also helped to create the wordless picture book genre. Full of warmhearted mischief and play, the books express the humorous trials and tribulations of friendship and the joy of summertime discovery. Readers will want to collect the entire set.

This is a tale of timeless appeal--the original "Carl" book. Its pictures are so vivid and alive that hardly a word is needed to tell the story. An infant is left in the care of a dog while Mother is out. The two get into all sorts of mischief, but trusty Carl puts everything in order in time for Mother's return. Full color.

"Good night, Gorilla," says the zookeeper. But mischievous Gorilla isn't quite ready to go to sleep. He'd rather follow the zookeeper on his rounds and let all of the other animals out of their cages. Little night owls can sneak along with Gorilla and see who gets the last laugh in this riotous goodnight romp. Practically wordless yet full of expressive art and hilarious, adorable detail, this book from Caldecott Medal winning author Peggy Rathmann is sure to become a beloved part of children's own bedtime rituals.

Grace is the quiet girl in the class. And Gus is the class guinea pig. Grace knows that Gus is lonely, and so she sets off one night to help out her furry friend. Wherever she goes, Grace amazes and delights as she shares her many talents, showing how one person with a little pizzazz can make a difference.

When The Great Zapfino climbs to the top of the circus platform, all eyes are on him, waiting for his incredible leap. But Zapfino is afraid of heights! He can't take the pressure and flees, boards a plane, and runs away to start a new life. In the city, Zapfino starts work as an elevator operator in a tall building but soon learns you can never really outrun your fears. When disaster strikes, can Zapfino find the strength to be great?

A graphic retelling of the fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel" in which a friendly woman lovingly decorates her candy home and two inconsiderate, greedy children take advantage of her kindness. Told without words, readers of all ages will delight in this colorful and playful fractured fairy tale.

The Grey Lady loves strawberries. But so does the Strawberry Snatcher, and unfortunately for the Grey Lady, he is not far away and getting closer all the time. Past flower shops and bakeries he stalks her, silently, steadily, biding his time. He pursues her by foot along haunting red-brick paths and then by skateboard into the mysterious depths of a swamp both beautiful and terrifying. Closer and closer he gets, and yet the Grey Lady escapes him, in fantastic and marvelously improbable ways, until, in the heart of the forest the Strawberry Snatcher discovers instead--blackberries! In this wordless allegory, author-illustrator Molly Bang has created a visual feast full of surprise and wonder. Her lively tale skillfully blends fantasy, suspense, and humor, and the magnificent illustrations are a treat for young and old alike.

Take to the trails for a celebration of nature -- and a day spent with dad. In the cool and quiet early light of morning, a father and child wake up. Today they're going on a hike. Follow the duo into the mountains as they witness the magic of the wilderness, overcome challenges, and play a small role in the survival of the forest. By the time they return home, they feel alive -- and closer than ever -- as they document their hike and take their place in family history.

A family. A house. A neighborhood. A place to play. A place to feel safe. Little by little, baby Tracy grows. She and her neighbors begin to rescue their street. Together, children and adults plant grass and trees and bushes in the empty spaces. They paint murals over old graffiti. They stop the cars. Everything begins to blossom. In Jeannie Baker's striking, natural collages, an urban community reclaims its land. A drab city street becomes a living, thriving neighborhood--a place to call home.

In this wordless picture book, a hunter's efforts are thwarted by the animals of the forest.

Geisert tells the story of a community of pigs that is suffering from the heat. Rather than be sapped of energy and miserable, they go on an adventure in search of ice. The pigs' inventiveness and great can-do spirit create a joyful tale of change and adventure.

Alex's enthusiasm and energy can sometimes be a challenge for his classmates. He loves to play ball on the playground with his friends, but when his rambunctious behavior inadvertently upsets one of the other students, he finds himself at odds with the whole class. This story explores the difficult feelings that come with apologies and forgiveness. This wordless picture book is a good reminder that it's important to take responsibility for a mistake but that it's equally important to be ready to forgive.

The few seconds after the ball leaves the bat can be infinitely long. For this eager young outfielder, there's plenty of time to envision the increasingly fantastic and funny situations that might interfere with making the catch. Summoning determination and courage, he overcomes the imaginary obstacles and turns them into a springboard for success. I Got It! reveals the extraordinary within the ordinary, taking readers on an amazing journey in a few seconds on a baseball field.

After passing a city museum many times, a boy finally decides to go in. He passes wall after wall of artwork until he sees a painting that makes him stop and ponder. Before long the painting comes to life and an afternoon of adventure and discovery unfolds, changing how he sees the world ever after.

I See You is a wordless picture book that depicts a homeless woman who is unseen by everyone around her--except for a little boy. Over the course of a year, the boy is witness to all that she endures. Ultimately, in a gesture of compassion, the boy acknowledges her through an exchange in which he sees her and she experiences being seen.

This simple yet powerful picture book tells the story of an elementary school girl named Vanessa who is bullied and a fellow student who witnesses the act and is at first unsure of how to help. I Walk with Vanessa explores the feelings of helplessness and anger that arise in the wake of seeing a classmate treated badly, and shows how a single act of kindness can lead to an entire community joining in to help.

A 2014 Caldecott Honor Book! A wondrously illustrated picture book about self-determination--and unexpected friendship. A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When she is captured by a sinister emperor, only an act of tremendous courage and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her heart's desire?

From disco to opera, hip hop to jazz, David Merveille's unique style makes this practically wordless book sing. A non-fiction journey through the musical universe, Jukebox is filled with details, revealing as much about the people who listen to music as it does about those who create it.

A little girl stands alone and sings but hears no response. Gathering her courage and her curiosity, she skips farther out into the world, singing away to the trees and the pond and the reeds -- but no song comes back to her.

A little girl doesn't like her dinner and is sent to her room. She seeks comfort from her friend Bear and falls asleep. So begins a fantastic dream voyage deep into the forest, where the girl and her friend dance and play all night. And in the morning, mother and child make up. With brilliant linocut illustrations and not a single word to break the spell, this picture book marks an impressive American debut for Hyewon Yum.

When Iris's lift button-pushing is disrupted by a new member of the family, she's pretty put out. That is, until the sudden appearance of a mysterious new button opens up entire realms of possibility, places where she can escape and explore on her own. But when it becomes a question between going it alone or letting someone else tag along, Iris finds that sharing a discovery with the people you love can be the most wonderful experience of all.

A monster meanders down a beach, dragging a stick behind them and leaving a line in the sand. Meanwhile, a group of friends is at play--flying kites, building sandcastles, tossing a ball--until two of them become curious about the line that now seemingly divides them. What does the line mean? Tensions mount as the two ponder the situation.

It starts with a line. Whether made by the tip of a pencil or the blade of a skate, the magic starts there.

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.

When a young girl brings her beloved stuffed fox to the playground, much to her astonishment, a real fox takes off with it! The girl chases the fox into the woods with her friend, the boy, following close behind, but soon the two children lose track of the fox. Wandering deeper and deeper into the forest, they come across a tall hedge with an archway. What do they find on the other side? A marvelous village of miniature stone cottages, tiny treehouses, and, most extraordinary of all, woodland creatures of every shape and size. But where is the little fox? And how will they find him?

Little Red has baked a cake with their father, and is on the way to Grandma's house to make a delivery. But someone has been trailing them ever since they left home . . . someone who really loves cake.

It starts with an ALLIGATOR and a BEAR chasing a CAT. When a DRAGON (and a chicken and an egg!) join in pursuit, things start to get REALLY interesting. A wild and wacky chase through snow and ice, and to jungles and over mountaintops, leads the whole crew to a wonderful realization: They're better off as friends.

High on a balcony, a girl watches the world-- passersby hurrying along, carrying umbrellas in the rain, riding bikes and walking dogs. She wishes that someone-- anyone!-- would look up and notice her.

Sadness is an emotion that everyone feels at some time or another. But sometimes you might feel a sadness so long and so deep and dark that it seems impossible to find happiness. That kind of sadness is called depression. Meh is a story of one boy's journey through depression.

As darkness falls on the fairgrounds, the animals venture out of the woods for one magical, memorable night! An exhilarating wordless picture book. Far from the city, but not quite the countryside, lies a fairground. When night comes and the fair is empty, something unexpected happens. Wild animals emerge from the forest, a brave raccoon pulls a lever, and the roller coasters and rides explode back into bright, neon life.

Gregory Rogers is back with a new wordless adventure every bit as funny and inspired as The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard. Here the Bear returns as a soldier whose daydreams are interrupted by Shakespeare's fairy, Puck - the Boy in the previous book. Soon Bear finds himself hurtled into an enchanted world replete with treacherous doings, sinister plots and, of course, palace dungeons. Is Bear truly a swashbuckler? Will he ever escape?

An innovative, two-in-one picture book follows a parallel day in the life of two families: one in a Western city and one in a North African village.  Somewhere in Sydney, Australia, a boy and his family wake up, eat breakfast, and head out for a busy day of shopping. Meanwhile, in a small village in Morocco, a boy and his family go through their own morning routines and set out to a bustling market. In this ingenious, wordless picture book, readers are invited to compare, page by page, the activities and surroundings of children in two different cultures. Their lives may at first seem quite unalike, but a closer look reveals that there are many things, some unexpected, that connect them as well. Designed to be read side by side -- one from the left and the other from the right -- these intriguing stories are told entirely through richly detailed collage illustrations.

When Cow gets her hooves on the farmer's car, she takes it for a wild ride through the country. Moooo! But a bump in the road brings this joy ride to a troublesome end. Moo-moo. . . Has Cow learned her lesson about living life in the fast lane? Pairing two talented creators who managed to tell a complete story with just one word: MOO! This imaginative picture book will have readers laughing one moment and on the edge of their seats the next, as it captures the highs and lows of a mischievous cow's very exciting day.

In a near wordless masterpiece that could only have been devised by David Wiesner, a cat named Mr. Wuffles doesn't care about toy mice or toy goldfish. He's much more interested in playing with a little spaceship full of actual aliens--but the ship wasn't designed for this kind of rough treatment. Between motion sickness and damaged equipment, the aliens are in deep trouble.

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.

Rabbit saves the day in a most ingeneous way. When Mouse lets his best friend, Rabbit, play with his brand-new airplane, trouble isn't far behind.

Following the re-release of the first three books in this beloved series, here are the final three classic wordless tales. A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog, the first book in this series, launched Mercer Mayer's distinguished career over twenty-five years ago and also helped to create the wordless picture book genre. Full of warmhearted mischief and play, the books express the humorous trials and tribulations of friendship and the joy of summertime discovery.

From a tall tree growing in the forest-- to the checkout counter at the grocery store-- one little bag finds its way into the hands of a young boy on the eve of his first day of school. And so begins an incredible journey of one little bag that is used and reused and reused again. In a three-generation family, the bag is transporter of objects and keeper of memories. And when Grandfather comes to the end of his life, the family finds a meaningful new way for the battered, but much-loved little bag to continue its journey in the circle of life.

A little girl--lost and alone--follows a mysterious stag deep into the woods, and, like Alice down the rabbit hole, she finds herself in a strange and wondrous world. But... home and family are very far away. How will she get back there? In this magnificently illustrated--and wordless--masterpiece, debut artist Guojing brilliantly captures the rich and deeply-felt emotional life of a child, filled with loneliness and longing as well as love and joy.

Oops! One morning, while a pig family was sitting down to breakfast, a little milk spills to the floor. That shouldn't be any problem at all! And it wouldn't, except that the milk seeps through a crack in the floor and drips down to the workshop below onto a tray that tips and flips the switch on the grinder whose spinning wheel catches the loose end of a clothesline which gets wound around the leg of a table saw . . . and that is just the beginning of a series of chain reactions that lead from a little spill on the table to a giant boulder in the breakfast room! With each disastrous step depicted as only Arthur Geisert could, a seemingly ordinary incident spills out of control. They say you shouldn't cry over spilled milk, but what if it destroys your whole house?

Oscar's mom has to go away for a little while, so Oscar is staying with his nana. He likes being with Nana in her apartment building, but he still misses his mom. One day, Nana has an idea, and together they carefully sow seeds--lots and lots of seeds!

In a beautifully detailed wordless picture book, a tumbledown building becomes home sweet home for a found family. A lonely little girl and her grandparent need to fill the run-down apartment in their building. But taking over the quarters above their store will mean major renovations for the new occupants, and none of the potential renters can envision the possibilities of the space--until one special couple shows up. With their ingenuity, the little girl's big heart, and heaps of hard work, the desperate fixer-upper begins to change in lovely and surprising ways. In this bustling wordless picture book, JonArno Lawson's touching story and Qin Leng's gentle illustrations capture all angles of the building's transformation, as well as the evolving perspectives of the girl and her grandparent. A warm and subtly nuanced tale, Over the Shop throws open the doors to what it means to accept people for who they are and to fill your home with love and joy.

This wordless picture book follows the trials of a little old lady who attempts to make pancakes for her breakfast.

At her home in Vietnam, a girl rescues ants from the sugar water set out to trap them. Later, when the girl's family flees war-torn Vietnam, ants lead them through the moonlit jungle to the boat that will take them to safety. Before boarding, the girl folds a paper boat from a bun wrapper and drops it into the water, and the ants climb on.

When a young boy visits the local art gallery, he is whisked away on a cross-country Canadian journey as he moves from painting to painting. Each collage image in this magical book was created with colored pencils and cut paper and inspired by some of the most beloved Canadian artists.

Told as a story of cosmic beginnings, this version of Pinocchio is about the formative energy and magic that reside in the wood that becomes the boy. This version is also about life on the molecular level and what it means to think about our composition as human beings from the point of view of energy and cosmic matter.

A king emerges from a hidden door in a city park, startling two children sheltering from the rain. No sooner does he push a map and some strange objects into their hands than he is captured by hostile forces that whisk him back through the enchanted door. Just like that, the children are caught up in a quest to rescue the king and his kingdom from darkness, while illuminating the farthest reaches of their imagination.

It can be lonely sometimes on a rainy day in a big house with no one else around and there's only the quiet to keep you company. But if you find a key, a mysterious key, that leads you to an unexpected place . . . chances are your afternoon is about to get a lot more interesting.

Open this wordless book and take off on mind-bending visual journeys full of twists, turns, and surprises. Zoom from an Egyptian pyramid to an exotic jungle to a sandy beach. But if you think you know where you are, guess again. For in Istvan Banyai's mysterious landscapes of pictures within pictures, nothing is ever as it seems.

When a young boy discovers an abandoned book on the side of the road, it opens a window to another world just as real as his own. But what happens when the two worlds collide?

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.

A series of exuberant read-aloud sound effects perfectly capture the whimsy and joy of a springtime frolic in this companion to "Red Sled." In this almost wordless springtime picture book, an adorable crew of baby animals borrows a familiar-looking red hat (last seen on the head of "Red Sled"'s unsuspecting protagonist) and embarks on a joy-filled escapade--until all that is left is a long piece of red string. Their playful romp is gorgeously depicted in bold watercolor and complemented by humorous expressions and pitch-perfect sound effects. With a timeless tone and classic characters, "Red Hat" promises to be an instant favorite.

In this nearly wordless picture book, a host of woodland creatures take a child’s sled for a nighttime joy ride. Their whimsical ride is gorgeously depicted in bold watercolor, complemented by humorous expressions and pitch-perfect sound effects. With a timeless charm and irresistible characters, Red Sled begs to be read aloud and will surely become a wintertime favorite.

A spectacular, emotionally satisfying story that brings its adventurer home. Failing to get the attention of her busy father, a lonely girl turns back to a fantastic world for friendship and adventure. It's her third journey into the enticing realm of kings and emperors, castles and canals, exotic creatures and enchanting landscapes. This time, it will take something truly powerful to persuade her to return home, as a gripping backstory is revealed that will hold readers in its thrall. Caldecott Honor winner Aaron Becker delivers a suspenseful and moving climax to his wordless trilogy, an epic that began with the award-winning Journey and continued with the celebrated follow-up Quest.

"A wordless and stunning series of digitally enhanced photographs communicates the story of how a yellow plastic ring transforms a little boy's boring, gravity-bound, black-and-white autumn day into a soaring, summertime, full-color flight of imagination. As he is lifted into the air, his shoes and scarf fall away and soon he is soaring over the Empire State Building and whisking past the nose of the Statue of Liberty....A simple concept amplified by artistry in league with technology."--Kirkus Review

Never be late for a parade.Never forget the password.Never ruin a perfect plan.It's all about the rules. But what if the rules feel completely arbitrary? What if your older brother is the only one who gets to make them up all summer long? And what if he's the only one who can save you when the darkness of winter comes rushing in?

School time! Everyone heads out the door, even little Bitty, who follows her big brothers and sisters to school. In class, Bitty stays busy with math, reading, and snack time. But when Mama comes for her, the youngest student finds that she is most happy to return home.

Times change. Cities may grow large. Summers may come and go. And peoplemightgrow old, but the one thing that always remains the same is the desire for adventure. Barbara Lehman takes readers on a timeless trip to a world of secret messages left in secret boxes hidden in secret places.  You'll never know what you'll find when you look inside!

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.

Geometric shapes are all around us in this wordless book from top-selling picture-book creator Tana Hoban, children learn to look closely to find them. Circles, squares, stars, triangles, hearts, and rectangles--how many can you see?

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!

In this wordless picture book, a little girl collects wildflowers while her distracted father pays her little attention. Each flower becomes a gift, and whether the gift is noticed or ignored, both giver and recipient are transformed by their encounter. "Written" by award-winning poet JonArno Lawson and brought to life by illustrator Sydney Smith, Sidewalk Flowers is an ode to the importance of small things, small people, and small gestures.

What do the figures on signs do when no one is watching? Under cover of night, they leave their signs to play and collaborate!

Simple Pierrot dreams of his saucy sweetheart Columbine in this original story featuring the traditional comic characters.

A little girl's Christmas wish for a playmate comes true in this story from the author of the holiday classic, Winter's Gift.

In this short, wordless graphic picture book, a young boy feels alone with his anxiety. He isn't fitting in well at school. His grades are slipping. He's even lashing out at those who love him.

Raymond Briggs' award-winning, classic story about the friendship between a boy and a snowman is now available in a generously-sized board book. This wordless tale is told entirely in dream-like pictures, making it perfect for young not-quite-yet readers. The Snowman perfectly captures the wonder and innocence of childhood and has enchanted children for over 30 years.

When a little bird awakens to find that all of his friends and family have gone south for the winter, it takes a surprising friendship with Mooch the cat to help him find his way. This is a wordless and profoundly moving story--by the creator of the beloved comic strip Mutts--that explores being lost and found, crossing boundaries, saying goodbye, and broadening horizons.

Astronaut Randolph Witherspoon wants to take a walk--a space walk, that is! But Ground Control has other ideas. Randolph must eat some lunch, get some exercise, and then he can go outside, provided he dresses warmly and doesn't talk to strangers. But Randolph's mission doesn't exactly go to plan, leading to an unexpected new friend. Brian Biggs puts an interstellar spin on the parent-child relationship in this hilarious new picture book.

When Spencer gets a new pet, he's excited to do all the things that pets do--taking walks in the park, going to the vet, and attending parties together. There's just one hitch: Spencer's new pet is a balloon. And that means No. Sharp. Objects. No drooling dogs at the park. No prickly porcupines at the vet. And absolutely no pinning tails on any donkeys!

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.

A dog named Dot draws Spot from his window. As we follow Spot and Dot on their wordless journey, we quickly realize that it's Dot the dog who is missing this time, and Spot is trying to get her back home. We follow these two on a different journey through the city as they weave in and out of a bakery, a library, a busy park, and more.

This year's summer vacation will be very different for a young girl and her family without Sascha, the beloved family dog, along for the ride. But a wistful walk along the beach to gather cool, polished stones becomes a brilliant turning point in the girl's grief. There, at the edge of a vast ocean beneath an infinite sky, she uncovers, alongside the reader, a profound and joyous truth.

Eric Rohmann's Caldecott Honor-winning debut is at once a wordless time-travel adventure and a meditation on the scientific theory that dinosaurs were the evolutionary ancestors of birds.

A ride on the train is exciting. There's always something new to see, even if you've been there before. But some train rides are better than others . . . What if a train took you somewhere else entirely? What if the doors opened in a strange, new place? This is one train stop you won't want to miss!

As the old saying goes, "Give a dog a ball, and he'll beg to play for days. But give a dog a treat, and he'll never stop begging." In this companion to Mary Sullivan's Geisel Award-winning Ball, there's a new dog in town and he is focused on finding a treat, no matter the cost. But endless tricks and futile searching (you can't eat Grandma's dentures!) can be pretty exhausting. Just when he's about to give up hope . . . what's this? TREAT!

In this wordless Caldecott Honor book, striking graphics help little ones follow a big red truck on its bustling journey.

On his way to a tuba lesson, a young boy enchants a forest full of animals with his music, getting caught up in a grand adventure of note-making and mischief.

The unpredictable events of a particular Tuesday unroll before the reader with the precision and clarity of a silent movie. A Caldecott Medal book.

Using just nine words, the award-winning creator of Chalk takes readers on another unforgettable journey. When three children discover a typewriter on a carousel, they are transported on an adventure of their own creation--complete with a giant beach ball and a threatening crab.

A young girl's courage is tested in this haunting, wordless story. When a farm girl discovers a runaway slave hiding in the barn, she is at once startled and frightened. But the stranger's fearful eyes weigh upon her conscience, and she must make a difficult choice. Will she have the courage to help him? Unspoken gifts of humanity unite the girl and the runaway as they each face a journey: one following the North Star, the other following her heart. Henry Cole's unusual and original rendering of the Underground Railroad speaks directly to our deepest sense of compassion.

It is a cold and rainy evening when Gran gives her granddaughter something special: tickets to the ballet. Her granddaughter is reluctant to go. The weather is terrible and they have to wear fancy, uncomfortable clothes. But as the curtains rise on The Nutcracker, the girl's eyes light up as she's introduced to the magic of the theater.

Without a word, The Wanderer presents one little paper boat's journey across the ocean, past reefs and between icebergs, through schools of fish, swaying water plants, and terrifying sea monsters. The little boat is all alone, and while its aloneness gives it the chance to wonder at the fairy-tale world above and below the waves, that also means it must save itself when it storms. And so it does.

In this evocative wordless book, internationally acclaimed artist Suzy Lee tells the story of a little girl's day at the beach. Stunning in their simplicity, Lee's illustrations, in just two shades of watercolor, create a vibrant story full of joy and laughter.

There is a legend that a Great Spotted Whale lives in the ocean, although a sighting fifty years ago was never corroborated. Now two young whale watchers each set out to find the whale, one armed with sound-recording equipment, the other with a camera. When their boats collide, they pool their resources to capture incontrovertible proof that the mythical whale exists.

In this wordless picture book, the Western world's greatest art is closer than you expect. A boy's daily routines bring him face-to-face with Escher's winding stairs, Banksy's balloon girl, Picasso's dancing fauns, and many more familiar sights.

When Walrus escapes the zoo with his new friend Penguin, their adventures are twice the fun! Will the zookeeper find them? Or will these clever runaways stay one step ahead disguised as subway riders, baseball players, and even grand opera performers?

Step inside the pages of a little girl's magical book as she discovers the profound and inspiring notion that we each bring something different to the same story.

No words are needed, and unexpected things can happen, when a boy, some bold paint, an active imagination, and a white wall come together. Roller in hand, a boy starts to paint a blank wall. First it's a plain coat of pink. Then six birds emerge, perched on a branch. . . . Wait, they were there a minute ago! Then he tries the blue paint, and it happens again: fourteen fish swimming in formation, until green paint reveals a giant dinosaur with big teeth and a mind of its own. Whether gray, yellow, purple, or orange, each spread draws on visual humor and an array of unpredictable animals to yield a bigger surprise, right up to the warm and rewarding finale.

Children will love following footprints (and pawprints!) to discover snowy adventures in this charming wordless picture book. On a snowy winter's morning, footprints trace a path from an unmade bed, past discarded clothes and breakfast dishes to the front door where they're joined by excited pawprints. But who is making the footprints and what are they doing?

"The effect human beings have on the landscape around them is the theme of Baker's most recent tour de force....The artist's multimedia collage constructions are, as ever, fascinating in their realistic detail and powerfully convey the dramatic message."--Horn Book.

A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home?

A clever and innovative bilingual English/Japanese picture book about a Japanese girl and an American girl who prove you don't need to speak the same language to understand each other. What starts with a simple "hello" and "konnichiwa" becomes a day filled with fun in the snow. An important book to show children that speaking the same language isn't a prerequisite to making a new friend. Sparse verse with some wordless pages.

The perfect book for a rainy day (obviously) but also for an art lesson, a lazy afternoon, or a quiet classroom, Yellow Umbrella tells the wordless story of one umbrella's morning journey. Accompanied by a CD of original and evocative piano music, this is a book meant to be enjoyed by all people, connecting us through music and art and transcending language and cultural barriers. Readers, "lookers," and listeners of all ages will love this slice of a rainy day. The illustrator, on creating Yellow Umbrella: "On a rainy day, some 15 years ago when I was a teacher at a middle school, I watched some students come to school carrying their umbrellas. While watching them, I realized that their physical differences disappeared. What remained were the visual images of the harmonized colors and the movements of the umbrellas. It seemed to me that these children were claiming that they were all equal in spite of their physical differences."

While she's in the Metropolitan Museum with her grandmother, a little girl leaves her prized yellow balloon tied to a railing outside. But its string becomes untied, and the balloon embarks on an uproarious journey through New York City. With an ever-increasing cast of wacky urban characters in tow, it soars past a host of landmarks. Eighteen famous paintings and sculptures are reproduced in this delightful, wordless book that explores the magical relationship between art and life.

Life parallels art in this madcap romp through the historical environs of Boston and the renowned Museum of Fine Arts. This irresistible companion to You Can't Take a Balloon Into The Metropolitan Museum and You Can't Take a Balloon Into The National Gallery begins when a little girl visits the museum's treasures and her balloon gets loose. Floating past Paul Revere House, Fenway Park, Trinity Church, and other landmarks, the balloon's adventures seem to mirror the paintings and sculpture the girl is admiring. Thirty-three past and present legends of Boston are hidden within the illustrations, and their bios are included. You Can't Take a Balloon Into The Museum of Fine Arts is once again "an introduction to art, a dandy puzzle, and an imaginative guide."

Since this is not her first trip to a museum, this little girl knows her bright orange balloon will not be allowed inside the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The solution seems simple: Ask the kindly photographer in front of the museum to look after the balloon. But while the girl, her brother, and her grandmother are inside, the balloon sails away, starting off a collision of art, history, and urban life that becomes increasingly comical and exciting. "Lots of fun, either as preparation for a visit to Washington, D.C., or as a way to encourage children to take the time to really examine the pictures in a book." (Booklist)

Open this wordless book and zoom from a farm to a ship to a city street to a desert island. But if you think you know where you are, guess again. For nothing is ever as it seems in Istvan Banyai's sleek, mysterious landscapes of pictures within pictures, which will tease and delight readers of all ages. This book has the fascinating appeal of such works of visual trickery as the Waldo and Magic Eye books.