One of our favorite parts about wordless picture books is that they can be used at almost any grade level. In the early grades, wordless picture books are great for developing students’ sense of plot, sequence, and storytelling. As students progress, wordless picture books become terrific springboards for talking about imagery, theme, and more. Below are some of the best wordless picture books for your classroom library.
1. Journey by Aaron Becker
The first book in the Journey series takes readers on a magical adventure of self-discovery.
2. Flashlight by Lizi Boyd
When the sun goes down, a flashlight reveals all of the wonders of the night.
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3. A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
When Daisy’s favorite ball is destroyed by a big dog, she learns an important lesson about loss and friendship.
4. Flotsam by David Wiesner
A young boy visits the beach to learn about marine life. Using his exploration tools, he discovers the wonders of underwater life and the truth behind a mysterious photograph.
5. Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
An unlikely friendship is formed when a young girl lost in a wintery forest goes on a journey to help a lost wolf cub find his way home.
6. Mirror by Jeannie Baker
Mirror explores the similarities and differences in the lives of two boys, one in Morocco and the other in Australia.
7. Chalk by Bill Thomson
When three children find a bag of magical chalk, adventure ensues as their drawings come to life.
8. Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
Unlikely friends and dancers, Flora and flamingo discover the ups and downs of friendship as they prepare for their big performance.
9. Fossil by Bill Thomson
While visiting the beach, a boy and his dog discover a fossil that inspires his imagination. The fossil come to life and the young boy must figure out to make things normal again.
10. Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson
A father and daughter are transformed by the wild flowers they encounter on their walk and the power of small acts of kindness.
11. Pool by Jihyeon Lee
When two shy kids meet at a pool, a friendship blossoms and their imagination take them on an underwater adventure.
12. Lines by Suzy Lee
Illustrated primarily with a variety of lines, readers will learn about the power of perseverance in this wordless skating tale.
What are your favorite wordless picture books for the classroom? Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, picture books to use in high school English and all of our book lists.