[vc_row padding_top_multiplier=”” rc_link_color=”primary-1″ rc_link_hover_color=”primary-6″][vc_column][crocal_title heading=”h5″]Wordless picture books have retained their power to inspire imagination and develop vocabulary. They’re important additions to an early years setting.
[/crocal_title][vc_column_text]We recently wrote about the power of picture books and how, despite the advances of technology, they are more than worthy of their place in any nursery setting. We also went into the benefit of introducing little ones to wordless picture books at an early age which ranged from inspiring visual thinking to introducing challenging concepts and developing vocabulary. In fact we’re so passionate about wordless picture books we thought it only right to share with you our favourites! Below we’ve listed our top 10 wordless picture books which we think would make a great addition to any EYFS setting.
The Journey Trilogy by Aaron Becker
These three books (Journey, Quest and Return) sweep the reader into a magical landscape. A story of an ordinary child who undertakes an uncertain quest and goes on a spellbinding journey shown through rich imagery and a wordless tale. We think this book is especially good for developing imagination and one children will come back to over and over such is its depth. We couldn’t recommend it enough.
Dog on a Digger by Kate Prendergast
Kate Prendergast’s brilliant wordless story manages to convey such warmth that we couldn’t help but be moved when we first read it. The pencil drawn images only add to the loveliness here as a relationship between a dog and his owner is tenderly explored. The wordless nature of this story encourages children to rely on their imagination and expand the narrative as they go.
Footpath Flowers by JonArno Lawson
A quietly lovely book about how small acts of kindness can prove transformational for both giver and recipient. Rich in visual detail, Footpath Flowers shows us a world we often take for granted and shines a light on it’s beauty. A warm, beautiful story we think every child would appreciate.
Tuesday by David Wiesner
Tuesday received the 1992 Caldecott Medal for illustrations upon its release almost thirty years ago but the book has lost none of its lustre in that time. It’s a book that consistently piques the curiosity of child readers and you’ll be amazed by the amount of questions they’re likely to ask as they go through this book. A lightning rod for a child’s creative and emotional faculties.
Flotsam by David Wiesner
We couldn’t leave it at just one David Wiesner book which is hardly a surprise given he’s won three Caldecott Medals during his acclaimed career. Flotsam tells the story of a science-minded boy who goes to the beach to examine floating items that have been washed ashore. When he finds an underwater camera, the reader is transported to a world brought to life through vivid watercolour paintings.
Zoom by Istvan Banyai
Zoom is a book built to encourage a child’s sense of wonder, something it manages to do with every turn of the page. This wordless picture book is famed for helping children gain perspective. It’s a book that is deceptively simple and forces readers to think the entire time without actually being aware they’re doing so. Great fun for children who constantly zoom in and out of images and have their perceptions challenged throughout.
Chalk by Bill Thomson
Bill Thomson’s story of three little girls who go to the park on a rainy day is really a testament to the power of wordless storytelling. We’ve found that children in nurseries love to engage with this book repeatedly because each time there can be a different narrative. Similarly, they’ll often ask for the book to be ‘read’ to them for the same reasons. Stimulating, fun and sure to fire up their imaginations!
Flashlight by Lizi Boyd
Flashlight transports the reader on a journey through the dark. It’s message centres on encouraging children to look beyond what they first see, that there is often more to something if you are willing to look. With its dramatic colours and exploration of night, Lizi Boyd’s visual poem is sure to brighten every early years setting.
Fossil by Bill Thomson
The cinematic artwork in Bill Thomson’s brilliant book really brings to life this wordless story of a boy who trips on a fossil and makes it come to life. As he brings to life a series of prehistoric creatures, he has to figure out how to make things go back to normal. Fossil is incredibly good fun, dramatic, and bound to spark imagination in any reader.
Mirror by Jeannie Baker
Mirror tells two stories, one of a family in a Western city and one in a North African Village. The book is more innovative than it sounds, though, with the stories designed to be read simultaneously – one on the left, one on the right. Mirror shows how our lives reflect each other and how, ultimately, we are all connected. An important message for young children to receive. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
