A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Another

A little girl is sound asleep in her bedroom one night when a portal opens in her bedroom wall — and a cat just like hers emerges! The cat snatches her own cat's toy, so the little girl decides to enter the portal and see what she finds. Inside is a strange and magical world where up can be down and where colors and shapes interact in unexpected ways. Finally, their journey leads them to a room full of children and their doubles, all playing together, where she gets to meet her own double (and her double's cat), reclaim the toy, and emerge back into her world. This whimsical wordless picture book invites kids to imagine what worlds lie just beyond our sight.

Little Fox in the Forest

A stolen stuffed animal leads two kids into a magical adventure in this story! When a young girl brings her beloved stuffed fox to the playground, she's shocked when a real fox grabs it and runs off into the woods! She and one of the boys set off after it, only to discover a tiny village full of woodland creatures of all sorts. But where is her fox... and what will she do when she finds it? This charming fantasy, with a sweet message of generosity at the end, provides wonderful fodder for exploring this story together.

Wave

A little girl takes a trip to the beach where she finds herself exploring the playful, unpredictable ocean. Lee makes effective use of only two colors, grey and blue, and cleverly uses the gutter of the book as the shoreline, with the girl on the left page and the waves on the right — until the little girl dares to cross. The surf takes on the character of a new friend and the girl and the water chase, duck, dodge, and splash; it even reveals some special treasures for the little girl to find. It’s sure to inspire dreams of special trips to the beach! Fans of this book will also want to check out Lee’s Shadow, which explores light, shadow, and the power of imagination.

I Walk With Vanessa

A Story About A Simple Act of Kindness

Vanessa's first day at a new school is a little lonely, but on the way home, things get worse. A boy shouts at her, and she runs home upset — and one of her classmates sees the whole thing. Both girls are heartbroken, but the bystander realizes there are ways she can help... and the next morning, she invites Vanessa to walk to school alongside her. This wordless picture book's expressive images capture the helplessness that kids can feel when they see someone being bullied, as well as the power of simple acts of kindness and the strength that comes from standing together.

Hike

The morning starts early for this father and child as they prepare for a special hike — just the two of them. Out of town and into the wilderness they go, ready to explore the trail. Along the way they see many of nature's simple wonders: beautiful views, lush forests, and bubbling rivers. The hike isn't always easy, but they make it to the summit, where they plant a tree together to do their part for the forest. And when they finally head for home, the pair know they've been part of something special — not just for the forest, but for one another. This elegant, nearly wordless picture book, with a child drawn so they can be interpreted as either male or female, is a gentle tribute to the beauties of the great outdoors, the importance of stewardship, and the love between father and child.

Wolf in the Snow

In this story, a little girl becomes a hero to a vulnerable wolf cub — and the wolf family returns the favor. When a blizzard whips up on her way home from school, the girl is concentrating on getting home... until she spots the cub, who is far too little to survive alone. So, fearlessly, the girl takes the cub over streams and past other dangers to return it to its mother. And when it turns out that the long walk has left the girl in her own predicament, the wolf pack comes together to return the favor. Fascinating details in the expressive illustrations provide enticement to reread this touching story about friendship and trust over and over.

The Girl and the Bicycle

In a shop window, a girl spots the bike of her dreams, but it costs far more than she has saved. Her quest to find ways to earn money leads to a friendly neighbor, who offers her work in the garden. Together, the woman and the girl work side by side until she finally has saved enough — but when she returns to the shop, the bike is gone. Fortunately, after she uses her savings to do a good deed for her brother, the girl discovers that she’s not the only generous person on her street! This sweet story is a celebration of hard work, cross-generational friendships, and the joy that come from generosity.

Stormy: A Story About Finding a Forever Home

On a sunny day, a woman visiting a local park spots a small dog hiding under a bench. The shaggy pup is obviously a stray, so the woman tries to coax him out, but he is too afraid to emerge. Patiently, she visits over and over, offering a tennis ball and kind words; the ball is tentatively accepted, and that night, the dog even tracks her steps back to her apartment, where he thoughtfully looks up at the window. But it takes a raging storm to give the dog proof that she will always be there — and that her home is his too. No words are required in this touching picture book about a woman, a dog, and the loving warmth of a forever home.

Home

A young family brings home a newborn baby to an apartment overlooking a bleak, run-down, grey neighborhood. But as Tracy grows, the neighbors band together, determined to make a change. Slowly, as she becomes a toddler, a child, a teen, and then a grown woman, they plant grass and trees and bushes; they paint vibrant murals over graffiti; and they turn their street into a green, vibrant home — just in time for Tracy’s new baby to come home. Baker’s collage illustrations all take place in the “frame” of a bedroom window, making this remarkable transformation feel personal and real.

Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad

A wordless picture book can be surprisingly effective when teaching history. When a farm girl discovers a runaway slave hiding in the barn, she has a difficult choice: if she helps this person in desperate need, she risks being arrested for helping him escape. Without a word, she chooses to help by providing food and in return, the runaway leaves her something special as a thanks for her kindness. The soft pencil drawings in this book create a gentle portrait of the courage displayed by many ordinary people as slaves made their way to freedom. An end note from the author provides more information about the history of the Underground Railroad.

A Stone for Sascha

A girl and her family have just lost their beloved family dog, and all of them are grieving. Eons earlier, a meteor strike creates a strange yellow stone, which humans quarry and carve. As the centuries pass, the stone is broken and re-crafted over and over again, before finally being lost in the ocean and polished by the waves. And when the girl finds the stone at the beach and presses it against her face, she finds a sense of peace: perhaps nothing in life is ever truly lost. Author / illustrator Aaron Becker's first picture book following the conclusion of his best-selling Journey trilogy is an emotionally powerful, achingly satisfying story.