The Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard by Gregory Rogers

 A wordless graphic "novel"

A boy kicks his soccer ball into an abandon building. As he explores it, he realizes that building once housed plays. He selects a costume, emerges on the stage, and at 4 pm (when all of Shakespeare's plays began in the midsummer) he is transported to the Globe Theater.  He is standing before a crowd. The Bard (Shakespeare) dashes from behind the curtain to remove the distracting boy but slips on the soccer ball. A chase ensues. The reader and the boy experience the streets of Elizabethan London with lots of adventures.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Last Zookeeper by Aaron Becker*

 Science fiction is one of my least favorite genres. I, therefore, was a bit resistant to reading this picture book featuring a robot who cares for animals.

After a world flood, NOA, a robot, feeds and oversees zoo animals. Humans are gone. The rains continue. More disasters occur. Is he alone in this watery world?

Many allusions to biblical Noah are scattered throughout the narrative.

A wordless book that promotes discussion and inferring.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Anno text set

 When reading an introduction to a section in my son's geometry book, Anno's Hat Tricks illustrated by Mitsumasa Anno was mentioned. Out of curiosity I requested some of his books. He is quite the intriguing illustrator!

The Magic Pocket Selected Poems by Michio Mado translated by The Empress Michiko of Japan decorations by Mitsumasa Anno-very simple poems with simple decorations. I liked how the original Japanese version was on the left with the English translation on the opposite page.

Anno's Spain A wordless book  Takes the viewer through Spain  Some explanations about the illustrations are at the end  Someone who has lived in Spain or visited there for an extended period of time would enjoy this book.

Anno's Alphabet I liked this book the best. Borders have objects hidden in them that represent the featured letter.

Peter Spier's Christmas**

As I read this book, I smiled as fond memories unfolded-shopping malls, addressing Christmas cards (not photo cards), Christmas caroling, homemade gifts, listening to Christmas songs on a record player, delivering cookies to neighbors-very nostalgic!

Through illustrations (wordless) Mr. Spier guides the reader from pre-Christmas day preparations to the fun-filled day to the aftermath-clean up!

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library (another one I will purchase if I see available in a bookstore).

The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker

 This wordless book depicts the different centuries a tree and river endure human "progress". I love the ending! I like Mr. Becker's Journey trilogy better.

-Borrowed from the library.

Lions at Night by Jessica M. Boehman*

 The lions that guard the New York Public Library by day come alive at night to explore the city. In this wordless book, Ms. Boehman displays their adventure in engaging illustrations. Allusions abound. I especially enjoyed the author's note where she explains the lions' history.

*Highly recommend.

Borrowed via inter-lib. loan. 

Forever Home-A Dog and Boy Love Story by Henry Cole

 A sweet, wordless picture book that reveals the determination of a boy to prove to his dads that he is responsible enough to own a dog. Mr. Cole based it off of a young boy he heard about who really wanted a dog. Once again I love how Mr. Cole illustrates the entire story in pen with only one vital object in color. 

Warning: The boy's parents are two dads.

-Borrowed from the library.

Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin

 A sweet wordless book 

A girl loses her favorite stuffed animal, a fox, when a real fox snatches it.  The girl and her friend follow the fox into the woodland to discover a wondrous world.  A satisfying compromise is established.

The endpages are vital to look at and to discuss!

-Borrowed from the library.

The Typewriter by Bill Thomson**

-Wordless book

 I highly, highly recommend this book simply because Mr. Thomson is an incredible artist.  The illustrations look like photographs.  In fact, my eleven-year-old son asked while we were reading it together if the illustrations were produced on the computer or computer -generated.  It was amusing that on the copyright page Mr. Thomson clarifies that the illustrations "are not photographs or computer-generated images"!!

Three children discover an old typewriter on a bumblebee ride on a carousel.  Whatever word they type on it, the object comes to life.  They have fun and must use their creativity as they problem solve.

**Highly, highly recommend.

Mr. Thomson has illustrated/created similar books-Chalk and Fossil.

-Borrowed from the library.

One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey by Henry Cole*

-Wordless picture book

Readers witness how a tree is cut down and changed into a brown paper bag.  The paper bag is then used by a boy for a myriad of tasks.  As the boy matures, he still utilizes the bag.  The bag spans generations.

I loved this story about a family (and a  brown paper bag)! The only color throughout the book is anything related to the brown paper bag.

Based on actual events.

Strategies: inferring, predicting

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

That Neighbor Kid by Daniel Miyares

 A girl moves in and discovers a great friend in her neighbor, a boy trying to build a treehouse.

A wordless book.

-Borrowed from the library.

Fly! by Mark Teague*

 A baby bird refuses to fly and offers solutions to his mother that would help him avoid flying.

Humorous and sweet!

A wordless picture book

Strategies: connections, inferring

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Hike by Pete Oswald*

A wordless picture book

 My ten-year old and I thoroughly enjoyed the detailed illustratons as we asked questions and made predictions and inferences.  

A boy and his father arise early in the morning for a hike.  As the reader studies the pages, he will discover that the hike is very special with a family history attached to it.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Strategies: asking questions, making predictions, making inferences

Stormy by Guojing

A sweet, wordless book about a stray dog finding a home with a persistent, patient young woman.
-Borrowed from the library.

Red Again by Barbara Lehman

A sequel to The Red Book
This wordless book reveals the adventures found within a simple red book.
Children from faraway places are united.
Strategies: inferring; predicting
-Borrowed from the library.

I Got It! by David Wiesner

A boy plays pick up baseball and dreams of catching a fly ball.
Mostly wordless.
Strategy: inferring
-Borrowed from the library.

Sea of Dreams by Dennis Nolan*

A wordless picture book
A girl builds a sand castle, and when she leaves the beach for the night, a light blinks on in the top window.  Who is in there?  What will the individuals do when high tide arrives?
Beautiful illustrations! I loved the sea foam especially.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Strategies:  inferring; cause/effect
Pair with Flotsam.

Return by Aaron Becker*

My sons and I have been anticipating this last book in Mr. Becker's wordless trilogy.
We were not disappointed!
The girl, the main character from the previous two books, asks her father to spend time with her but he is too busy working.  She escapes into her imaginary world and finds something awful occurring.  Meanwhile her father feels guilty about chasing her away and follows her into the world.  Together they problem solve and destroy the evil in the kingdom.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library (but I would like to purchase it to complete our trilogy.).
Strategies: inferring, sequencing

Spot, the Cat by Henry Cole*

In this wordless book, readers follow Spot, the cat on an adventure through a bustling city.
His owner tirelessly searches for him.
The reader will have fun trying to "spot" Spot the cat on each page and eventually the boy (his owner).
Strategies: inferring, sequencing, cause/effect
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Zoom by Istvan Banyai (and other books by him)

In Comprehension Connections by Tanny McGregor, she recommends using these wordless books to teach/reinforce inferring.
The books are mind-boggling and creative but were not a favorite (the art work does not appeal to me).

Other books by him:
Re-Zoom
REM
The Other Side