Many parents feel intimidated when they first encounter a wordless picture book. Then the possibilities set in: the child can make up the story, the story can change from reading to reading. Not to mention,  the art in these wordless books is stunning.

Where’s Walrus by Stephen Savage

A hide and seek tale told using collage-like illustrations.

Chalk by Bill Thomson

An adventure drawn in sidewalk chalk comes to life. The art contrasts bright and shadow and employs unconventional angles to create lots of visual excitement.

Sector 7 by David Wiesner

Intricate watercolors convey the wonder a boy feels when he is carried off the top of the Empire State Building by a magical cloud.

Wave by Suzy Lee

A girl’s first encounter with the ocean told in charcoal and blue watercolor.

Journey by Aaron Becker

An adventure story and tribute to Harold and the Purple Crayon where a girl draws a door and enters a cinematically rendered new world.

The Tree House by Marije Tolman

The central setting and destination for each of the characters in this book is a multiple storied tree house in a tree in the middle of the ocean. The illustrations are dreamy, rendered in soft pastels with changing background colors.

The Adventures of Polo by Roger Faller

A delightful dog on a physics defying adventure told in bright primary colors and cartoon panels.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to​ be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your picks! Tell us what you'd recommend: Leave a comment or email us.