Aquest Si, Aquest No by Eduard Martorell & Montse Fransoy

This book resembles a graphic novel, with boxed panels surrounding most of the images. Its story is simple, yet affecting. Lumberjacks are using chainsaws to chop down trees, much to the chagrin of the forest animals. Several are displaced before a woman rushes in and stops them. She marks some trees with an "x" and leaves others unmarked. After all of the marked trees are cleared, the lumberjacks, the lady, and people from the surrounding community plant tree seedlings so reforestation can occur.

This book is a part of a series called "sense mots," which means "without words." According to the publisher's website, each book in the series is meant to "offer little ones a chance to read before they know how to read" and "help them discover the pleasure of reading alone."

Aquest Si, Aquest No [This, Yes; This, No] by Eduard Martorell & Montse Fransoy. Spain: La Galera Editorial, 2000. [9788424604257]

L'Albero by Iela Mari

This beautifully illustrated wordless book poetically portrays a year in the life of a tree. In addition to the changing of seasons, the tree's impact on the wildlife dependent upon it is also shown. From the squirrel burrowed near its roots through the winter to the birds that return to their nest in the spring, the tree plays an important role to others during its own stages of development.

As her publisher's website states, "Iela Mari [has created] an image-based language intended for children." Her books contain "simple images" but are "extremely evocative."

L'Albero [The Tree] by Iela Mari. Italy: Babalibri, 2007. [9780460068475]

Ben's Bunny Trouble by Daniel Wakeman & Dirk van Stralen

Although the interior of Ben's apartment is colorful and clean, the city that he lives in is drab and polluted. Peering through his telescope, he envisions a plan for an intergalactic trip to find better living accommodations for his pet rabbits. Through a semi-graphic novel format, depicted with vibrant colors in panels of various sizes, we explore the other options he finds on his journey, all of which are in some way more appealing, until he finds the perfect habitat for his friends and returns home.

Ben's Bunny Trouble by Daniel Wakeman & Dirk van Stralen. Canada: Orca Book Publishers, 2007. [9781551436111]

Ben's Big Dig by Daniel Wakeman & Dirk van Stralen

Even though this book has brightly colored illustrations and a comic-like structure, there is something almost somber about the way the story begins. The main character is clearly apprehensive about the road trip he's on, and subsequent visit with his grandmother, but the reader doesn't learn much about her other than that she bakes an extraordinary amount of pies while her grandson is visiting. Ben finds a hard hat and shovel in the foot locker at the base of his bed, and ventures outside to dig a giant hole. This sets off a sequence of strange events that ultimately lead back to grandma, the pies, and the two characters becoming more comfortable spending time together.

Ben's Big Dig by Daniel Wakeman & Dirk van Stralen. Canada: Orca Book Publishers, 2005. [9781551433844]

Trapo y Rata by Magdalena Armstrong Olea

Friendship develops between a hag-like woman and a rat, as they both would like the city dump area to be cleared of cats. They each select some treasures from the heap, drag them along a fair distance from the place, and use them to create a fantastic structure that scares away their feline nemeses. Pencil drawings on what looks like homemade, reused paper, do an excellent job of interpreting the story and creating the setting.

From the White Ravens 2012 catalog: "With her confident, energetic stroke, the Chilean illustrator has put down sketch-like pictures in shades of grey. Brimming with original ideas, the book invites its audience to discover new details with every reading."

Trapo y Rata [Rag and Rat] by Magdalena Armstrong Olea. Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2011. [9786071606969]

Incomodo by Andre Letria

A familiar situation - a fly buzzing above someone's head - is depicted with humor and surprise in this fold-out book. The format is one long piece of heavyweight paper, folded into six equal segments, and the color palette is limited to green, grey, and cream. With a few simple changes to the man's face, a growing irritation with the noise of the fly is apparent. After flipping the sixth panel to continue the story, the man notices a frog's tongue reaching above his head. It is not until the page is turned (or the panels are fully opened) that a completely unexpected plot twist takes place, and the nuisance continues in a new way.

Incomodo [Nuisance] by Andre Letria. Portugal: Pato Logico Edicoes, 2011. [9789899671720]

Aan De Overkant by Nicole De Cock

A lady and man living in houses on opposite sides of a river develop a friendship. The lady researches how to build a boat and attempts to share her findings, but she is unsuccessful because they are too far apart. With the help of some feathered friends and a rope, they connect. She shares the drawing and supplies so that the man can build a boat while she sews the sail. Upon completion, the man rows across the river where the two are happily united, the lady ties the sail to the mast, and the two relax in the boat as the day ends.

This book was part of the 2013 Silent Books from the World to Lampedusa project, was on the Honour List, and received an Amnesty International Special Award because "the main characters in this story live on opposite banks of the river, a metaphor . . . for the real separation that exists between countries overlooking the same sea . . . "

Aan De Overkant [Over the Way] by Nicole De Cock. Netherlands: Gottmer Publishing Group, 2006. [9789025741501]

Zgodba o Sidru by Damijan Stepancic

This book is filled with surreal elements. A ship with a massive anchor floats in the sky and lands nestled among the houses. The captain disembarks to visit a boy, and the two review a large map. They glance out the window and are startled by a dragon severing the anchor's chain. The captain hurries to board his ship before it floats away, and the boy and city are left with the anchor and chain to commemorate the day's activities. Nautical themes run throughout the pages, along with fantastical fish the size of a lake and flying dragons.

From the White Ravens 2011 catalog: "Stepancic creates a profound maritime atmosphere in a book, full of details and with multiple zooming in and out among the various narrative levels . . ."

Zgodba o Sidru [The Story of the Anchor] by Damijan Stepancic. Slovenia: Mladinska Knjiga, 2010. [9789610111597]

El Mundo al Reves by Miguel Calatayud

The entire world has been turned upside down, and this book is no exception. The pictures on the end papers are upside down, it starts with the word "fin," which means end, the pictures are numbered backwards sequentially from 40-1, and the title page and colophon are the final pages.

The illustrations are intentionally confusing, and each double paged spread requires the reader to think about what is being portrayed and why it is nonsensical. Some examples include a bug spraying a person with repellent, a plant watering a person, boxers in a boxing ring watching the audience members pummel each other, and a man in a cage, under the watch of an enormous bird.

El Mundo al Reves [The World Upside Down] by Miguel Calatayud. Spain: Media Vaca, 2001. [9788493200411]

Tout Un Monde by Antonin Louchard & Katy Couprie

Using a mixed-media approach to representing objects and concepts, this little square book is chock full of a vast assortment of images. Most of the side-by-side pictures are related, but not always in an obvious way. More like a scrapbook than a picture book with a single story, every reader will contribute his or her own interpretation.

From the Honour List: "On the face of it, this is a rich catalogue of modern images displaying different techniques, but on a second reading we note that each picture is linked to the next in a different way. And finally, after reading and rereading it . . . we realise that we are in the presence of a crucial book that is talking to us about growing up, about growing old, about the passage of time, and the cycle of life and nature."

Tout Un Monde [A Whole World] by Antonin Louchard & Katy Couprie. France: Thierry Magnier, 1999. [9782844200631]

A Pas De Pallasso by Teresa Duran & Francesc Rovira

A fluttering yellow butterfly captures the attention of a circus clown, and he follows it into the circus tent where he finds a beautiful ballerina dancing. The clown attempts to learn some of her dance steps. Not surprisingly, especially with his giant shoes, he is anything but graceful and eventually falls down in a heap. The ballerina helps him up and they resume their dance, this time much more successfully. Of course it couldn't last this way, and a bunch of situational comedy follows in which the clown becomes and aerialist and causes quite a scene before he crashes to the ground. The story ends well for the clown and ballerina, as they sit together at a table cleaning off his shoes, with the butterfly hovering above them.

A Pas De Pallasso [Step Clown] by Teresa Duran & Francesc Rovira. Spain: La Galera Editorial, 2000. [9788424604233]

Clown by Quentin Blake

I'm not usually a fan of clowns, but the one in this book is extremely endearing. He is also incredibly resilient. After being tossed in the trash with a bunch of other stuffed animals, he brushes himself off and meanders about town in search of a new home for himself and the rest of the cast-offs. The watercolor and ink drawings in Blake's signature carefree style bring energy and lightheartedness to what would otherwise be a pretty sad story, and its ending leaves readers filled with joy.

Clown by Quentin Blake. United Kingdom: Red Fox, 1998. [9780099493617]

Monkie by Dieter Schubert

A boy purchases a stuffed monkey, and spends a busy day with it. As the boy and his mother bicycle home in the rain, the monkey falls unnoticed. When the boy realizes the monkey is lost, they search for it, but it has been dragged beneath a tree by a mischief of mice. The monkey gets pushed and pulled until the mice use it to block the entrance to their tree from a sneaky hedgehog. The hedgehog carefully carries the monkey back to his family, and they cuddle and play with it until it is carried away by a large bird. The bird eventually drops it into a small body of water and the toy shop owner fishes it out, fixes and cleans it, and is reunited with the boy after a long and arduous journey.

Filled with suspense and tension, readers will enjoy following the improbable chain of events and predicting what may happen next.

Monkie [Monkey] by Dieter Schubert. The Netherlands: Lemniscaat, 2011. [9789060696408]

Que Bicho Que é? by Levindo Carneiro

Photographs of natural objects are superimposed with shadow images to invite the reader to discover what each shadow is, and how it relates to the accompanying picture.   

The final two pages explain where each of the pictures were taken, but this information is not necessary to appreciate the book because the book is not dependent upon this text.

The White Ravens 2011 catalog explains its inclusion by noting that "the artist connects animals with places that are not necessarily their natural habitats, which makes for surprising, unexpected sensations that both entertain and incite the reader's imagination to reinvent reality."

Que Bicho Que é? [What Animal is it?] by Levindo Carneiro. Brazil: Reptil, 2010. [9788599625255]

De Gele Ballon by Charlotte Dematons

Vibrant watercolor paintings filled with incredible details encourage the reader to accompany a lone yellow balloon on an adventure around the world, above diverse terrains, and across different time periods, in both the real world and the world of fantasy. 

Peruse this book slowly and frequently, because the more you look, the more you will find, and the yellow balloon is definitely not the only character with a story for you to tell.

De Gele Ballon [The Yellow Balloon] by Charlotte Dematons. The Netherlands: Lemniscaat, 2003. [9781932425017]

Il Palloncino Rosso by Iela Mari

Simple images, exclusively depicted in black, white, and red tell this story of transformation. What starts as a bubble being blown from a person's mouth turns into a balloon, an apple, a butterfly, a flower, and finally an umbrella. Ample white space around the main picture and background designs allows space to tell a story around what is happening as well. Motion is also conveyed, even though the pictures are very flat.

Il Palloncino Rosso [The Red Balloon] by Iela Mari. Italy: Babalibri, 2004. [9788883621116]

Selvagem by Roger Mello

In this frightening book, corner-to-corner pictures are black, white, and grey, except for the neon orange tiger and the corresponding insert for the photo frame where it initially resides. The colors combined with the sequence of images are exceptionally eerie. Visual clues indicate that the man is on his way to a safari after receiving a postcard of a tiger. He puts the postcard into an otherwise empty frame, admires himself in the mirror, then collects his suitcases and canteen and leaves. The tiger sits, then stands, looks around, and walks out of the picture! Creepy partial representations of other safari animals appear from the right corner of the page as the tiger stalks around. He approaches the mirror and growls while the man, who is now holding a gun, appears in the picture frame.

The White Ravens 2011 catalog says "Mello . . . reveals his affection for animals, sharing with readers an unbiased vision of the wild - both in moral and aesthetic terms."

Wild [Selvagem] by Roger Mello. Brazil: Global, 2010. [9788526014763]

Crvenkapa by Vuk Palibrk

Each page of this story resembles a framed picture, with matted images surrounded by black borders. Rudimentary drawings, using only black, white, and red tell the story in snippets. Close-ups are used sparingly to heighten the reader's anticipation.  

A note in the back of the book says, "[this book] does not require reading, but seeing and being engaged with it. . . . the essential components are there: playfulness, naivete, fear, cunning, and premeditated murder - set among the woods, and the twigs, and the rocks and plenty of bugs to chase and play with. Ladies and gents, engage your viewing sensors and proceed with caution. . ."

From the White Ravens 2016 catalog: "Graphic shapes and changing perspectives create a hide-and-seek game, which brings out the fairy tale's suspense and deviousness . . ."

Crvenkapa [Little Red Riding Hood] by Vuk Palibrk. Serbia: Komiko, 2014. [9788687919266]

The Island [originally published as Het Eiland] by Marije Tolman & Ronald Tolman

Islands are often depicted as solitary places, where isolation is the only way of life. This stereotype is refuted by this charming book, in which a diverse group of animals from land, sea, and sky unite in sweet and surprising ways on various islands visited by a polar bear on a quest for companionship.

In 2013, this book was on USBBY's Outstanding International Books list and was part of the Silent Books from the World to Lampedusa project.

The Island [originally published as Het Eiland] by Marije Tolman & Ronald Tolman. The Netherlands: Lemniscaat, 2012. [9781935954194]

Chiuso Per Ferie by Maja Celija

A family leaves home, carrying a suitcase, a backpack, and some snacks. It is quiet and dark inside, until the people in the picture frames on their table climb out of the frames, turn on the lights, and have a holiday of their own. Everyday household objects become useful in different ways, and the way the people interact with them (and each other) is amusing. The family dog alerts them to the family's return, and they race back up to their frames, leaving only one item out of place for the family to wonder about.

The letter from the editor at the beginning of this book, translated from Italian, says that because the author trusts his young readers, it was not necessary to put words in the story. The reader is left to the power of the images. If readers have a difficult time following the story, it is suggested to have the child tell the parent, page by page, the extraordinary things that they are seeing take place.

Chiuso Per Ferie [Closed for Holiday] by Maja Celija. Italy: Topipittori, 2006. [9788889210109]

Wave by Suzy Lee

A limited color scheme featuring shades of charcoal contrasting with blue acrylic paint create this powerful story of a day at the beach. A girl is excited as she races toward the water, but apprehensive as she approaches. The book's gutter and the girl's determination hold the wave back until she bravely crosses the gutter. The wave gathers momentum, and follows the girl as she retreats, splashing her and transforming the landscape to include the vibrant blue of the water. 

The book's shape, almost twice as wide as it is tall, is ideal for providing a panoramic perspective, and positive and negative space are used brilliantly.

From the 2013 Silent Books from the World to Lampedusa Honour List: "This is the story of a meeting between two worlds, two diversities, a metaphor of the transformation that discovering difference brings about in people."

Wave by Suzy Lee. United States of America: Chronicle Books, 2008. [9780811859240]

Um Dia Na Praia by Bernardo Carvalho

As this story opens, the reader expects the main character to have a predictable relaxing day at the beach. However, as soon as he spots an object floating in the water, his day of rest turns into a clean-up of assorted items floating along the shoreline. 

Uncomplicated shapes and just a few colors (red, teal, brown, and tan) keep the story simple, but its message is by no means simplistic.

Um Dia Na Praia [A Day at the Beach] by Bernardo Carvalho. Portugal: Planeta Tangerina, 2008. [9788540502802]

Centígrados y paralelos by Victor Solís

Untouched photographs of penguins traipsing across different terrains starts out logically across ice and snow, but then veers off in an unforeseen direction as they walk across rocks, desert sand, grass, and more. The final two-page spread shows them standing in formation, watching the sunset.

The White Ravens 2012 catalog explains its appeal by calling it "an intelligent, unusual book" and explaining that "at first glance, this book seems to be a photo album . . .[which] captures the rich diversity of the continent. . . . By the time (if not sooner) that the penguin caravan reaches the infamous metal fence at the US border and disappears into the desert, the observer realises that this wordless photo story is anything but innocuous and admits of multiple interpretations. The pictures ingeniously convey a highly political message on migration and rootlessness."

Centígrados y paralelos [Centigrade and Parallel] by Victor Solís. Mexico: Océano, 2011. [9786074003437]

Migrando by Mariana Chiesa Mateos

This book can be read from the front or back to the middle, but must be flipped at that point to read the rest. It tells the stories of two sets of immigrants: the Europeans that traveled to America in the early twentieth century, and the twenty-first century refugees sailing in the Mediterranean in an attempt to reach European shores. It is a gentle book with a strong message, told in a way that makes it possible to share with even very young children. 

The book is supported by Amnesty International, which considers it to be a subtle and poetic way of approaching the duty of protection and the right of asylum.

Migrando [Migrating] by Mariana Chiesa Mateos. Italy: Orecchio Acerbo, 2010. [9788889025888]

Donde Estan Mis Gafas? by Maria Pascual

This 8 inch square book is the perfect size to contain an intimate search for our protagonist's "lost" glasses. Starting with the end papers, and continuing through each and every page, details are rendered carefully with white space to enhance them. Encouraged by a clever mix of close-ups and long shots, the reader will be compelled to help him look in a plethora of logical and absurd places until, at last, they fall from the top of his head where they've been perched and land in an unwelcome (yet hilarious) place.

Note: This book is not strictly wordless, as there is a sound word on the last page.

Donde Estan Mis Gafas? [Where Are My Glasses?] by Maria Pascual. Spain: Thule Ediciones, 2012. [9788415357056]

Bárbaro by Renato Moriconi

Spoiler alert: This tall and narrow book has the most surprising ending! A knight carrying a shield and a sword approaches a horse and they seem to jump over a tall mountain range. The valiant knight and his noble horse then gallop along the ground as a menacing flock of birds travel overhead. They return to the sky as a terrifying pit of snakes is below them. They continue in this manner, up and down, over and under various threats, but remain unscathed. The horse stops moving, and the knight looks puzzled for a moment, then turns sad. A giant pair of arms reach down and the face of the knight's father appears. He begins to cry, and on the final page the reader realizes that despite all of the allusions to European legends, the knight is really just a boy riding a carousel horse!

This book was honored by the International Youth Library in its 2014 White Ravens catalogue.

Bárbaro [Barbarian] by Renato Moriconi. Brazil: Companhia das Letrinhas, 2013. [9788574065748]

The Umbrella [originally published as De Paraplu] by Ingrid & Dieter Schubert

On a windy day, a dog holding an umbrella that has become inverted is blown away on a fantastic journey. His travels take him to an assortment of habitats around the world, where he gets a glimpse of the way other animals live and has the opportunity to interact with a few of them. A close examination of each two-page spread will lead to a better understanding of the assistance he receives from others during his travels.

USBBY'S 2012 Outstanding International Books list, "All Together Now," says that "this wordless picture book uses large, colorful, yet soft images to depict the sky, landforms, and animals the dog sees before safely returning home."

The Umbrella [originally published as De Paraplu] by Ingrid & Dieter Schubert. The Netherlands: 
Uitgeverij Lemniscaat, 2010. [9781935954002]

Yellow Umbrella by Jae Soo Liu

Slow down, be present, and join an increasingly bright and colorful parade of umbrellas as they wind through town. Whether discussing their colors or quantity, guessing where they may be going, or searching for and finding the titular yellow umbrella, you will be sure to appreciate their beauty on what would otherwise be nothing more than an exceptionally dreary day.

[Note: a CD accompanies this book, but I have only evaluated the actual book. I do LOVE the idea of composing or selecting music to help tell the stories in wordless picture books, and hope to explore that idea further at a later time.]

Yellow Umbrella by Jae Soo Liu. Korea: Jaimimage Publishing Co., 2007. [9781929132362]

Els Grans No Em Veuen by Clara Sabria & Mabel Pierola

Had I translated the title of this book before I reviewed it, it would have been much easier to figure out what was going on. However, it was worth it to not know in advance because the sudden realization when I figured it out was priceless!

Playful, colorful pictures show a little girl who is dropped off for school. Her teacher reads the class a story that has an elf character in it, and when the children go outside for an energetic recess, the girl finds the elf in a puddle near a tree. A series of events follows, in alternating scenes where children can see the elf, but when adults approach, he hides. Young children will delight in finding the elf on each page, and older ones will enjoy the idea that only children can see the elf, not adults.

Els Grans No Em Veuen [Adults Do Not See Me] by Clara Sabria & Mabel Pierola. Spain: La Galera Editorial, 2000. [9788424604264]

Mirror by Suzy Lee

Is this story simple or complex? It is certainly full of emotion! The entertaining interaction between a shy and/or lonely girl and her mirror image are uplifting until both disappear into the book's gutter. A dramatic pause is followed by the story's continuation, except the mirror is no longer reflecting in the way in which the girl expects. Frustrated and angered, the girl acts on her feelings without thinking about the potential consequences.

The English version, pictured above, was honored by Notable Books for a Global Society in 2011. The Italian translation of this book, Specchio, was part of the 2013 Silent Books from the World to Lampedusa collection. 

Mirror by Suzy Lee. United States of America: Seven Footer Press, 2010. [9781934734391]

Specchio by Suzy Lee. Italy: Corraini, 2003. [9788887942408]

When Night Didn't Come by Poly Bernatene

Day and night in the fantastical town in this storybook are controlled by a spherical machine containing a complicated array of gears, pulleys, and levers. As the story unfolds, the sun sets in the sky, but the moon and stars fail to appear. The night watchman checks his pocket watch and paperwork, then sets off to the control center. He doesn't find a mechanical failure, but a group of rambunctious children playing among the equipment. They all work together to set things right, and the children are carried off to dreamland. 

The White Ravens 2011 catalog says that "the magical mixed-media illustrations in rich colours range from comic-strip-like sequences to full- and double-page spreads that make an exciting fantastical tale unfold."

When Night Didn't Come by Poly Bernatene. United Kingdom: Meadowside Children's, 2010. [9781845394912]

Kouzelný polštář by Kateřina Sechovcová

Offering a different perspective of dreams and nightmares, this story follows the escapades of a cat that walks off of the printed fabric of a young child's pillow as he drifts off to sleep while his mother reads him a bedtime story. The cat jumps onto the mother's polka dotted skirt and bounces one of the polka dots off of it before it rolls onto the printed bedspread. As the cat peers around searching for the ball, it detects an image in the pattern's negative space and is frightened by it. The cat runs away, and the child appears with his pillow and climbs into bed next to his mom. The rest of the cats on the pillow pattern scare the bedspread monster and everyone falls asleep.

The White Ravens 2014 catalog honors this book for the creator's "poetic images [which] reveal the magic of perception and the world of objects that live their own secret lives."

Kouzelný polštář  [Wonderful Pillow] by Kateřina Sechovcová . Czech Republic: Argo, 2013. [9788025709146]

En Dag by Hanne Bartholin

This is a sweet little book from the 2013 Silent Books from the World to Lampedusa collection that is about a lovely day shared between two friends - a giraffe and a dog. It begins with a heart swirling in a circular motion in the sky, and the two friends zooming off in a small red airplane. They encounter a bunch of interesting kites and are so engrossed in watching that they fly into a dark rain cloud. They exit the cloud across a rainbow-filled two-page spread, and travel along the rainbow to a landing spot on top of their dwelling. They prepare and enjoy some snacks, clean the dishes and silverware (and hang them on a clothesline to dry!), then settle in to watch the sunset together. While parts of their day seem ordinary, this story reminds the reader that what you do is not as important as who you spend your time with. Enjoy each day as if it was like this day!

En Dag [One Day] by Hanne Bartholin. Denmark: Alma, 2001. [9788772432090]

Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson and Sydney Smith

Mothers Day has become a melancholy day for me for the past several years because I am proud and happy to be the mother of two amazing daughters, but it is also a heartbreaking annual reminder of the death of my own mother to breast cancer nearly five years ago. I decided to post this particular wordless book today because it reminds me of her. I obviously never knew her when she was a child, but as an adult and mom, her character was very similar to that of the young girl in this story. I encourage you to share it with your mother or grandmother, daughter or niece, or a neighbor or friend.    

Pen and ink drawings and splashes of watercolor contrast the common sights of the city with the everyday wonders that a young girl notices as she is walking with her dad. While he is either staring straight ahead or talking on his phone, she is collecting wildflowers and sharing them - with a dead bird, a dog, and the members of her family, among others. Her random acts of kindness surround their recipients with beauty, as color infuses the scenes where flowers are left. This book is a gentle reminder to be present, make the most of every moment, and appreciate kind gestures no matter how small.

The 2016 USBBY Outstanding International Books list, "Welcome Disruptions," calls this "an evocative, wordless reminder of how compassion brings color to the world."

Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson and Sydney Smith. Canada: Groundwood, 2015. [9781554984312]

Il Signor Stella by Anna Curti

Whimsical, offbeat, and surreal story about a small fairy who is visited by Mr. Star - a being with a human-like body and a star-shaped head. The two fly through the sky to a place near the moon, where Mr. Star entertains the fairy and the moon with music. (He is talented musically! He plays the guitar, triangle, banjo, flute, tambourine, and accordion.) After the performance, Mr. Star and the fairy visit a floating cupboard full of plants and flowers, select one, then return to the ground where they plant it before Mr. Star returns to the sky to sleep in his bed near the moon.

Il Signor Stella [Mr. Star] by Anna Curti. Italy: Principi & Principi, 2011.  [9788896827239]

Sunshine by Jan Ormerod

This book has panels resembling a graphic novel and tells the tale of a little girl who is awakened by the sunshine and then gently wakes up each of her parents so they can all get ready for the day. Despite her young age, the girl is independent and mature; without her encouragement, the family would definitely be late! A welcome and unpredictable look at the morning routine in which the child isn't dawdling and the parents aren't perfect.

Sunshine by Jan Ormerod. United Kingdom: Kestrel Books, 1981. [9781845070489]

Sunshine by Jan Ormerod. United States of America: Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2009. [9781845073909]

14-18: Une Minute de Silence a Nos Arriere-Grands-Peres Courageux by Thierry Dedieu

During the course of my independent study project, I was asked if I thought that it was easier to tell a very serious story without words. I didn't know how to respond, because most of the books I had encountered were not somber. This was the first, but not the last. Using oversized cream-colored paper, full page sepia-toned pictures show the devastation of war. A powerfully evocative tribute, I can't imagine that this story was any easier to tell than it was to read.

From the White Ravens 2014 catalog: "Illustrator Dedieu confronts the reader with many questions: . . . Are there winners in war or only losers? One needs no more than the minute of silence ironically invoked in the book's title to physically leaf through the book. But . . . much more time to look at it with complete focus and to find answers to many questions."

14-18: Une Minute de Silence a Nos Arriere-Grands-Peres Courageux [14-18: A Minute of Silence for Our Brave Great-Grandfathers] by Thierry Dedieu. France: Seuil Jeunesse, 2014. [9791023501544]

Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole

This poignantly touching story is about a young girl who discovers a runaway slave and shows courage and humanity by bringing food to him or her. Detailed graphite drawings on cream colored paper sometimes cover the pages from edge to edge, and sometimes are framed with a pastel blue box, leaving an inch border all around. This draws the reader into the story in some parts, and allows him or her to be an outsider looking in during others. Extreme close ups, along with wide panoramas, create a mood that is sometimes heartbreaking, but hopeful overall.  

The author's note at the end of the story concludes with the following: "I wanted to make this a wordless book. The two main characters in the story are both brave, have a strong bond, and communicate with great depth. Yet, both are silent. They speak without words. Because I made only the pictures, I'm hoping you will write the words and make this story your own - filling in all that has been unspoken."

This book was honored by the International Youth Library in their 2013 White Ravens catalog.

Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole. United States of America: Scholastic Press, 2012. [9780545399975]

The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Molly Bang

The characters of this story are filled with mystique, and readers young and old alike will find themselves intrigued to follow them on their journey to find out where it leads. The way that the main character, the grey lady, blends into parts of the scenery is unexpectedly contrasted by a vibrantly colored adversary, adding to the book's mysterious quality. Whether enjoying searching for and finding the characters or holding your breath to see how the chase ends, this book is sure to keep you turning its pages.

This book received a Caldecott Honor in 1981.

The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Molly Bang. United States of America: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1980. [9780027081404]

Vazio by Catarina Sobral

There's a pervasive sadness surrounding the main character in this book because from the top of his hat to the tip of his toes, he feels empty. We know this because, unlike everything else pictured, he is represented as completely negative space - a white outline, filled in with white. Things throughout his day are able to temporarily fill the void, like picking flowers, exploring an art gallery, and listening to a bird sing. But nothing lasts for long. Until the fateful day when he is walking with his head low and he passes by a similarly empty woman who is reading a book and disregarding her surroundings. Even though they pass each other by, they are altered by the experience and the book concludes with a glimmer of hope for each of them.

The White Ravens 2014 catalog notes that "with clear contours, strong lines, and bold colour fields . . . Sobral has created a touching picture book."

Vazio [Empty] by Catarina Sobral. Portugal: Pato Lógico, 2014. [9789899847033]

Zachem? by Nikolai Popov

If you're looking for a book to teach people of all ages that you should never judge a book by its cover, look no further. The serene frog sitting on a rock in a beautiful green pasture on the cover of this book gives the false impression that a peaceful little story is contained within. Instead, a devastating territory dispute in which parties on both sides seem oblivious to the end result until it is far too late makes the reader poignantly pause to reflect upon the reason. Truly heartbreaking, yet alluring. Perhaps indispensable as a conversation starter.

Zachem? by Nikolai Popov. Russia: Ripol Classic Publishing House, 2010. [9785386021672]

Why? by Nikolai Popov. United States of America: NorthSouth Books, 1998. [9781558589964]

De Boomhut by Marije Tolman and Ronald Tolman

A polar bear and a brown bear each discover a fascinating tree house at the top of a tree that is partially submerged in water. They share the space and each other's company, and, after the water recedes, are joined by a menagerie of other big and small creatures. There's room for everyone and no one is turned away. From the playfully depicted interactions to the subtle yet important message, this beautiful book is affecting.

From the 2013 Silent Books from the World to Lampedusa Honour List: "This is a poetic story of travel, encounter, coexistence, and friendship told with freshness and harmony, a rich and happy book both in its choice of colours and characters and in its composition which shuns all conflict, depicting a world where serenity is possible . . ."

In addition to being part of the 2013 collection of Silent Books from the World to Lampedusa and being included on their Honour List that same year, this book was also named an Outstanding International Book by USBBY in 2011.

De Boomhut by Marije Tolman and Ronald Tolman. The Netherlands: Lemniscaat, 2009. [9789047702290]

The Tree House by Marije Tolman and Ronald Tolman. United States of America: Lemniscaat USA, 2010. [9781590788066]

Dos Pajaritos by Diego Francisco Sánchez

The first time I read this book, I laughed out loud. It wasn't until I reread it that I realized that it was not as funny as my first impression. Two birds sitting on opposite sides of a tree engage in a strange competition. One flies off and returns, placing a desk lamp on one of his branches. The other flies away and returns with a book for his side of the tree. I incorrectly guessed that they would read together using the lamp. Instead, both birds fly away and return with completely absurd items. One brings a television; the other, a toilet. The situation escalates as the branches on both sides of the tree are filled, and each bird tries to convince the other of the value of their nonsensical items. Sadly, the weight brings down all of the branches and the birds are left on opposite sides of the tree trunk.

From the 2011 White Ravens catalog: "Whether the protagonists act out of boredom, envy, or a desire to show off, and whether the unfettered consumption of a society that amasses material things is being scrutinised - this . . . book can be read in many different ways."

Dos Pajaritos [Two Little Birds] by Diego Francisco Sánchez. Colombia: Lumen, 2010. [9789588639079]

The Ladybug Race by Amy Nielander

Hundreds of ladybugs in a variety of colors and with varying wing patterns, all depicted true to size, line up at the start to compete, but only one will be the winner. Or will more than one? It depends on what you think it means to win.

With a surprising and exceptionally creative use of the book's gutter, children of all ages will learn from the tiny Ash Gray ladybug in this book who not only spreads his wings, but also acts with kindness and compassion like a leader worth following.

This book was a finalist in the 2014 Silent Book Contest.

The Ladybug Race by Amy Nielander. United States of America: Pomegranate Kids, 2015. [9780764971877] 

Deček in Hiša by Maja Kastelic

A happy young boy walks down the street, and enters an inviting house. He follows a trail of artwork (and a cat) up several winding staircases and through the rooms in the house until he reaches the attic. There, he finds the artist. She is folding her pictures into paper airplanes and tossing them out the window so they can soar with the birds above the city.

If you look closely at the details in each of the two-page spreads, you will find nods to other famous storybook characters and stories, like Alice in Wonderland and books by Shaun Tan, Peter Sis, and Quentin Blake, to name a few. Paying careful attention to the people in the windows and on the street, as well as the trinkets in the house, can also provide inspiration for additional storytelling.

Deček in Hiša [The Boy and the House] by Maja Kastelic. Slovenia: Mladinska Knjiga Zalozba, 2015.[9789610135272]

Before After [originally published as Avant Après] by Anne-Margot Ramstein and Matthias Aregul

More than just pairs or sequences of things that are related to each other by the passage of time, this book is an awe-inspiring collection of softly hued images that provide different levels of meaning to readers of all ages. The illustrations have a simple quality to them, but are much more sophisticated than they appear at first glance. Just when you think you have an idea of what's coming next, a surprising or humorous twist will keep you guessing.

This book was translated and published in the United States by Candlewick press in 2014, and received recognition by USBBY on their 2015 Outstanding International Books list.

Before After by Anne-Margot Ramstein and Matthias Aregul: United States: Candlewick Press, 2014. [9780763676216]

Avant Après by Anne-Margot Ramstein and Matthias Aregul. France: Albin Michel, 2013. [9782226250858]