Wordless Picture Books

While this grouping provides a general guideline, it's crucial to consider the specific abilities and maturity of your students. Some more advanced KS1 children might enjoy some of the simpler KS2 books, and some less confident KS2 readers might benefit from starting with some of the KS1 suggestions. The beauty of wordless books is their adaptability, allowing for multiple interpretations and levels of engagement.

EYFS & KS1 (Years R-2):

"Good Dog, Carl" series by Alexandra Day: Simple, humorous stories about a Rottweiler left in charge of a baby. Great for inferencing and predicting simple actions.

"Flora and the Flamingo" by Molly Idle: A charming story about a girl and a flamingo learning to dance. Excellent for exploring movement, friendship, and simple emotions.

"Chalk" by Bill Thomson: Realistic illustrations of chalk drawings that come to life. Sparks imagination and simple storytelling.

"Tuesday" by David Wiesner: Frogs on flying lily pads create chaos one Tuesday night. Whimsical and engaging with a clear sequence of events.

"A Ball for Daisy" by Chris Raschka: A simple story about losing and finding a beloved toy. Relatable and emotionally resonant with a clear narrative.

"Bee & Me" by Alison Jay: The story of a child who befriends a bee and learns about the importance of bees for the environment. Clear visual narrative and simple environmental message.

Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesner: This quirky book tells the story from the perspective of a cat who discovers a miniature spaceship and its tiny alien crew.

The Midnight Fair by Gideon Sterer: After the human visitors leave the county fairgrounds, the local woodland creatures emerge from the shadows to have their own nighttime fun.

KS2 ( Year 3-6)

"Journey", "Quest", and "Return" (The Journey Trilogy) by Aaron Becker: Epic adventures through fantastical worlds. Inspires creative writing and imaginative play with more complex narratives.

"Flotsam" by David Wiesner:A boy finds a camera with extraordinary underwater photographs. Encourages observation, wonder, and more complex inferences.

"Mirror" by Jeannie Baker:Two parallel stories unfold, exploring different cultures and environments. Promotes cross-cultural understanding and more nuanced comparisons.

"Sector 7" by David Wiesner:A boy visits the cloud factory and helps create new cloud formations. Imaginative and visually stunning, allowing for more open-ended interpretations.

"Unspoken: A Story from the Civil War" by Henry Cole: A powerful story about a young girl who helps a wounded enemy soldier. Promotes empathy and understanding of complex historical and social contexts.

"The Arrival" by Shaun Tan:A powerful story about immigration and finding a new home. Explores complex themes of displacement, cultural adjustment, and hope, suited for older children.

"The Red Tree" by Shaun Tan:A metaphorical exploration of difficult emotions and finding hope. Thought-provoking and emotionally resonant with more abstract imagery, better suited for older children.

"Zoom" and "Re-Zoom" by Istvan Banyai:Perspective-shifting books that zoom out to reveal a larger context. Encourages critical thinking and observation of visual details.