IBBY USA
Imagine by Raul Colon. Publisher Blurb:
After passing a city museum many times, a boy finally
decides to go in. He passes wall after wall of artwork until he sees a painting
that makes him stop and ponder. Before long the painting comes to life and an
afternoon of adventure and discovery unfolds, changing how he sees the world
ever after. Simon and Schuster
I adore "silent" books but I call them
wordless books or textless books because they are far from silent. IBBY have been collecting the best examples of these truly wonderful books from around the world for a collection.
Here are the details from IBBY:
"In response to the waves of refugees from Africa and the
Middle East arriving in the Italian island, Lampedusa, IBBY launched the
project “Silent Books, from the world to Lampedusa and back” in 2012. The
project involved creating the first library on Lampedusa to be used by local
and immigrant children. The second part required creating a collection of
silent books (wordless picture books) that could be understood and enjoyed by
children regardless of language. These books were collected from IBBY National
Sections, over one hundred books from over twenty countries. There are, to
date, four collections of Silent Books: the Silent Books Collection 2013 (110
books), the Silent Books Collection 2015 (51 books), the Silent Books
Collection 2017 (79 books) and the Silent Books Collection 2019 (67 books)."
In this post I am going to share the covers of some books from the
2019 collection. You might like to consider adding these to your library collection. In past years (2013, 2015 and 2017) Australian books from IBBY Australia have featured in the Silent books collections.
Take a look here to see the titles.
IBBY CANADA Blue Rider by Geraldo Valerio. Publisher Blurb: On
a gray and crowded city sidewalk, a child discovers a book. That evening, the
child begins to read and is immediately carried beyond the repetitive sameness
of an urban skyscape into an untamed natural landscape. The child experiences a
moment of true joy, and as if in response to that single blissful moment,
people seem to come alive in all the other rooms of the apartment block. Thanks
to the power of one book, an entire society is transformed. Groundwood Books
IBBY UK
Once upon a Snowstorm by Richard Johnson. Publisher Blurb:
The story of a father and his son who live by themselves in
a cosy cabin in the woods. But, one day they are separated out in the
beautifully falling snow. The boy is lost and falls asleep. When he wakes up he
is surrounded by blinking eyes, a rabbit, a fox, an owl and all manner of other
creatures have surrounded him! But with a bear hug he and the woodland animals
become best of friends! But soon he misses his dad and so the animals bring him
back home. The father opens up his heart and home, and lets nature and love
envelop their previously lonely existence. Allen and Unwin
IBBY NETHERLANDS To the Market by Noelle Smit. Blurb: Stalls full of vegetables,
bread, fish and cheese, but also with olives and nuts, flowers, clothing and
fabrics. Market vendors who promote their wares. A terrace or ice cream cart
between the stalls. In this large picture book, Noëlle Smit takes you to the
market. And there is everything to see, taste, smell and hear! 'Noëlle Smit
shows what makes a good market so attractive: it is a very pleasant,
multicultural celebration of the good life. ...
IBBY CANADA Woodrow at Sea by Wallace Edwards. Publisher
blurb: In this wordless picture book, Woodrow the elephant rows off to find adventure and discovers a mouse marooned at sea. As the two go through many adventures and rescue each other from dangers, they discover that the best thing to find on a journey is a true friend.
Award-winning author-illustrator Wallace Edwards is striking out in a bold, new artistic direction. Woodrow At Sea is a friendship story in the tradition of the great epics, but made accessible to the very young. Loose, energetic illustrations carry the story in this wordless picture book, which is packaged in a sturdy book format with a padded cover, extra-heavy pages, rounded corners, and a reinforced binding. Book Depository
IBBY KOREA
Lines by Suzy Lee. Publisher Blurb:
It starts with a line. Whether made by the tip of a pencil
or the blade of a skate, the magic starts there. And magic once again flows from the pencil
and imagination of internationally acclaimed artist Suzy Lee. With the lightest
of touches, this masterwork blurs the lines between real and imagined,
reminding us why Lee's books have been lauded around the world, recognized on
New York Times Best Illustrated Books lists and nominated for the Hans
Christian Andersen Award, the highest international honor given to children's
book creators. This seemingly simple story about a young skater on a frozen pond
will charm the youngest of readers while simultaneously astounding book
enthusiasts of any age.
Book Depository
IBBY KOREA
Bye Penguin by Seou Lee. In Korea this book is called "Cracks". It will be available in "English" later this year. Here is a the UK Publisher blurb:
You’d think that a penguin stranded on an ever-smaller block
of ice, on a trip around the world wouldn’t be so.FUN! But it is! There’s our
fearless penguin passing the gondolas of Venice.there’s penguin floating by the
Sydney Opera House! From the Aurora Borealis to a hilarious encounter with a
surfer in Hawaii, this is a wordless journey that truly FROLICS. In fact, the
adventures are so amusing that most readers will barely register the nod to
global warming until it’s slipped right in on the breath of a laugh. ChronicleBooks
IBBY SOUTH AFRICA
I can Dress Myself by Bridget Krone. A little girl’s mum is sleeping, so she decides to dress
herself.
You can read the whole book here.
IBBY NETHERLANDS
Island by Mark Janssen. Publisher blurb:
A father and daughter are shipwrecked and washed ashore on a
small island. What they don't know, but you can see, is that that island is not
what it seems. Island protects and protects the father and girl without their
knowing, and leads them through a beautiful world until they are saved. And
then it turns out that Island has not gone unnoticed. … In Island he (Mark
Janssen) surpasses himself once again. His water world is full of sparkling
colours, beauty, but also sometimes threatening danger. So surprising that you
hardly want the father and girl saved. It's a world where you want to immerse
yourself time and time again, and luckily you can with Island.
Lemniscaat
IBBY NETHERLANDS
Come with me by Linde Faas. Publisher blurb:
A girl walks into a boy's bedroom with a balloon, drawing
paper and pencils. Did he just wake up? Is he having a pajama day? Is he ill?
You can think of that yourself in this wordless picture book ... Let your
imagination guide you, while the children are transferred to the world by the
big balloon and their imagination, along tropical birds and winter landscapes
full of penguins, through a colorful underwater world and a green splashing
jungle. until it is time to return to reality. The book lends itself to telling countless stories: about
experiences and fantasy, about adventures and friendship, about the magic of
drawings - the possibilities are endless. A magical picture book about the
power of fantasy. Lemniscaat
IBBY ARGENTINA
Aquarium by Cynthia Alonso. Blurb:
A
girl ventures to the water's edge, dreaming of a new friend. And, just like
that, a beguiling red fish leaps into her life. But is friendship a sea these
two can navigate together? From debut Argentinian author-illustrator Cynthia
Alonso comes a wordless picture book about the timeless beauty of nature, the
transcendent power of connection, and the importance of letting go. Goodreads
IBBY BELGIUM
Monkey on the Street by Leo Timmers. Blurb:
Papa
Monkey and Little Monkey are on their way. But the street is very busy and they
are moving so slowly! Little Monkey loses patience and jumps onto the fire
engine. Up the ladder from there and he joins a TV crew! Then the garbage
truck, an aquarium bus, a food cart for rabbits packed with carroty treats,
Arctic animals traveling by snow globe, a jewel thief's getaway car . . . There is so much going on in the street, it's
become a playground! Each vehicle in this wordless picture book contains a
world of detail, activity and humour to share with curious toddlers.
IBBY BELGIUM
Party in the Clouds by Tom Schamp. Blurb:
Without words, Tom Schamp tells countless stories about the inhabitants of a skyscraper. Meet a gardener, a mysterious cat, a mermaid, a lion who loves fast cars and a sailor. And join the party table, high in the clouds. Watch a video of this fold-out book.
IBBY FINLAND We had to Leave by Sanna Pelliccioni. Blurb: This wordless picture book tells the story of a family:
first all is well, but then the war begins and they have to flee. After a long
journey, the family gets a new home. Wordless picture books have a long
tradition and their importance grows with multiculturalism. The child himself
or together with the adult can create a story around the images based on their
own world of experience. An immigrant child does not feel like an outsider
because of a foreign text but is able to read the book on an equal footing with
everyone, and on the other hand, anyone gets to experience what it feels like
to leave their own home.
IBBY ITALY
The World in my Garden by Irene Penazzi. Blurb:
A garden, three children, four seasons, and an infinite
number of animals. In this colorful book
without words, the three little protagonists spend time in the open air, giving
life to every type of game : they build houses, climb trees, observe fireflies,
invite friends, light bonfires ... A year-long party, illustrated by tables
full of details, all to be discovered.
IBBY SLOVENIA
Where are you by Marta Bartolj. Blurb:
The
book shows the power of simple actions to set an example to people, it is a
call to cooperation. Book title Where are you? summarizes the content of the
story, where one good deed motivates another and thus a chain of good deeds is
created. At the same time, the title also poses a question to the individual
about where he stands as a human being. Behind the work, in addition to its
deep message value, there is also an interesting story about its origin. The
illustrator involved characters and stories from real life - the puppy on the
cover is actually named Brko, and his unfortunate beginning had an extremely
happy ending. The world is full of tiny, unnoticed acts of kindness that
sometimes linger even between the covers.
IBBY NETHERLANDS Saturday by Saskia Halfmouw. Burb: Finally! It's Saturday. No school! You can sleep in. If you don't have to play football early. Or go to the market or supermarket to do your shopping. You are going to choose a nice new book in the library. Or you dive into the pool. There is so much to do on Saturday. Experience it in this large viewing and search book about the best day of the week! Do you recognize people and animals? See if you can find them in the next scene. From footballer to skater and street-drawing girl to small collector, to reading teacher to all kinds of parents, dogs and a lady who would like to be a mermaid ... Artist Saskia Halfmouw, known for the Secret books and Foeksia the mini witch by Paul van Loon, also has a fairytale figure hidden on each plate. Can you find them? The solution is at the back of the book.
IBBY SWEDEN
Dog Walk by Sven Nordqvist. Blurb:
Just
a small round of kisses. Now don't go too far away! Well, just a little round. And
don't be gone for too long! … How long
is it? You may wonder. And who really is going out with whom? A new picture
book by Sven Nordqvist where he, with the help of imagination and skill, takes
us on a dog walk that becomes a little longer and more adventurous than was
intended. The fantastic pictures speak for themselves in this textless book.
IBBY USA
Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell. Publisher blurb: Winner of the 2018 Caldecott Medal.
A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is
lost, too. How will they find their way home? Paintings rich with feeling tell
this satisfying story of friendship and trust. Here is a book set on a wintry
night that will spark imaginations and warm hearts, from Matthew Cordell,
author of Trouble Gum and Another Brother. Macmillan
IBBY UK
Caged by Duncan Annand. Blurb:
Whilst two men chop down trees to create a clearing for
their elaborate aviary filled with colourful parrots, a little bluebird
constructs her nest in the boughs of a neighbouring tree. Here she lays her
eggs, watching as the cages are piled higher and higher until at last a dome is
placed on the very top. As the men below celebrate. the tiny bird flutters over
and lands in top of the structure with disastrous consequences for the men and
freedom for the parrots. … The story encourages you to think about freedom and
what it means. It shows that the actions of the individual can make a real
difference to the plans of those in charge. In ‘Caged’, the men get their
comeuppance; the birds, their liberty. ‘Caged’ is a wonderfully illustrated
tale about freedom and helping others. North Sommerset Teacher’s Book Award
IBBY UK
A Stone for Sascha by Aaron Becker. Publisher blurb:
This year’s summer vacation will be very different for a
young girl and her family without Sascha, the beloved family dog, along for the
ride. But a wistful walk along the beach to gather cool, polished stones
becomes a brilliant turning point in the girl’s grief. There, at the edge of a
vast ocean beneath an infinite sky, she uncovers, alongside the reader, a
profound and joyous truth. In his first picture book following the conclusion
of his best-selling Journey trilogy, Aaron Becker achieves a tremendous feat,
connecting the private, personal loss of one child to a cycle spanning
millennia — and delivering a stunningly layered tale that demands to be pored
over again and again. Walker Books
Read some ideas here about reading and using Silent Books:
It occurred to me today that my earliest memory of reading and enjoying a textless picture book was also a CBCA winner. That book was Sunshine by Jan Omerod which was the winner in 1982 and so it seems we have gone full circle with the CBCA Picture book of the Year for 2010 which is also an amazing textless picture book – this is certainly a story that you need to spend time with. It is The Hero of Little Street a very worthy winner of our prestigious Australian children’s book award.
