Peter Van den Ende has put together a marvellous wordless storybook for us. Black and white images flood the pages as we watch the adventures of a little paper boat exploring the oceans of the world. The Wanderer is filled with imagination and stories. A delight to behold. Come, be delighted.
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Children 8 and up who like to explore or make up stories including boats and ships will find The Wanderer by Peter Van Den Erde to be a delight. I love the imagination shown in this 96 page hardcover edition published by Levine Querido.
Selling for $15.99 on Amazon, The Wanderer is a black and white journey around the world. A little paper boat explores the ocean in a meandering voyage through the oceans most interesting places.
Wordless images = stories
Don’t you just love books that encourage children to make their own stories? I would have no compunctions about sharing this book with children younger than 5, but I might skip over a couple of the illustrations. Some very young children might be alarmed by dark sea monsters and gloomy buildings. But children 8 and older should have no problems enjoying the possibilities presented.
I would love to sit down with a group of children and youth and just open up the book and say “so, tell me a circle story, everyone… just one line” and just listen to what they come up with.
You could use the images to talk about ocean life, pollution, northern lights, pirates, boats, ships, jobs at sea and so much more. A virtual springboard of ideas to delight and educate.
There’s the fun of looking for the paper boat on every page, most being standalone two-page spreads. On some pages the hunt is a bit of a challenge, on others, not at all. Throughout, details feast the mind.
Should you get The Wanderer?
Yes! Be delighted with the illustrations, be surprised by unexpected stories. The Wanderer is fantastic just to look at and consider, and a lovely conversation and/or story-starter. It has been my delight to review it for Raincoast Books.
Other wordless books
Other wordless books that I have reviewed.
I have always enjoyed wordless picture books but my girls? None of them have ever liked them. But there is so much imagination that can come out of them if the child connects to the pictures.
exactly.