7 Beautiful Picture Books That Encourage Play, Exploration, and Discovery
27 November, 2025 ● Written by STORYVOR Editors
Illustration from Journey by Aaron Becker
Play is where literacy begins. In fact, lots of things can be where literacy begins: dancing, singing, drawing, listening carefully, finding something that piques your interest, wandering, even being bored. These thoughtfully chosen picture books honor children’s natural drive to explore, pretend, and make meaning. They’re richly illustrated, open-ended narratives, invitations to imagine, to question, and to express ideas freely. Some have no words. Some are deceptively simple. All of them support children in developing the curiosity and confidence essential for becoming readers and storytellers.
Journey
By Aaron Becker
A wordless masterpiece that invites children to author the hero's story themselves. Its lush illustrations spark imaginative play, narrative exploration, and endless retellings, ideal for building storytelling and visual-literacy skills.
Not a Box
By Antoinette Portis
A joyful celebration of open-ended play. This minimalist, clever book inspires children to see everyday objects as springboards for creativity and self-expression.
A Stone Sat Still
By Brendan Wenzel
An exploration of perspective, perception, and quiet observation. Children are encouraged to notice, wonder, and interpret, all of which are core building blocks for critical thinking and expressive language.
Inside Outside
By Lizi Boyd
A nearly wordless exploration of seasons, curiosity, and the rhythms of play. The peek-through cutouts invite prediction, discovery, and visual exploration.
The Book of Mistakes
By Corinne Luyken
A lyrical, visually inventive story that shows how “mistakes” can be transformed into moments of beauty and discovery. It encourages flexible thinking, experimentation, and expressive creativity.
Flotsam
By David Wiesner
A richly detailed, lushly illustrated, and completely wordless book that invites children to explore, imagine, and tell their own stories. Wiesner’s art is immersive, layered, and full of discovery.
The Dot
By Peter H. Reynolds
A modern classic about creativity, courage, and the where just starting, just placing a single dot, can lead to countless wondrous places. It encourages children to experiment, take risks, and express themselves through art.
