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Journey (Aaron Becker's Wordless Trilogy, 1) Hardcover – Picture Book, August 6, 2013
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A Wall Street Journal 20 Best Children’s Books of the Past 20 Years Selection
A 2014 Caldecott Honor Book
Follow a girl on an elaborate flight of fancy in a wondrously illustrated, wordless picture book about self-determination — and unexpected friendship.
A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When she is captured by a sinister emperor, only an act of tremendous courage and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her heart’s desire? With supple line, luminous color, and nimble flights of fancy, author-illustrator Aaron Becker launches an ordinary child on an extraordinary journey toward her greatest and most exciting adventure of all.
- Print length40 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelPreschool - 3
- Lexile measureNP
- Dimensions11 x 0.37 x 9.75 inches
- PublisherCandlewick
- Publication dateAugust 6, 2013
- ISBN-100763660531
- ISBN-13978-0763660536
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
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From the Publisher

"A masterwork."
— The New York Times
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Journey
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Quest
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Return
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The Tree and the River
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The Last Zookeeper
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Customer Reviews |
4.8 out of 5 stars 2,122
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4.8 out of 5 stars 577
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4.9 out of 5 stars 790
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4.8 out of 5 stars 55
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5.0 out of 5 stars 35
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Price | $10.77$10.77 | $10.81$10.81 | $14.28$14.28 | $12.69$12.69 | $16.29$16.29 |
Read all the wordless picture books by award-winning creator Aaron Becker! | A Caldecott Honor Book! A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and escapes into a new world. When she is captured by an emperor, only an act of courage and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her heart’s desire? | Read the thrilling sequel! Two children are caught up in a quest to rescue the king and his kingdom from darkness, while illuminating the farthest reaches of their imagination. | The much-anticipated finale! Failing to get the attention of her busy father, a lonely girl returns to the fantastic world of the first book. This time, it will take something truly powerful to persuade her to return home. | A beautiful time-lapse portrait of humankind — and our impact on the natural world. This mighty tree stands on the banks of a winding river, bearing silent witness to how human civilization affects the world around us. | The Earth has flooded, and tender-hearted robot NOA has found purpose as caretaker of the abandoned zoo animals. Bracing for the next storm, NOA builds an ark in search of new land and a new home, only to discover something even more profound. |
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
From School Library Journal
From Booklist
Review
—The New York Times
An imaginative adventure story whose elaborate illustrations inspire wonder, careful examination and multiple reads.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Wonder mixes with longing as the myriad possibilities offered by Becker’s stunning settings dwarf what actually happens in the story. Readers will be both dazzled and spurred on imagined travels of their own.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
[An] auspicious debut... [a] captivating wordless story... The strong visual narrative makes this an appealing choice for a wide range of ages. By the turn of the last page, children will immediately begin imagining the next adventure.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
First-time author Becker sweeps readers away on the very best kind of journey, allowing a complex color scheme, intricate fantasy environments, and a stirring sense of adventure to tell the story without a single word. ... Laudable for its adventuresome female protagonist, scope, and sense of fun, this title will draw girls and boys back to it again and again.
—Booklist (starred review)
There is much to pore over in the watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations, and when the boy and girl ride off together at the end on a tandem bicycle with one red wheel and one purple wheel, readers will want to follow them.
—The Horn Book
This is a wordless picture book that will be transcendent for readers and appeal to a wide variety of children. ... This is a beautiful tale that will visually delight for years to come.
—Library Media Connection (highly recommended)
We live in a time with a lot of flash and beep and tweets. Mr. Becker has made a beautiful reminder that there are times we need to turn it off. Sometimes we need a book, some quiet, and our imagination. It's so well done.
—Erin Stead, 2011 Caldecott Medal Winner for A Sick Day for Amos McGee
I fell into this breathtaking adventure and didn't want to leave. This is a book of extraordinary magic and beauty.
—Julie “Jules” Danielson, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
[A] gorgeously illustrated, imaginative take on the wordless picture book... It’s a true feast for both the mind and eye!
—Favorite Things (FamilyFun blog)
Dreamlike... Like Harold and his purple crayon before her, the child discovers that she can use a crayon to make an imaginative escape — and what an escape it is! ... Dazzling.
—The Wall Street Journal
[A] wordless tour de force... Completely original. ... Becker's breathtaking urban and bucolic scenes map out a visual narrative that reflects the girl's journey—both external and internal. ... Here's hoping there's more to come from this talented newcomer.
—Shelf Awareness for Readers (starred review)
Talk about making your own adventure! ... [E]xtraordinary kindness and a couple of crayons produce an ending so original and satisfying you can’t but shake your head and smile. This gorgeous, wordless book is a gem.
—Redbook
[A]n absolutely magical tale... Becker's picture book is one of the finest get-lost-in-your-own-imagination tales of loneliness, escape, adventure, and, ultimately, new friendship that I've read in quite some time.
—USA Today Online
Becker launches readers into a wordless adventure amid exotic lands and narrow escapes—thanks to the bright red marker-wielding heroine. Think Crockett Johnston’s ‘Harold and the Purple Crayon’ crossed with Neil Gaiman’s ‘Stardust.’ A lonely girl steps from her black-and-white world into a vast, colorful journey. Some stories, including this one, don’t need words to fire the imagination.
—The Boston Globe
With its fine attention to detail and jaw-dropping storyline, Becker has created a modern day classic in the midst of an overpopulated genre. ... I don’t get to use this word very often when I’m talking about books for young children but I’m going to dust it off and use it now: Beautiful. There’s no other way to describe Journey.
—Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (SLJ Blog)
This absolutely gorgeous wordless picture book is a testament to the skill of author/illustrator Aaron Becker. As Journey ends, you'll want to immediately return to the beginning to experience it again.
—NPR Books
A lonely girl takes her red crayon, draws a door on her bedroom wall and walks into a world of steampunk flying machines and turreted canal cities. She navigates this fantasy realm via boat, balloon and flying carpet, all drawn with her crayon. Journey is a clear nod to Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon, but this version doesn't have words; instead Aaron Becker tells his story through meticulous watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations.
—NPR Monkey See
Becker's wordless masterpiece is both timely and timeless, drawing inspiration from the classic "Harold and the Purple Crayon" to draw the reader into an entirely new and beautifully-rendered world.
—The Huffington Post
Worldless picture books are nothing new, but it takes a special touch to create one that appeals to both pre-readers (have them "narrate" their own story to you as you leaf through) and older students who can appreciate the layers of silent storytelling. 'Journey' accomplishes this feat and just might be the perfect title for one last summer roadtrip ... Film illustrator Aaron Becker's creation is at once simple and nuanced, a beautifully tactile version of the best Pixar shorts.
—Austin-American Statesman
With this wordless tour de force, Aaron Becker gives a nod to the likes of Crockett Johnson and Shaun Tan—but in a completely original work. … Becker's breathtaking urban and bucolic scenes map out a visual narrative that reflects the girl's journey—both external and internal. By the conclusion, readers see that all she needs is a likeminded friend. Here's hoping there's more to come from this talented newcomer.
—Twenty by Jenny
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Candlewick; 1st edition (August 6, 2013)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 40 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0763660531
- ISBN-13 : 978-0763660536
- Reading age : 3 - 6 years, from customers
- Lexile measure : NP
- Grade level : Preschool - 3
- Item Weight : 1.1 pounds
- Dimensions : 11 x 0.37 x 9.75 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #14,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #155 in Children's Self-Esteem Books
- #549 in Children's Friendship Books
- #772 in Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
Videos
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Colors, Story, Details, Imagination! Its Amazing!Brad Smith
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Journey (Aaron Becker's Wordless Trilogy)Merchant Video
About the author

Born in Baltimore, Aaron Becker moved to California to attend Pomona College where he scored his first illustration job designing t-shirts for his water polo team. Since then, he's traveled to Kenya, Japan, Sweden, and Tahiti backpacking around while looking for good things to eat and feeding his imagination. He now lives with his family in Amherst, MA where he's busy at work on his next book project. You can find out more about what he's been up to lately at storybreathing.com.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers praise the book's visual quality for combining colorful natural environments and its ability to tell a nice story without words, with each reader creating their own narrative. The book is excellent for 4 to 6-year-olds and serves as a great way to introduce young readers to storytelling. Customers find it thought-provoking, with one noting it encourages observation and thinking, and many consider it a take-your-breath-away unforgettable experience that's worth every penny. Customers appreciate its heartwarming nature, with one mentioning how it fosters sharing and friendship.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers appreciate the visual quality of the book, noting its beautiful, colorful natural environments and intricate details. One customer mentions how the pictures inspire their children, while another points out the architectural elements in the illustrations.
"...It is a work of literature, stunning in its artistry, poetic in its imagery, minimalism, and allusions...." Read more
"What a breath of fresh air. The art is very nice with an emphasis on architecture and larger forms, the story is simple and adventurous with good..." Read more
"...The illustrations are incredible -- so detailed and just completely transport you into this magical world...." Read more
"...It is marvelous and magical. It is enchanting and engaging. It is accessible and just plain awesome. This was Aaron Becker's first book...." Read more
Customers enjoy the story of this wordless book, describing it as an amazing adventure with beautiful illustrations, and appreciate that the narrative unfolds differently each time it's read.
"...Absolutely stunning. Brilliant in every way. Please, do yourself a favor, spend the fourteen or fifteen bucks and get this. Cherish it...." Read more
"...very nice with an emphasis on architecture and larger forms, the story is simple and adventurous with good morals, and the book is a great way to..." Read more
"...Without words, it tells the story of a little girl using a red crayon to enter a magical world, beginning with an enchanted forest lit by lanterns...." Read more
"...It is enchanting and engaging. It is accessible and just plain awesome. This was Aaron Becker's first book. I can't wait to see what he does next." Read more
Customers find this book excellent for 4 to 6-year-olds and great for any age, noting it's a wonderful way to introduce young readers to storytelling.
"This is, in my opinion, an essential book for parents and non-parents alike...." Read more
"...and larger forms, the story is simple and adventurous with good morals, and the book is a great way to have kids to put their own words to a story...." Read more
"This book has really captivated my 5 year old, and, to be really honest, me too...." Read more
"...The students were so proud of their work; I helped with vocabulary development ,descriptive words, reading interest; they owned their work with..." Read more
Customers find the book thought-provoking, with one mentioning it encourages observation and thinking, while another notes its rich and full world with many nuances.
"...This is a book I would, as a teacher, work into units from kindergarten through graduate school. How many books can you say that about? Incredible." Read more
"...story is simple and adventurous with good morals, and the book is a great way to have kids to put their own words to a story...." Read more
"...It is marvelous and magical. It is enchanting and engaging. It is accessible and just plain awesome. This was Aaron Becker's first book...." Read more
"...book that tells a fantastic and cleverly imaginative story, values like kindness, friendship, and perseverance are here...." Read more
Customers find the book engaging and take-your-breath-away unforgettable, with one customer noting it's great for discussion.
"What a breath of fresh air...." Read more
"...It is marvelous and magical. It is enchanting and engaging. It is accessible and just plain awesome. This was Aaron Becker's first book...." Read more
"...It’s fun!" Read more
"...my toddler and I to explore the images and story unfolding, in an interactive, didactic manner...." Read more
Customers find the book to be worth every penny and wonderful.
"...Worth every penny!" Read more
"...It is worth every penny." Read more
"...My 5 year old son immediately read it to himself on first look. Wonderful, and should be a part of everyone's library." Read more
"...This book has a wonderful and clear tale, with gorgeous pictures and a happy ending...." Read more
Customers find the book heartwarming, with multiple reviews noting how it encourages sharing and leads to friendship, while one customer mentions it serves as a bonding bedtime read.
"...a fantastic and cleverly imaginative story, values like kindness, friendship, and perseverance are here...." Read more
"...breathtaking, the story is really fun - filled with magic,adventure, friendship, good guys and bad guys...." Read more
"Love this book for teaching perspective taking, social skills, and communication. I’d love it to be twice as long then it would be perfect...." Read more
"...what was happening on each page, which resulted in a more active level of engagement." Read more
Customers have mixed feelings about the book's wordless nature, with some appreciating that it says volumes without words, while others find it difficult to understand the story without text.
"...Without words, it tells the story of a little girl using a red crayon to enter a magical world, beginning with an enchanted forest lit by lanterns...." Read more
"JOURNEY is a wordless picture book, so there is no text to write about, but there very much is a story. And the story is wonderful...." Read more
"...What you have here is a wordless storybook. It is, I would suggest, more a work of art, a collection of linked paintings that tell a story...." Read more
"A wordless book that tells a fantastic and cleverly imaginative story, values like kindness, friendship, and perseverance are here...." Read more
Reviews with images

Courage, drama, connection--and lush illos
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2013This is, in my opinion, an essential book for parents and non-parents alike. It is a work of literature, stunning in its artistry, poetic in its imagery, minimalism, and allusions.
What you have here is a wordless storybook. It is, I would suggest, more a work of art, a collection of linked paintings that tell a story. Our main character (nameless), seeks refuge from her disconnected life in the adventures she creates with her red crayon. Sound like a book we've all read and loved? Stay with me. She journeys, with her crayon, into a beautifully imagined world and an adventure. I really don't want to ruin the BRILLIANT (boy how I wish FB would let me italicize) twist ending, but I will say that this is so much more than an homage to HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON, it is an extension of it, a tribute to it, a joining of worlds.
I read this book with my three-and-a-half-year-old son last night and he was enthralled. In spite of the fact that there were no words, he was gripped. Why? The lack of a defined way of telling this story allowed us to tell it ourselves. Tonight, when we read it again, it will be slightly different. New words will be used to give voice to the story told through the images. Every time we read this book, it will become new. That is special.
I can't speak highly enough of this book. Even as an adult I read it and appreciate what it does. Absolutely stunning. Brilliant in every way. Please, do yourself a favor, spend the fourteen or fifteen bucks and get this. Cherish it. Because your child (or you) will read it at 3, at 5, at 10, at 16, at 30, at 80. This is a book I would, as a teacher, work into units from kindergarten through graduate school. How many books can you say that about? Incredible.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2017What a breath of fresh air. The art is very nice with an emphasis on architecture and larger forms, the story is simple and adventurous with good morals, and the book is a great way to have kids to put their own words to a story. Loved it instantly!
Minor spoilers follow. The real reason I wanted to write a review, however, is to provide a counter to the reviews that raise concerns over the philosophy of the book. As the father of two daughters, I find them totally baseless. Two themes stuck out to me from the negative reviews: the 1950's style domestic mom on the intro pages, and the rescue of the heroine.
As for the mom, the introductory pages are designed to show an imperfect family. The faults of the home (workaholic dad, electronics obsessed sis, overly domestic mother) are there for a reason: for the flaws! It's anecdotal, but my daughters caught on instantly and "read" the family as flawed. In short, the mom is a not a person to be emulated, so there is no problem.
Regarding the heoine's rescue, I almost didn't buy the book because I was concerned over a knight in shining armor riding in to save the day; I dislike that particular deus ex machina. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In the story, the heroine saves a magical creature from the cage, who in return rescues the heroine when she is captured while rendering said assistance. I'm sorry, I have no idea how anyone construes helping others and accepting their help in return as negative...
I hope this helps new buyers on the fence. Not everyone is going to like the art, or the price, or the lack of words, but the story and morals are just fine for young children.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2018This book has really captivated my 5 year old, and, to be really honest, me too. Without words, it tells the story of a little girl using a red crayon to enter a magical world, beginning with an enchanted forest lit by lanterns. I've sometimes struggled when reading wordless books with my children, but this one really just tells the story itself. The illustrations are incredible -- so detailed and just completely transport you into this magical world. The architecture of the castle, the waterways, and rich sense of place are just amazing. My son loves carefully examining the castle and waterways and magical flying machine. There is real plot here and most definitely bad guys, though they have not scared my 5 year old, who recently got scared of the cat in Disney's Cinderella. But I've chosen not to read this yet with my 2.5 year old.
I do appreciate that there is real plot here and even the bad guys. I think we've lost sight of the fact that not all children's literature needs to model perfect behavior and that children do need some stories with conflict to better understand kindness and goodness. I would recommend this for ages 3.5/4 and up depending on where your kiddo is with enjoying things with bad guys in them.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2014JOURNEY is a wordless picture book, so there is no text to write about, but there very much is a story. And the story is wonderful. It's pretty simple: A young girl feels ignored by her family, so she creates a door to her own adventure. I don't see this as an indictment against her family in any way; I see this as showing the benefit of allowing children to get bored so that they will use their imagination.
This book does pay homage to several books, most obviously Harold and the Purple Crayon, but I also saw traces of The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Phantom Tollbooth, 1001 Arabian Nights, and just about anything that Jules Verne wrote. The homage feels almost like a love letter to the fantastic children's literature of the past.
The artwork in this book is heart-stoppingly beautiful. It is marvelous and magical. It is enchanting and engaging. It is accessible and just plain awesome. This was Aaron Becker's first book. I can't wait to see what he does next.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2023A wordless book that tells a fantastic and cleverly imaginative story, values like kindness, friendship, and perseverance are here. On my Kindle, however, I couldn't get the images to zoom! What a loss! The art is so very good, it deserves to be savored in magnification.
Top reviews from other countries
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Breno P.Reviewed in Brazil on July 19, 2022
4.0 out of 5 stars Obra sensacional
É um livro sem palavras, então pouco importa o idioma de origem (no meu caso, compramos em inglês). A história é contada por meio de desenhos simples mas ricos em detalhes, e nas primeiras vezes em que lemos, toda vez vimos uma coisa nova. Vale para aguçar a criatividade: cada um dos meus pequenos conta a história de um jeito diferente, do seu próprio jeito. Também é acessível às minhas filhas menores que têm quatro anos na data em que recebemos. É uma trilogia, então vale também comprar os outros, que continuam exatamente de onde o anterior parou. Perde uma estrela pela demora na entrega para o Brasil e por um dano superficial (uma espécie de risco) na capa traseira.
- krista janeReviewed in Canada on August 27, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and imaginative
This book (and the whole set of three) is so lovely. My son loves that he can ‘read it’ himself. We also love to make up new storylines with it. It’s really well done!
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AmonkReviewed in Germany on February 26, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars wunderschön
Ein wunderschönes Buch, welches die Honor Auszeichnung der Caldecott Medal, welche jährlich schöne Kinderbuchillustrationen kürt, definitiv verdient hat.
Die Zeichnungen sind mitreißend und man begibt sich gerne mit auf die Phantasiereise eines kleines Mädchens, welches mit einem Stift eine Tür an die Wand zeichnet und dahinter in eine neue Welt abtaucht. Das Buch erzählt ohne Worte eine fast anrührende (nicht kitschige) Geschichte über Freundschaft. Ich bin normalerweise tatsächlich kein Fan von Büchern ohne Text, aber dieses ist komplett gelungen, denn der Erzählmoment geht hier nicht verloren, trotz der im Vordergrund stehenden Bilder gibt es dennoch eine ebenso tolle Geschichte, die man mit eigenen Worten immer neu gestalten kann. Empfehlenswert für eine große Altersspanne.
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Cliente de AmazonReviewed in Spain on May 21, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Un regalo para los ojos
Un regalo para los ojos. Un viaje que invita a soñar. Unas ilustraciones que te envuelven en un mundo fantástico. Una obra maestra de un ilustrador genial. Uno de esos libros que invitan a leer una y otra vez, y en cada una de ellas se descubre algo nuevo.
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Star291Reviewed in France on June 13, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Un livre plein d'imagination
C'est le livre préféré de notre enfant, demandé fréquemment. Comme il n'y a pas de mots dans le livre, juste des images, chaque nuit, nous lisons qu'il y a une nouvelle aventure. Les images sont magnifiques. Hautement recommandé.