Journey
A wordless adventure about a girl who draws a red door and walks through it. Because there is no text, the child becomes the narrator, making it a unique, collaborative reading experience where you listen to them.
Journey by Aaron Becker is wordless, so its read-together time varies with how long you spend narrating and looking at each picture. It lands best with children aged 3-8.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- time variesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 0Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 0Sentences per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 5/5still good at forty
- Vocabulary level
- 1/5plain words
- Best for
- Ages 3-8Our editorial fit
Our review
This is a visual journey that follows a single red crayon through a black-and-white world. It is perfect for children who want to dictate the story themselves or for quiet moments of exploration.
It isn't a traditional read-aloud, so it's best used as a "look-at-together" book. The lack of text allows the experience to last as long as your child's interest lasts.
Before you buy it
Because there is no text, this is a book to look at together rather than read aloud. It is meant to spark conversation, so be prepared to spend as long as your child needs.
Themes
- wordless
- imagination
- drawing
- adventure
- loneliness
Books like Journey
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read Journey aloud?
This is a wordless book, so there is no honest fixed duration. Its read-together time depends on how much of the visual story you and the child narrate, notice and discuss.
What age is Journey actually for?
Ages 3-8 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 0 sentences a page and vocabulary at 1 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does Journey survive being read on repeat?
Yes - this is one of the few that is still fine on the fortieth reading, which is why it scores 5 out of 5 with us.
Is Journey a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise Journey?
It can. It scores 5 out of 5 with us for holding up to repeat reading, and children tend to learn by heart the books they ask for most, even without a strong refrain.
Can a beginning reader read Journey on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 0 sentences a page and plain vocabulary (1 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
What themes does Journey cover?
We tag it with wordless, imagination, drawing, adventure and loneliness. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
Lists Journey is on
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49 reviewed booksBooks for 6 Year OldsTop books for 6 year olds. Includes long picture books, first chapter books, and tips on when they're ready for both.
45 reviewed booksPreschool BooksA curated list of picture books for ages three to five. Find books that hold a group, stories that are quick, and favorites for constant re-reading.