(Mostly) Wordless

by Jed Alexander

Ages 1 – 99+ (Ideal for everyone). Alternative Comics.  May 2014. 48 pages. ISBN: 978-1934460337. (Mostly) Fiction.

At a Glance/Summary:

(Mostly) Wordless is a whimsical journey through slices of life and imagination.  Battle pirates and hunt for buried treasure, contemplate what you would do if your nose and mustache ran away, sail the high seas in an umbrella with your dog, dance, bounce, turn into a witch or a beatnik, and finally jump over a a candlestick with a very fit mouse. Reading this book feels like a dream sequence or flipping the channels (except everything is interesting).  It was like eating a very small sampling of some of the best food ever — it just left us wanting more.

Where to Get it:

• Your local library: Worldcat.org (Ask your library for it.)
• Your local bookstore (affiliate link):  Indiebound.org (Ask your local bookstore for it.)
• Or on (affiliate link): Amazon.com (ebook available now, hardbound available May 14th, 2014)

Why You Should Read (Mostly) Wordless:

• Everything about this book is beautiful — from its illustrations to how the book feels when you hold it in your hands.
• It is a book for everyone.  Adults and children (and even infants) alike will be amused and awed.
• There are very few words in this book (hence the title) which opens the book up to a lot of conversations and storytelling.
• It prompts tons of “What If”questions and spurs the imagination long after reading it.
• The stories are accessible and easily imitable by little ones.
• It’s fun and full of goodness.
• Did I mention that it is absolutely beautiful?  Because it really is.

How My Three-and-a Half-Year-Old Son Responds to this Book:

He loves this book!  He asked so many questions and was compelled to add his own ideas to each story as we read through the book.  He was thoroughly shocked by the idea of a nose and mustache running away in the middle of the night. (“That can’t really happen, can it, Mama?“)  He then bounced on his giant ball, danced around the room, and proceeded to pretend to jump over a candle.  In the nursery rhyme, “Jack Be Nimble“, Jed Alexander’s illustrations made both of us realize that the nursery rhyme never says that the candle is actually lit — just assumed to be so.  This led to an entire conversation about the assumptions we make and how we can be wrong.  I’m always amazed at what kinds of conversations picture books instigate. My son gave it a thumbs up when I asked him what he thought of it.  I’ve seen him reading through it himself and he’s asked me to read it with him many, many times.  We’ll be reading and enjoying this book for a long time to come.

Author/Illustrator Websites:

• https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jedalexander/mostly-wordless-a-picture-book-for-everyone
• (Autor/Illustrator)  http://jedalexander.com/
• (Publisher) http://indyworld.com/
• (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/mostlywordless

Other Reviews of this Book:

• http://comicbastards.com/review-mostly-wordless/

Where Obtained:  I received a review copy from the author.  No other compensation was received.  The opinions expressed here are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

FTC Disclosures:  Some of the links in the post above are Amazon affiliate links and others are IndieBound affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase something, I will receive an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Which goes to fund my family’s picture book habit.  It’s a vicious cycle, but we manage.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”