"Valero’s captivating illustrations feature deep, saturated colors and an adorably rotund bear with a magnificently expressive face. They also include some unusual angles, such as a bee’s aerial view and a caterpillar’s glimpse of a gaping bear mouth as it’s about to be eaten. The lack of words does nothing to limit the bear’s escapades, with the actions and expressions made so clear that the glyphs are not always needed (although they certainly provide a lot of fun). Valero has created a book that is utterly unique—a wonderful romp through the woods that ultimately proves words are not always necessary to tell a rich, rewarding story. This delightful, wordless story encapsulates adventure and natural beauty through its charming illustrations and glyphs."

Wander is a wordless children's book that allows readers to infer what is happening on each page using expressive illustrations and pictorial symbols along the side of each page. Readers might wonder what these symbols mean. How do they relate to the beautifully crafted illustrative pages? At first glance, some symbols can be confusing for kids and (possibly) adults. There are a few symbols that kids should be able to deduce their meaning without guidance, such as the flame representing a hot or warm day, and the wavy lines representing water. There are animal symbols, too, which should not stump the author's target audience: 9+ years. However, with 72 symbols in total, the author realizes readers will need help, so they have thoughtfully included a glossary page for the glyphs. My advice: bookmark these pages because you will need them!

Full review at Reedsy Discovery