The Carpenter

A wordless picture book that encourages imaginative play and creativity through bold illustrations and visual storytelling.

A young boy puts aside his electronic devices when an old-fashioned yellow folding tape measure sparks his imagination. Through striking, wordless visuals, the boy’s simple exploration of a carpenter’s tools leads to rich imaginative adventures — from transforming the tape measure into various shapes to envisioning ocean scenes and playful scenarios. Brazilian illustrator Bruna Barros uses a bold, limited color palette and expressive scenes to show how a familiar workshop can become a world of wonder without a single word of text.

“A young boy abandons his beloved electronics when an old-fashioned yellow-jointed tape measure causes his imagination to run wild, in The Carpenter, a wordless expression of the simple joys found in exploration and creative play.” — Foreword Reviews