Our Picture Book Picks

I’m always on the lookout for a good picture book for my kids. Since a good book is hard to find, I’ve compiled a list of some of our favorites.

• A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker -- This is such a cute story about a grumpy bear and a cheery mouse who ultimately become friends. It’s well-written and illustrated. A Bedtime for Bear is also very good. 

• Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton -- I really like Haughton’s books: they convey real-world lessons in clever and entertaining ways. In this one, George, the dog, hopes to be good while his owner is out. But it’s hard for him to resist the many temptations around the house, like the cake. Oh No, George! is a favorite. But there are many others by Haughton that we enjoy, like Maybe… and Don’t Worry Little Crab.

• Ocean by Britta Teckentrup -- All of Teckentrup’s peek-through picture books are wonderful. They have great illustrations and lyrical text, which your little one will undoubtedly learn from. In addition Ocean, her books Bee, Tree, and Moon are also quite good.

• The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin -- This book has been adored in our house for a long time. It captures the thoughts and dreams parents have for their children. At the same time, it conveys love and acceptance no matter what they grow up to be and do. The illustrations are beautiful and the lyrical text is memorable. I enjoy reading this book just as much as Hayden and Marie love listening to it.

• Aesop's Fables for Little Children by Susanna Davidson -- This book is a great way to introduce Aesop to young children. The stories are relatively short, and they’re accompanied by fun illustrations. Hayden’s favorite stories are the ones with a fox.

• Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle -- Hayden and Marie love Eric Carle books. Hayden has been mesmerized by the moon recently, so we’ve been reading this book often. The fold out pages are a clever addition to this simple story.

• A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog by Mercer Mayer -- To me, Mayer brings back the joys of childhood with this book, as well as other books in this series. This wordless picture book is about the adventure of a boy trying to capture a frog. The subtleties in the illustrations make me discover something new with every read. 

• Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola -- This is another wordless picture book that is a family favorite. We read this book each time we eat pancakes; it never gets old! The story line is cute and so are the illustrations.

• The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein -- This classic book is simple, yet profound. It’s a straightforward story that includes themes about love, sacrifice, and emotions. Whether you go deep or keep it at surface level, this book deserves a read.

And, of course, there are many, many books by Julia Donaldson that are worth reading. The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom are popular in our house.

This isn’t an exclusive list, and I know there are other great picture books out there. We’re eager to find and read them!

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body."
— Joseph Addison