PLEASE give your children books. Let their fingers turn the pages. Let them study the illustrations. Let them use bookmarks! A beautiful paper book can never be trumped by an image on a phone or tablet, especially in the case of picture books. There’s something about the smell and feel of a real book, with lovely illustrations to sweep you into a new place and time. If you’ve missed out on any of these wonderful picture books, we think they’re worth a trip to the library or bookstore to get your hands on a copy.
Here are 30 picture books that have been read over and over at our house. Some teach wonderful lessons. Some have gorgeous illustrations. Some are just plain silly. We know they’ll make you smile! A full list follows the photos.
Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman and Marla Frazee
Edward and the Pirates by David McPhail
This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza
Fanny’s Dream by Caralyn and Mark Buehner
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McClosky
Two Good Friends by Judy Delton and Giulio Maestro
The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant and Stephen Gammell
A Porcupine Named Fluffy by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger
Joseph had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
The Empty Pot by Demi
Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran and Barbara Cooney
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson and Tara King
King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey and Don Wood
When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree by Jamie L.B. Deenihan and Lorraine Rocha
The Hula-Hoopin Queen by Thelma Lynne Godin and Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli and Paul Yalowitz
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, Wemberly Worried, and Chrysanthumum by Kevin Henkes
Birds by Kevin Henkes (Can you tell that we really love Kevin Henkes?)
Henri’s Walk to Paris by Leonore Klein and Saul Bass
The Bad Seed (+3 others in series) by Jory John and Pete Oswald
Rosie Revere, Engineer (+ others in series) by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts
The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss
The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy (This one is arguably more for parents than their kids.)