Fantastic Picture Books
Picture books worth reading again and again
You may think I’m a great reading mom, but I once hid a book from my one-year-old because I was so sick of reading it to her. It’s important to find quality picture books to read to our kids that we can enjoy together, books with great messages. My friend Holly asked for a list of great picture books with positive messages to share with her kids, ideally ones with lots of boy protagonists.
But before we get to my recommendations, check out Ambleside Online’s lists here and here. Scroll to the bottom of the page. We have found a few of our favorite authors by digging through these pages. And don’t forget to check out the many lists of picture books on Read Aloud Revival.
The list I give below is by author’s last name. Why? I presume you’re going to be getting most of your books from a local library where the Juvenile Fiction is organized by last name, and if you find one great author, you can usually find several books you love at once!
Barklem, Jill - Enjoy all four of the charming Brambly Hedge books. The illustrations are delightful.
Beskow, Elsa - Pelle’s New Suit is an informative and charming book about a boy working to get his lamb’s wool into a new coat.
Brett, Jan - As an illustrator, Brett is amazing. Don’t miss her rendition of Town Mouse, Country Mouse. But Jan Brett’s stories can be a bit hit or miss. Sometimes I check out Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella just to remind myself that something so weird was really published. I’m not sure if I’m more confused by the chickens being pulled in a troika by ducks or wearing traditional Russian formal attire.
Burton, Virginia Lee - Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and The Little House and Katy and the Big Snow are all charming, well-loved classics.
Carle, Eric - I fiercely loved The Grouch Ladybug as a child. But don’t stop with this one or The Very Hungry Caterpillar and avoid the painfully boring Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Check out Carle’s many others, like The Very Clumsy Click Beetle and Pancakes, Pancakes!
Child, Lauren - We love The New Small Person but also the Charlie and Lola series. Make sure you get the author’s original books about the irrepressible Lola and not just the show adaptations, which are not as cleverly written.
Cooney, Barbara - Miss Rumphius is as thought-provoking as it is beautiful. But don’t stop with this title. She justly won an award for Chanticleer and the Fox. And she wrote and illustrated 110 books in all.
Day, Alexandra - This author creates mostly wordless books about the world’s best babysitter: A Rottweiler named Carl. These books are not a great way to teach about babysitting or responsibility, but they are great fun.
Demi - We especially love The Empty Pot, but all of Demi’s books are beautiful. You may have to look for them in Non-fiction, under folk tales.
DePaola, Tomie - This prolific author is well-beloved for a reason! While he is best known for his book Strega Nona, we love Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella. But boys might appreciate The Knight and the Dragon or Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato or Fin M’Coul.
Galdone, Paul - You can find many versions of fairy and folk tales out there, but Galdone writes and illustrates classic versions that you’ll want to read again and again. You’ll be giving your kids the original versions with Disney embellishments. Everything from The Little Red Hen to Three Billy Goats Gruff is excellent.
Hall, Donald - The Oxcart Man is an award winner no American child should miss.
Hankey, Dai - This is the only explicitly Christian author on this list, and so this author may be hard to find in libraries. But I was so pleased with the messages in Eric Says Thanks, Eric Says Sorry, and Eric Says Please that I got my own copies.
Haughton, Chris - This was one of my kid’s favorite author’s for a while. In addition to the bright and funky illustrations, each story has a clever twist and an excellent message. Oh No, George is our favorite, but Little Owl Lost and Shh! We Have a Plan are excellent. Don’t miss them!
Herriot, James - If you haven’t read his Treasury for Children, it’s delightful. The stories are longer and will stretch your children’s attention span, but that’s not a bad thing. In this case, it means you can linger longer over the beautiful illustrations, build your child’s vocabulary, and build his attention span.
Hoban, Russell and Lilian. The Hobans wrote several books about Francis the badger and her complicated relationships with her little sister Gloria and friends. I loved these when I was a kid, and I only appreciate them more now as I see the wit and helpful perspectives they share on sticky problems children have to face. Bonus points if you sing Francis’s self-composed songs to your kids as you read these books aloud.
Hodges, Margaret - This author has a stunning version of Saint George and the Dragon as well as The Kitchen Knight, but her many other books are also well worth checking out.
Kellogg, Stephen - The Pinkerton books never fail to entertain us, but Kellogg has published more than 90 children’s books, and they are definitely worth your attention, including The Pied Piper’s Magic, The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash, and many others.
Lobel, Arnold - Don’t miss anything by this author! The fan favorites are the four Frog and Toad books, but don’t miss Uncle Elephant, Mouse Tales, or anything else you find on the shelf.
Minarik, Else Holmelund - Minarik’s Little Bear series has delighted readers for generations.
Nolan, Dennis - I absolutely love this author’s version of Androcles and the Lion. But he also has a picture book version of Shakespeare’s The Midsummer Night’s Dream that is brilliant.
O’Connor, Jane - It’s hard to get better than the original, hardback picture books featuring Fancy Nancy. Little girls will enjoy these the most, again and again.
Pinkney, Jerry - This is one of my favorite illustrators. Check out his many fairytales like The Ugly Duckling, The Tortoise and the Hare, and The Talking Eggs.
Rylant, Cynthia - This is one of our all-time favorite authors. We especially love the Henry and Mudge series and its companion series Annie and Snowball. But we also adore the Mr. Putter and Tabby series and Poppleton as well. The only thing I haven’t cared for by this author are the painfully boring Brownie & Pearl books for very beginning readers.
Spier, Peter - This illustrator is brilliant. Check out his Noah’s Ark, People, award-winning The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, and anything else you can find by this author.
Stead, Philip C. - A Sick Day for Amos McGee is a charming treat that inspired a sequel.
Steig, William - Make sure to read Sylvester and the Magic Pebble and Pete’s a Pizza, but this author has other great reads like Brave Irene and Doctor De Soto.
Titus, Eve - Anatole is a Caldecott Honor Medal and a worthy classic! Check it out along with its sequels.
Waber, Bernard - The House on East 88th Street is the first of several books about Lyle, the world’s friendliest and most charming crocodile. The books are longer and will stretch your child’s attention span, which is a good thing! Enjoy them all!
Wells, Rosemary - This prolific author has multiple charming series. We love the Yoko series as well as the books about MacDuff the dog, but for books featuring male protagonists, consider Wells’ famous Max and Ruby series about a brother and sister.
Weisner, David - Like Alexandra Day, this author writes mostly wordless books. The messages aren’t particularly deep, but Tuesday is a hilarious and creative book that will make you enjoy sharing stories with your kids. We’ve enjoyed other books by this author as well.
Wilder, Laura Ingalls - Some anecdotes from the original Little House series have been adapted as picture books and beautifully illustrated. Look for Dance at Grandpa’s and Sugar Snow and many others.
Wilson, Karma - Wilson thrilled readers with her book Bear Snores On. Its sequels are also charming!
Wood, Audrey and Don - With witty writing and brilliant illustrations, these authors created some books that we just had to own. Be sure to read both the award-winning King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub as well as The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear.
While you’re at the library, try to find Give Your Child the World by Jamie C. Martin for more great book lists. And check out The Read Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie, founder of Read Aloud Revival.
There are so, so many more great children’s authors! I hope this post helps you find some new favorites.
So many good picks on here! A special shout-out to Charlie and Lola, as well as the magnificent and enduringly inspirational Miss Rumphius