My kids and I love reading dozens of library books every week. We find books we like; sometimes books we disagree with – if characters are mean-spirited, the pictures are crude, or the words are impolite; books that we feel neutral about; and if we are lucky on a particular day, we find books that have the extraordinary juxtaposition of thoughtful, beautiful writing, and endearing illustrations. These books touch our hearts, remind us of something dear in our own lives, illuminate a spark of imagination, or just make us fall in love. This list is a partial collection of what we have found on the lucky days.

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All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel
written and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
A true story of an immigrant who came to the United States from Italy bearing not much more than a shovel which is passed down through the family from generation to generation – each bearer using the shovel for completely different purposes, each generation encapsulating something of their heritage to pass down to their children. It’s a wonderful immigrant tale.

Anatole
written by Eve Titus
illustrated by Paul Galdone
Paris. Charming, anthropomorphic mice. Typewriters. Delightful illustrations. Cheese. This book has it all. An absolutely lovely, lovely classic about a mouse who becomes the premier cheese connoisseur in Paris. Anatole is featured by Eve Titus in several sequels, but of course, read this one first.

The Baby Tree
written and illustrated by Sophie Blackall
If your young child is starting to ask “Where do babies come from?” – read this book. The story about a curious boy who is waiting for a baby sibling to arrive, is a wonderful, age appropriate (around ages 5-8), introduction to human reproduction. There is also an appendix for older children which provides more specific information on the mechanics of, ahem, things.

The Black Book of Colors
written by Menena Cottin
illustrated by Rosana Faria
How do you describe to someone what it’s like not to see? How do you describe what it’s like not to be able to see colors? The pages of this book are completely black with white text along-side braille. The first color described is yellow: “Thomas says yellow tastes like mustard, but it is soft as a baby chick’s feathers.” Opposite of the text, there are relief-images, black on black of the objects being described. On this particular page, there are wistful feathers flowing around a black page. This is an amazingly beautiful book. Perhaps if I were looking for something with braille I would find others similar in nature, but from my experience, this is the only book containing braille that I have seen. This book is brilliant.

Blackout
written and illustrated by John Rocco
It’s a sweltering summer night in the city. All of a sudden there is a blackout. What do you do? Do you wait in annoyance for the power to return? Or do you relish the serendipitous event which has you outside on your rooftop stargazing with all of your neighbors? Exactly.

The Curious Garden
written and illustrated by Peter Brown
On the surface, this is a book about a dreary, grey day, on which a curious boy finds an abandoned railroad track and a patch of greenery growing alongside. With the boy’s care, the garden flourishes and his, previously gloomy, city is transformed. More profoundly, this book is an inspiring anecdote showing that with enough heart and drive, one person can make an enormous impact.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Drama. Intrigue. Rogue pigeon attempting to operate enormous machinery. Mo Willems shines in this very funny book about a pigeon wanting to drive a bus while the bus driver, leaving us – the readers – in charge, is away. This book has an element of interaction that young children love. You can also find Pigeon in several other Mo Willems books.

The Dot
written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
“Just make a mark and see where it takes you,” said Vashti’s art teacher in response to the girl’s reluctance to draw. It’s such wonderful advice about anything in life. The best we can do is try and see where our attempt takes us, right?

Every Friday
written and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
This book makes me want to start an every Friday tradition. Yaccarino’s artwork brings about a sense of heartwarming nostalgia. It’s short, light, and wonderfully pleasant. Easily digestible for the littlest listeners and enjoyable by all.

Extra Yarn
written by Mac Barnett
illustrated by Jon Klassen
A beautifully illustrated (as I can say for all of Jon Klassen’s books), charming story of a girl who finds box containing an endless amount of yarn and decides to cover her whole winter-laden grey town in sweaters. Nothing can stop her, not even an archduke who attempt to steal her yarn stash.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
written by William Joyce
illustrated by William Joyce and Joe Bluhm
I’m just going to say, stop reading this list and read this book instead (then come back). This is an absolutely magnificent piece of art. This story inspired an Academy Award winning animated short film by the same name. Read it, watch it, just do it. You won’t be sorry. You may need a handkerchief, though – unless you are a robot.

The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau
written and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
Ooh la la. Très bien. This biographical picture book of Jacques Cousteau’s life is such a treat. The book chronicles Cousteau’s life from childhood to his car accident as a young man, which spawned much of his love of the sea, all the way through Cousteau’s research conservation work. Between the beautiful underwater illustrations by Yaccarino, the amazing facts of Cousteau’s achievements – the engineering marvels of breathing apparatuses, underwater vessels; his findings of different sea creatures; his work as an ambassador and conservationist, – and quotes from Cousteau himself throughout the book, it’s an inspiring read for children and adults alike. I leave you with my favorite quote from Cousteau, which completely captures the essence of this book, “When one man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself.”

Flashlight
created by Lizi Boyd
I’m usually not a fan of picture books without words. I understand the benefit of discussing each picture with your child, but as a whole, I’m a not a fan of the wordless genre. Flashlight is such a beautiful concept, though, that words would hinder the idea that Lizi Boyd put forth in this book about a child leaving his camping tent at night and strolling around his surroundings with a flashlight. The monotone pages with single streams of light coming from the child’s flashlight to illuminate nocturnal creatures in action is a concept I’ve never seen before. It’s captivating.

Gaston
written by Kelly DiPucchio
illustrated by Christian Robinson
Gaston is very charming read about a couple of dogs whose physical attributes don’t quite fit in with their respective families. The book is a lovely remark on the fact that not everyone in your brood has to look the same or act the same to be family and to be loved. A heartwarming story indeed.

Grandpa Green
written and illustrated by Lane Smith
Have you ever seen someone’s biography portrayed in a series of topiaries? I hadn’t either, until I picked up this masterful work of Lane Smith’s by happenstance. The story of Grandpa Green is told by his great-grandson. Through a series of topiaries, we are transported through the life of “Green” from childhood illnesses, high school sweethearts, war times, and family life. This is a very cool, completely unexpected book.

The Heart and the Bottle
written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Oh, dear heartstrings, you have been pulled profusely. This is a book about an incredibly inquisitive girl who owes her curiosity to an older gentleman (likely her grandfather, but the book doesn’t specify). The man disappears, and, in coping with his absence, the girl places her heart in glass bottle to avoid future pain. This book works on many levels. It’s ambiguity is perfect for the subject of loss or hardship, which can come in many different forms.

The Hello Goodbye Window
written by Norton Juster
illustrated by Chris Raschka
How well do you remember your grandparents’ house? If you are fortunate enough to have sweet childhood memories of warmth and coziness spending time with your grandparents, this book might seem like a flashback. It makes me wish to be back in my grandparents’ kitchen, having breakfast with them and looking out the window. A very heartwarming story that made me long to be a kid again. “You can be happy and sad at the same time, you know. It just happens that way sometimes.”

How to Catch a Star
written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
My daughter would not let me leave this book off the list. This is a story of a boy who tries many different means to catch a star. I find this to be an inspiring read at a time when you or your child are feeling that your goals are out of reach (literally?).

The Incredible Book Eating Boy
written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
By now you may have noticed that Oliver Jeffers is a staple in our reading repertoire. The Incredible Book Eating Boy was our first Jeffers book, so I think we have a bit of a bias towards it. This tale of a boy who literally devours books, and his trials and tribulations of book consumption, is very clever in it’s story. But the artwork, in particular, stands out. It looks like an artist’s journal of different sketches and pastings in a variety of media – it is Jeffers at his best. I’m surprised the book hasn’t received many awards.

The Iridescence of Birds: A Book About Henri Matisse
written by Patricia MacLachlan
illustrated by Hadley Hooper
I’m a total sucker for engaging art history type books for children. This beautiful book gives a glimpse into Henri Matisse’s childhood and his loving relationship with his adoring and supportive mother. It’s a joy to read and an absolute pleasure visually.

Joone
written and illustrated by Emily Kate Moon
This list should be called “Favorite Children’s Books Involving Grandparents.” This is another wonderful book, you guessed it, dealing with grandparents. What I like about Joone, besides the fact that Joone’s spirit reminds me of my own littles, is the family dynamic which the book showcases. Joone is a little girl who lives with her grandfather in a yurt. It’s just Joone, her grandfather, and a turtle named Mr. Chin. The picture of their life together is very sweet and simple. Simple happiness. That’s it.

Josef had a Little Overcoat
written and illustrated by Simms Taback
First off, isn’t it wonderful to teach our children that if they want something, they should try to figure out how to repurpose items they already have? Secondly, how about the idea that you can most certainly make something out of nothing? Follow Joseph as he refashions an overcoat into a multitude of different items until what he has left is nothing. And he manages something out of that as well.

Library Lion
written by Michelle Knudsen
illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
I’m not quite sure what my kids and I love most about this book: the idea of a friendly lion hanging around our library, the friendship between the lion and the head librarian, or the reminiscence of the feeling of spending time at the library. There is something in this book that makes it seem like you’re one of the lucky kids from Reading Rainbow hanging out with Levar Burton.

The Lion and the Bird
written and illustrated by Marianne Dubuc
We’re all aware of the phrase, “Never judge a book by it’s cover.” I’m not so sure that it works in the same capacity for picture books, because the illustrations are such a major part of the genre that if you don’t care for the illustrations, you will not appreciate the book half as much as if you connected to them. This book is an example of successfully judging the book by it’s cover. Marianne Dubuc has created the an absolutely lovely book about the unlikely friendship between a lion and a bird. There are very few words in this book and that creative choice plays a key role in the serene quality of the story. A wonderfully charming book.

Madeline
written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans
“In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.” There isn’t another book’s beginning that feels quite as much like being snuggled up on a couch with a hot cup of tea. It oozes coziness for me. The entire series about precocious little Madeline who lives in Parisian boarding school with eleven other girls and poor, stressed head mistress Miss Clavel is filled with wonderful rhythm, adventure, and heart. I love that Madeline is still popular as ever more than 75 years after the first book’s release in 1939. The character has so much draw, that Ludwig Bemelmans’s grandson, John Bemelmans Marciano, has actually continued the tales of Madeline in his own series of books.

Make Way for Ducklings
written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey
Any parent can tell you the preparations made for the arrival of offspring are quite a feat. Will your chosen home be safe? Will you be close enough to find everything you need for your little ones? Will your neighbors be kind to your little one? The same questions concern Mr. and Mrs. Mallard in this 1940 classic. The story follows the parents as they search for the perfect home for their ducklings around Boston. Not only are McCluskey’s story and illustrations delightful, but the choice to go on a visual tour of Boston in telling the story of the duck family was very exciting. Wonderful classic!

Mama Built a Little Nest
written by Jennifer Ward
illustrated by Steve Jenkins
My kids, like most children I think, love books with rhythm. Besides being very rhythmic, Mama Built a Little Nest is very informative. There are amazing facts about different birds and their ways of building nests contained within. My favorite aspect of this book is that it works for a several different audiences. Each page contains a realistic picture of one of the fourteen different birds included in the book. For younger kids, you can stick to the rhymes on one side of the page; for older kids, you can read the rhyme along with facts about that bird’s particular nest. For example, I found the hummingbird page particularly interesting: “Mama built a little nest / A cup so wee and snug / With walls of moss and roof of sky / And silky cobweb rug.” – This is the portion I read when reading with my toddler. When reading this book with my 6-year-old, I also include the additional nest facts: “A hummingbird makes the smallest cup-shaped nest. It uses spiderweb so the little nest will stretch as chicks grow.” Very interesting book for your animal lovers.

Maple
written and illustrated by Lori Nichols
Sometimes, you just need a book that’s warm and comfortable, that makes you smile, and brightens your day. Maple is a great book for such an occasion. The book follows Maple the girl and maple the tree as they grow together. It’s a really sweet story of friendship, first between Maple and maple, and then between Maple and a new family member. You may want to check this out if your child is expecting a sibling.

Me…Jane
written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell
This charming book is a very nice brief introduction to primatologist, environmentalist, conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall’s roots as a lover of animals. McDonnell’s illustrations of Dr. Goodall’s childhood are beautifully endearing. The book even includes several pages of sketches from Dr. Goodall’s childhood journals. A real treat for everyone from youngest listeners to adult readers.

Migrant
written by Maxine Trottier
illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
This beautiful story is about a girl named Anna who is a child of Mennonites of Mexico. Anna’s family are migrant workers who regularly make the long journey to Canada to work. Anna compares herself to an array of different animals – i.e., a jack rabbit who constantly seeks forgotten burrows, a kitten sharing a bed and one blanket with her many sisters – but what she really wonders about is how it would feel to be a tree with roots deeply fixed in one place. This book is a great introduction to the plight of migrant workers and very helpful, in my opinion, to read as an example to show readers just how lucky most of us are.

Mister Seahorse
written and illustrated by Eric Carle
This one is for all the Eric Carle fanatics out there. I’m not sure why this Mister Seahorse isn’t more prominently talked about as one of Carle’s better works. This is a very informative, fact-based book about a seahorse father drifting through the ocean and finding other fish fathers taking care of their eggs. Is it just me, or are fish fathers not really at the forefront of animal info? Along with seahorses, we learn about sticklebacks, bullheads, pipe, as well as numerous other father fish who protect their eggs in some very interesting ways.

Mr. Brown’s Fantastic Hat
written and illustrated by Ayano Imai
There’s nothing better than coming across a gem of a book when you least expect it. This is a story of a proud, lonely bear whose fancy top hat becomes a home for a woodpecker. The woodpecker is so happy with the accommodations, that he recommends that other birds move in as well. The bear is unexpectedly pleased with this living arrangement and with his newly found friends. This story is so charming and together with the fanciful illustrations, the book is sheer perfection.

Mr. Flux
written by Kyo Maclear
illustrated by Matte Stephens
Isn’t it interesting how one person can spawn a wave of change in people who are resistant to fluctuation of any kind? Such was the role of Mr. Flux when he moved into a neighborhood where everything was very stringent and no one did anything out of the ordinary. Read this book when someone in your family is having a challenging time dealing with changes in life. It’s puts a very nice positive light on something that many of us have a difficulty with.

Mr. Men/Little Miss Collection
written and illustrated by Roger Hargreaves
It’s impossible to pick which of the Mr. Men/Little Miss collection of books is our favorite. We like every single one that we have read. I love the unintrusive size of the small paperback books, the charmingly simple caricatures of the main personalities, and the writing, which despite that fact that it’s obviously for children, is written without dumbing down the text. I have a feeling that if these books were written today, rather than in the 1970’s they wouldn’t be as successful, today’s audience may consider the characters too generalized. Frankly, I just think they are smart, fun, and overall delightful.

My First Garden
written and illustrated by Tomek Bogacki
“The train was moving slowly through the green countryside. A town in the distance made me think of the town where I was born. It lay in a wide river valley surrounded by rolling hills. With its red-roofed houses it always reminded me of flower beds.” I must admit, I enjoyed this book more than my children did. I loved the nostalgic account of childhood, the neighborhood games, the grouchy neighbors, the school yard, the detailed description of the author’s childhood home. The basis of the story is also great; our protagonist finds out that a garden used to grow outside his house and with great care and fervor, he begins to grow his first garden.

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed
written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Mo Willems books are great for the youngest toddler listeners, but my first-grader enjoys them a lot as well. This one in particular is a favorite in our house. First of all, have you ever seen a naked mole rat? If you haven’t, look up naked mole rat images. Now imagine a naked mole rat wearing a suit and bow tie. Besides entertainment value here, I like the message that you don’t have to follow what everyone else is doing. It is completely fine to follow your own path as long as it’s not hurting anyone. “Why not?”

The Noisy Paint Box
written by Barb Rosenstock
illustrated by Mary Grandpré
This biography of abstract artist Vasily Kandinsky gives a beautiful account of Kandinsky’s life, his proper upbringing, his classic art education. He was not interested in the “proper,” “usual” art of his time though. Kandinsky is thought to have had a genetic condition called synesthesia, in which one senses triggers another – one can see music, hear colors, taste words, smell numbers. “I could hear the hiss of colors as they mingled,” said Kandinsky. And so, he gave his paintings in the essence of music, the way that he saw/heard the colors. This book does a brilliant job of making the sounds that Kandisnky heard resonating from his paint box strike a chord with the reader.

Olivia
written and illustrated by Ian Falconer
This book is the beginning of Falconer’s Olivia series of books about an incredibly imaginative, never tiring, very clever pig and her family. Basically, apart from the pig detail, this is a biography of my daughter. If you’re aware of Olivia only from the Nickelodeon cartoons and spin off books, do yourself a favor and read the originals. You won’t be sorry. Falconer’s work is boundlessly more charming.

Peek Inside Animal Homes
written by Anna Milbourne
illustrated by Simona Dimitri
This book is a wonderful introduction to a variety of animal homes. With dozens of flaps for finding creatures in trees, mounds, hives, and warrens (yeah, I learned from this book that a rabbit home is called a warren), it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. I would not recommend this book if your kid is still into ripping pages, the flaps may be too exciting. We just keep the Peek Inside books on a high shelf so they aren’t played with between our readings. This is part of a series which also includes Peek Inside The Zoo, Peek Inside the Garden, Peek Inside the Night, Peek Inside the Farm – all of which are excellent, engaging reads for a variety of ages, both my toddler and my 6-year-old love them.

The Promise
written by Nicola Davies
illustrated by Laura Carlin
I love books about humanity, I really do. I love it when listening to a “kid’s book,” my kids are exposed to something outside of their everyday knowledge. This beautiful book is a perfect example to show your child that people’s characters are not just black and white; we are not just bad guys or good guys; we are the culmination of all of our life experiences; and we have the ability to change. If you read and enjoyed The Curious Garden, this is like a darker version of that. It’s well worth reading.

The Sandwich Swap
written by Queen Rania Al Abdullah and Kelly DiPucchio
illustrated by Tricia Tusa
Sometimes, we need a reminder that we don’t have to be exactly the same as our friends. We don’t have to like the same things, we don’t have to partake in the same activities, and we don’t have to eat the foods, and those differences are a good thing. How boring life would be if we were all the same! This is a lovely story to read to kids entering situations where they will be in the midst of diversity and need reassurance that “different” does not mean “bad.”

Shh! We Have a Plan
written and illustrated by Chris Haughton
This book is proof that kindness wins, even if it takes a bit longer than brute force. This very funny book of bird catching plans going awry is enjoyable for all ages. Both my toddler and six-year-old are big fans of this book and I find it very humorous as well (which I think is really important, if you’re the main reader, I think it makes a huge impact if you are actually enjoying the book yourself).

Sleep Like a Tiger
written by Mary Logue
illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
This is one of the most beautifully illustrated books that I have ever read. Pamela Zagarenski does a phenomenal job of creating a magical dreamlike atmosphere throughout the book. She is one of my favoritre illustrators of children’s books and Sleep Like a Tiger certainly doesn’t disappoint. Mary Logue provides a wonderful story about something which all parents battle, the dreaded “I’m not tired” bedtime conversations. I love the spirit of this book and the kind, calm replies by the parents to their child’s resistance to sleep. They don’t argue, they don’t insist, the don’t pressure their daughter into bed, they simply say that’s it’s okay to lay in bed awake all night. Very lovely all around.

Squid and Octopus: Friends for Always
written and illustrated by Tao Nyeu
A harrowing tale of underwater friendship. There are quarrels, boot debacles, tickle Mondays, an elusive fortune cookie – all gathered in the space of this charming, beautifully illustrated book about a pair of best friends under the sea.

Stellaluna
written and illustrated by Janell Cannon
This is the story of a little bat who is jostled out of her mother’s grasp after an owl attack. Fortunately, Stellaluna, an adorable little fruit bat, lands safely in a bird’s nest. Her world turns upside down when her adoptive mother bird insists that Stellaluna must act the same as all of her chicks. The artwork is realistic, beautiful, and surprisingly inviting – people rarely think of bats as cute, cuddly creatures.

The Story of Ferdinand
written by Munrow Leaf
illustrated by Robert Lawson
The beloved story of the world’s most peaceful bull, who, rather than partaking in the aggressive activities of his fellow bulls, prefers to sit and smell the flowers. Such a lovely book about the essence of peace and tranquility in a world which is often much too aggression-laden.

Strega Nona’s Harvest
written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
This book is part of the Strega Nona series of books. All of the books are good reads, but for some reason this one was our favorite. Always the perfectionist, Strega Nona plants a wonderfully orderly garden, while her assistant, in secret, plants his own vegetables and fails to heed the planting protocol. What follows is a beautiful show of a community taking care of one another and a funny, warmhearted tale of the importance of following directions.

Tomás and the Library Lady
written by Pat Mora
illustrated by Raul Colon
If you love libraries, it’s no surprise that books in which libraries play key parts are close to your heart. This touching true story is about a boy named Tomás who is the son of migrant workers. One summer, Tomás’s family travels for work to Iowa and Tomás finds himself at the library in searching for stories. He is taken under the wing of a kind librarian who teaches him how to read. This is a very heartfelt book for older listeners, especially if you happen to be teaching about migrant workers or the plight of immigrant families.

Three Cheers for Catherine the Great
written by Cari Best
illustrated by Giselle Potter
Read this book if you believe or want to believe that no presents are the best presents. Read this book if you come from an immigrant family (especially immigrants of Slavic descents). Read this book if your grandparents, having lived through war or other hardships, knew how to treasure the important non-things (and saved everything else “just in case”). Read this book if laundry hung outside your windows in a bustling city dwelling. And if you are closely familiar with any or all of the aforementioned, read this book with tissues in hand.

The Way Back Home
written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
You know how sometimes, when you haven’t been in your closet in a while, you find something that you don’t remember leaving there? Like that time you found a plane in your closet and flew it to the moon only to have mechanical difficulties? And then remember how you ended up meeting that friendly martian who also had engine troubles? Yes, this book is like that.

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I hope you enjoy this list of some of our favorite picture books. Leave a comment below and let us know what some of your favorite children’s picture books are. Happy reading!