For as long as I can remember I have loved picture books. As a child I would study the illustrations of my favorites – Blueberries for Sal, The Bremen-town Musicians, Caps for Sale, Go, Dog. Go! – I can still remember pictures and hear my mom’s voice saying, “kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk!” and “Caps for Sale! Caps! Fifty cents a cap!“.
Picture books are pure magic.
My sophomore year of college my best friend and I shared an apartment. She brought a couch, coffee table, tv; I brought a small stack of favorite picture books. Now looking back, this seems like a strange thing for a 19 year old to travel with from Washington to Southern California, but I guess I felt they were important at the time. I don’t know if I ever opened the books that year, but they sat next to the couch and I saw them everyday. Fun fact: those same books from way back then are up on Audrey’s shelves today.
We have so many favorite books. I thought it might be fun and helpful to have a big list of favorites, all of which are included in our little library.
So, in no particular order, here are 48 must-haves for your picture book collection:
King Hugo’s Huge Ego (get this one!)
Sam and Dave Dig A Hole (get this one, too!)
Kiki + Coco In Paris (so adorable)
Learning To Ski With Mr. Magee
Triangle (we love everything by this author/illustrator combo)
The Day The Crayons Quit (clever, clever, clever)
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, And The Big, Hungry Bear
I Had A Favorite Dress (best illustrations)
The Circus Ship (love this one)
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?
Well, that was fun! I hope this list is a helpful resource for adding books to your collection!
May I suggest another author/illustrator… Nancy Tillman from Portland, OR area.
https://www.nancytillman.com/
So many great books! I love Gaston as well but Madeline is my favorite. My five year old enjoys books by author Josh Funk and all the books in the Good night good night construction site series. Xoxo
Children’s’ books are my favorites! I especially like reading them aloud to children of all ages and watching their eyes glow! Some books even make me tear up. Such as the last page of the last chapter of Charlotte’s Web.
Emily, enjoy each chapter of this adventure! This is the right time and the right place for you!!!!!
Love this post and your list! I have many of the same favorites. Miss reading bedtime stories to my kids, they are now 21, 20, 17 and 15. I have so many saved and tucked away for my grandkids one day!!
Nice list! I’d add in The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman and Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree (makes me cry every time). But my personal all-time favorite is Old Turtle by Douglas Wood, illustrated by Cheng-Khee Chee. This book has so much deep wisdom and holds such a loving place in my heart. You would love it!
Thanks for sharing your list!! (:
Barbara
Such a great list! My mom read picture books to us and still does. You might also love: The Old Woman Who Named Things, Wilfred Donald MacDonald Partridge, and All The Places to Love. : )
Lovely choices all Emily. Here’s another that strikes me as one you’d love—-filled with beautiful watercolor illustrations. https://www.amazon.com/Magical-Mystical-Marvelous-Coat/dp/0316163341
Do you know the amazing machines series? I absolutely adore them and think you’d like them too!!!! Tony Mitton and Ant Parker. Soooooo good!!