Our family has outgrown the picture book phase, but we will never say no to a good one when it comes our way. I actually enjoy getting a new picture book from the library and seeing my children enjoy them.
While I don’t consider ourselves a chapter book read-aloud family, I will take full credit for reading every picture book we had and more, over and over again to our kids. Our read-aloud phase was between the ages of 1 and 6, when kids were little. We always made it a habit and routine to read before bed. It was the best way to keep kids looking forward to it.
Picture books have such a short, sweet season in family life. One minute you are reading the same story every night, doing all the voices, and turning board book pages with your inquisitive little toddler. Then, suddenly, everyone is reading chapter books, and those old favorites sit quietly on the shelf.
Sadly, I recently parted with some of my most beloved picture books to make space on our bookshelves, and it was bittersweet. But the memories of these stories will live on.
20 Must-Read Picture Books
In this blog, I am sharing 20 of our family favorites; the ones we loved for their humor, heart, illustrations, imagination, and the sweet memories they hold in my heart.
1. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
A mother duck searches for the perfect place to raise their ducklings while they waddle their way across Boston.
Why I love it: It is classic, gentle, and beautifully illustrated. There is something so sweet about the slow little duck parade through the city.
2. Mr. McCloskey’s Marvelous Mallards by Emma Bland Smith
This picture book biography tells the story behind the making of Make Way for Ducklings and how Robert McCloskey studied real ducks to create his beloved book.
Why I love it: I love books that show children the story behind the story. This one helps kids see the patience, observation, and hard work behind beautiful art.
3. Pretend by Jennifer Plecas
A simple afternoon at home turns into an adventure as a child and his dad imagine their way into boats, mountains, and wild places.
Why I love it: It captures the magic of pretend play so well. I especially love the sweet father-child connection in this one.
4. King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently
Three boys build a mighty fort and head into an imaginary world of dragons, knights, and brave adventures.
Why I love it: This is childhood imagination at its best. It is playful, adventurous, and such a fun read-aloud for little kids who love forts and dragons.
5. Read to Tiger by S. J. Fore
A child is trying to read, but a very noisy tiger keeps interrupting with all kinds of silly distractions.
Why I love it: It is funny and imaginative. Also, any book that celebrates wanting to read gets extra points from me.
6. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by Jon Scieszka
The Big Bad Wolf finally gets to tell his side of the story, and according to him, this was all a big misunderstanding.
Why I love it: It is clever and hilarious. I love that it teaches perspective without feeling like a lesson. Great way to get your kids to think critically about their stories.
7. Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick
This is the true story of the bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh, beginning with a veterinarian who rescued a bear cub during World War I.
Why I love it: It is historical and beautifully told. I love picture books that introduce children to true stories. It is a great way to teach true facts about history at a young age.
8. What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada
A child is followed by a problem and slowly learns that facing it may reveal something unexpected.
Why I love it: This is so relatable and is illustrated in the perfect way. This is one of those books that is just as good for adults as it is for kids.
9. The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
So many of you have read “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, but have you read about the very busy spider? This was my favorite Eric Carle Book.
Why I love it: I love the determination of the Spider despite all the interruptions. And the rhymes are so fun to read as well.
10. Vincent Can’t Sleep by Barb Rosenstock
This is the true story of Vincent Van Gogh and his inspiration for his painting ‘The Starry Sky’. Such a great way to introduce an artist and his works to kids.
Why I love it: I love picture book biographies, and this one has beautiful illustrations and is a must-read.
11. No Picture Book by B.J. Novak
This is such a clever book and literally has no pictures, and yet was a favorite.
Why I love it: It is amazing how this book made it to the top favorites for my kids. No pictures, simply a way to engage your child in a book. It is a must-read. I will warn you that if you don’t like teaching kids to call names, replace Boo Boo Butt with something else. Otherwise, it is harmless and fun.
12. Never Tease a Weasel by Jean Conder Soule
A silly rhyming book full of all the things you should not do to a weasel and what you should do instead.
Why I love it: It is playful, ridiculous, and fun to read aloud. Sometimes the best picture books are the ones that simply make everyone laugh.
13. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
Ferdinand is a gentle bull who would rather sit under a tree and smell flowers than fight in the bullring.
Why I love it: I love Ferdinand. It is such a sweet reminder that children do not have to be loud, aggressive, or like everyone else to be strong.
14. Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Little Llama has a hard time waiting for Mama at bedtime and works himself into a full bedtime frenzy.
Why I love it: This story is so relatable not just to the kid but also to the mom or dad who is called on when busy. I love all the Llama Llama books and sadly parted with them all recently. Llama Llama Bully Goat is a good one to teach kids about bullying, and Llama Llama Gram and Grandpa is another sweet book that shows how grandparents can be so important in your life.
15. The World Needs More Purple People by Kristen Bell and Benjamin Hart
This cheerful book encourages kids to be curious, kind, hardworking, silly, and fully themselves.
Why I love it: It has such a fun, positive message. I love that it celebrates children who ask good questions, laugh freely, and look for ways to bring people together.
16. Truck Stop by Anne Rockwell
A little boy helps his family at their truck stop and greets all the regular drivers who come through for breakfast.
Why I love it: I have read this book a gazillion times to my daughter. She simply loved the busyness of the truck stop and all those vehicles coming in at dawn for breakfast.
17. My No No No Day by Rebecca Patterson
Bella is having one of those days where everything feels wrong, from breakfast to bedtime.
Why I love it: My daughter loved this book so much that she knew every word by heart. I love that it gives kids language for hard days while reminding them that tomorrow can be better.
18. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
A clever little mouse walks through the woods and outsmarts several hungry animals by inventing a fearsome creature called the Gruffalo.
Why I love it: Julia Donaldson is an absolute favorite of mine. If I had to pick just one picture book, to own forever, this would be it. Her rhymes are just brilliant. This one is funny, clever, and so satisfying to read aloud.
19. The Spiffiest Giant in Town by Julia Donaldson
A scruffy giant buys himself a brand-new outfit, then gives away each piece to help others in need.
Why I love it: It is sweet and so satisfying to read to little ones. It teaches them that only good can come from having a generous heart. I love books where kindness is shown through simple, concrete actions children can understand.
20. Mr. Pine’s Purple House by Leonard Kessler
Mr. Pine lives on a street where every house looks exactly the same, so he decides to make his house stand out.
Why I love it: There is something really sweet about this book, but I love it even more because it reminds me of a home right by my kids school, way down the road from where we live.
Your Turn
I loved our picture book days. We spent lot of time together bonding over the books, reading, laughing, and going on journeys with the stories. I have been thinking of reviving read-aloud time in our home and hope to start this summer.
And now I’m curious. What picture book from your family shelf would you never give away?