Picture Books You Won’t Want to Miss

 *   *   *   *   *

Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney, A wonderful, gentle story of a woman’s life and her ambition to make the world more beautiful.

The Keeping Quilt, by Patricia Polacco. Pollaco writes many wonderful stories about her childhood and family traditions.

Click, Clack Moo, by Doreen Cronin.  The first in a few books about a duck who learns to type and then organizes the animals on the farm to strike for better working conditions.

Strega Nona, by Tomie DePaola. This is the first of many adventures of the kind witch and her not -so -helpful helper Big Anthony.

Olivia, by Ian Falconer. There are three books about this spirited New York pig!

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, by Mordecai Gerstein. This is a riveting story about Philip Petit and his famous high wire walk.

Gaspard and Lisa in the Museum, by Ann Gutman. Bright illustrations and simple text make these newer books popular with younger children.

Chester’s Way by Kevin Henkes. We can’t get enough Kevin Henkes!  Don’t miss anything by him.

Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott. Even the youngest children love this classic West African folktale about the famous trickster.

George and Martha, by James Marshall.  Two hippos star these very short, very silly stories.

Mirette on the Highwire, by Emily Arnold McCully.  Mirette meets a famous tightrope walker and helps him overcome his fear.

The Rainbabies, by Laura Melmed.  The moon gives twelve tiny babies to a childless couple in the magical, original fairytale.

Officer Buckle and Gloria, by Peggy Rathman.  A policeman’s safety speeches become much more exciting when he brings his dog along.

Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold.  A girl dreams of flying high above her Harlem home.

Grandfather’s Journey, by Allen Say.  A Japanese-American man recounts his Grandfather’s journeys between California and Japan.

The Stinky Cheese Man, and True Story of the Three Little Pigs, by John Scieska.  Children cannot get enough of these hilarious retellings of fairytales.

No David , by David Shannon.  There is a bit of David in everyone!

Tasty Baby Bellybuttons, by Judy Sierra.  Brave Uriko must save the babies from the oni monters in this retelling of a famous Japanese folktale.

The Amazing Bone, by William Steig.  We love William Steig so much we had to list three books.  In this one, Pearl comes across a talking bone, but it only leads her into trouble.  Don’t miss Doctor DeSoto, the tale of a mouse/dentist and his fox/patient.  Then there is the classic, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.

The Gardener,  by Sarah Stewart.  Letters tell the story of Lydia’s visit to her uncle in the city and her attempt to share her love of gardening.

We also love The Library and The Friend, also by Stewart.

Many Moons, by James Thurber.  Only the court jester can fulfill Princess Lenore’s wish for the moon.

Two Bad Ants, by ChrisVan Allsburg. This tale of two ants and their disastrous quest for a sugar crystal is just one of the many wonderfully illustrated and wonderfully told books by this author.  Don’t miss The Widow’s Broom, The Stranger or Jumanji

Bunny Money, by Rosemary Wells. This is just one of the wonderful stories about Max and his sometimes bossy older sisterRuby.

A Chair for My Mother, by Vera B. Williams.  A girl, her mother and her grandmother, save their dimes to buy a comfy chair in this beautifully illustrated story.

Don’t Let the Pidgeon Drive the Bus and  Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems.  These deceptively simple and hilarious stories are hits with children of all ages.

Lon Po Po, by Ed Young.  In this Chinese version of Red Riding Hood, three clever, brave girls outsmart the wolf.