Sometimes I am in sheer awe of the plethora of fantastic picture books that are released every year. This is a time of such abundance in children’s literature and you can find everything from fascinating nonfiction guides to impactful stories told in just a few pages. I positively love it!
Below is a lift of 25 picture books that cover a wide range of topics that I consider worthy of looking-up in the sea of picture books out there to choose from. Each one is fantastic in it’s own right and I hope that they help freshen-up your story times with something new and exciting.
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The United States in 100 Words (In a Nutshell) by Nancy Dickman and Paul Boston- This oversized beauty features 100 words that relate to America with an explanation for why they were chosen. Don’t be deceived, there is actually a lot of history in here.
A Different Story by Adolfo Serra- A memorable and unique story about empathy and perspective told about a rhinoceros and beetle. One that makes you think.
We are Artists: Women who Made their Mark on the World by Kari Herbert- This hefty/thick books features different female artists from around the globe through an illustration and a short write up. It includes everything from designers to craftswomen and is packed with information.
Moth by Isabel Thomas and Daniel Egnéus- This nonfiction book is a fascinating lesson on evolution as it features the evolution that the peppered moth has had to experience over the decades in order to survive.
How to Catch a Dragon by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton- This is a fun and playful book that would be great for introducing children to the Chinese New Year. It is one that is sure to have kids giggling and asking for a repeat read.
Orchestra by Avalon Nuovo and David Doran- An oversized gem! This book features orchestras in such a comprehensive and beautifully designed way. It goes beyond the types of instruments in orchestras to cover other aspects including composers, composing music and even the history of orchestras.
Playing with Collage by Jeannie Baker- If you have child that loves nature and/or art this book is for you. It explains different types of collages and even gives instructions/advice for making your own. It would be so fun to pair with a collage craft!
The Atlas of Amazing Birds by Matt Sewell- This book is thick and features many different varieties of birds. Each bird has it’s own write up as well as an illustration. It is one that is sure to entertain for an extended time.
Fly! by Mark Teague- This witty and cheeky book is a lot of fun. It is wordless and big on personality and expressive illustrations. It is also a great one for teaching kids the skill of inferring as they use all the clues given to put the story together.
Counting the Stars: The Story of Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician by Lesa Cline-Ransome and Raúl Colón- This is a beautiful biography of Katherine Johnson and her work in the space program. I found it completely fascinating and very well done.
A Place to Stay: A Shelter Story by Erin Gunti and Esteli Meza- In this story a mother creates an imaginative game to help moving into a shelter seem less scary for her child. It is a great one for teaching empathy and raising awareness in children. It is also gently and lovingly done.
Can I Keep It? by Lisa Jobe- This is for every child that has wanted to “keep” all the fun critters that they find. I know it brought a smile to my child who is just so. We love it.
Playdate by Maryann Macdonald and Rahele Jomepour Bell- This book is super shot on text (think board book amount) and super sweet. It shows different toddlers and babies playing and has the most charming illustrations.
Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry, Jessica Curry and Brittany Jackson- This is powerful story of a young girl who goes to the museum and sees a portrait of Michelle Obama. It is about relating to great role models and finding inspiration. So fantastic!
Being Me from A to Z by Lauren Kukla and Aviel Basil- This is another impactful book that celebrates each child’s individuality and awesomeness. A fun and clever “ABC book” for sure that is bound to inspire children.
Bedtime Stories: 40 Stories & Rhymes to Share by Anne Ronney, Cottage Door Press and Angela Keoghan- This is a beautiful collection of short bedtime stories and rhymes and is quite a thick book. It would make an excellent baby shower gift or keepsake.
One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller by Kate Read- Any book that turns a simple counting book into a thriller is brilliant in my opinion. Wouldn’t you agree?! The ending in this one is especially clever.
What John Marco Saw by Annie Barrows and Nancy Lemon- A sweet story about mindfulness as well as being seen/heard. There is so much that you could discuss with children after reading this book and it is so well done.
My Wild Cat by Isabelle Simler – I am a definite “cat person” and this book makes my cat-loving heart so happy. It captures the essence of cats and their wild side beautifully.
Firefighters’ Handbook by Meghan McCarthy- This book is AWESOME for little fire fighter fans. It is a nonfiction book featuring firefighters and their job, tools and even fire engines. It has tons to learn.
A Children’s Guide to Arctic Butterflies by Mia Pelletier and Danny Christopher- A beautifully illustrated guide for children that features different varieties of butterflies that can be found in the arctic regions of the world. So lovely.
A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel- Brendan Wenzel is great at books that “twist your mind” and make you see things differently. This book is no exception. It features one small part of nature (a stone) and the vital and different role that it can play for different organisms.
Little Tigers by Jo Weaver- A beautiful and lightly educational story about a family of tigers who are searching for a new home. The simple color palette and adorable tigers make this one extra lovely.
Panthera Tigris by Sylvain Alzial and Hélène Rajcak- This book is one with a dark humor punch at the end that is bound to delight adults as much as children. It features the age-old battle of “book smarts” vs “street smarts”. So clever and shocking.
Bird Count by Susan Edwards Richmond and Stephanie Fizer Coleman- This is a great book it introduce the seasonal tradition of bird counting and is also a fun and unique book to practice counting. Definitely well done.
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