All Time Best Picture Books for Children

Shila said:  This award winning book was one of the first picture books to star & portray a black child in an urban setting. Kids are especially captivated by the simple artwork as he follows his crunchy footprints in the snow-- something all kids can relate to on a snowy day!

Carly Follett said:  This story is an oldie but a goodie! It's based off of the traditional song, about an old lady who swallows a series of things starting with a fly. The story shows everything the old lady eats and repeats them as you read through. It's a fun story to read and full of silly rhymes and your child will love reading it right along with you!

Joni Monacell said:  This beautifully written poem captures the relationship between a parent and child in a very authentic way. It is sure to bring a tear to any parent's eye, and will quickly become a favorite in your house.

Kelly R. said:  This was my sister's favorite book as a child, and my kids instantly fell in love with it when she bought it for them many years later. Grandma Tildy welcomes all sorts of animals into her home, but has a strictly no-elephant rule. Until...

This story by Peter Brown follows little Robert, aka "Bobby", as he gets to know his teacher, who he originally thinks is a monster. After a fun day in the park, he slowly starts to see his teacher as more human and her face becomes less like a monster and more like a normal teacher. This book is great for teaching kids that teachers can be strict and still human.

Vanessa M. said:  How many kisses does it take to say goodnight? Author Karen Katz helps us find out in her adorable and kiss-filled book Counting Kisses. Each page counts down from 10 kisses on baby's teeny tiny toes all the way down to 1 last kiss on her sleepy dreamy head. My kids like that each family member gives baby kisses - Mom, Dad, Grandma, sister, even doggy and kitty! It's a great way to kiss and snuggle your baby before bed.

Nancy L. said:  Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day is a classic that walks kids through a typical day in Busytown as the residents perform a variety of jobs. This can help toddlers understand why people go to work and they'll also learn about a wide variety of professions. As with all Richard Scarry books, kids learn a lot of vocabulary and it's a treat to repeatedly view the pages, which are packed with images. Kids and adults will find something new each time.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian and illustrated by Tim Bowers is the humorous yet deeply meaningful diary of a goldfish. The powerful themes of friendship, having a purpose, diversity, kindness, sharing, love and empathy ring true. Further, the message of not appreciating what you have until it is gone is crystal clear.

It is important for children to learn these life-long traits, and this truly remarkable book makes it fun through easy-to-read text, laugh-out-loud humor and amazing illustrations. This must-read book is part of a series that will delight all children.

Tim Ponisciak said:  Kids who live in the city, or those that love visiting the city, will love this book about subways! The book by Christoph Niemann features great illustrations of different lines of NYC's subway as told through the eyes of a dad and his two kids wasting away a rainy day in the big city.

Nancy L. said:  Eric Carle's Little Cloud is a beautiful book depicting a little cloud who lags behind his group as he drifts across the sky with a larger group of clouds. The cloud drifts and morphs into shapes. In the end, all the clouds come together to provide rain. The calming nature of this book makes it a great bedtime story and it will make you take another look at the sky.

Nancy L. said:  Your kids will dig this book! Join Maisy, Cyril, Eddie, and the gang as they take on a project—creating a lovely pond for all to enjoy. Toddlers will love the step-by-step rhythm of Maisy's Digger along with the entire Maisy series by Lucy Cousins. The simple stories, colorful imagery, and consistent group of friends will appeal to boys and girls.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers is about Henry, a boy who chooses to eat books and grows smarter as the information is absorbed in his system, until one day, all that good information gets jumbled up. After some time passes, Henry opts to read the books instead and realizes he can be smart by taking in the information that way. One of our favorite parts is at the end when Henry reverts to his old ways and the book proves it!

This is one super cute picture book that all children will enjoy and want to read again and again.

This charming story by Andrea Beaty follows little Ignacious Peck, a natural-born architect, as he grows from a baby to a second grader and all the buildings he constructs in between. He then faces a teacher who does not allow talk of buildings until a bridge collapse makes his architectural skills necessary to save the day.

Vanessa M. said:  The beautiful, empowering poetry and eye-catching illustrations of I Am Enough by Grace Byers encourage young readers to be kind to themselves and inclusive of others. "I know that we don't look the same - our skin, our eyes, our hair, our frame. But that does not dictate our worth; we both have places here on earth." The gentle message about acceptance of self and others is a great conversation starter for families or school groups.

Nancy L. said:  Pandora's mom tells her not to touch the box but her curiosity gets the best of her. Find out what happens when Pandora doesn't listen and how her mom firmly and lovingly reacts. There are a lot of images and very little text in this book, allowing parents to discuss the concepts of patience and obedience with their child. But even if you don't add a word, toddlers understand the message. This is part of the Mini Myths series by Joan Holub offering life lessons rather than myths.