Favorite Picture Books

List of the Month
November 2024 (see all)
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November 2024 List of the Month: Favorite Picture Books
Description
November is National Picture Book Month, and in honor of the occasion, our List of the Month this time around is dedicated to our Favorite Picture Books. Each participant may vote on ten titles (and add other, non-weighted titles). Please feel free to add notes, explaining your choices. Please only downvote titles which don't fit the theme of the list.
1
6,418 members
116 reviews
½ 4.5
33 Members
Aquila, bookwoman84, poolays, hipdeep, Caramellunacy, kcasada, Bookmarque, paradoxosalpha, EerierIdyllMeme, lahochstetler, jeanh12, mzonderm, prosfilaes, manque, raidergirl3, terran, Whisper1, navelos, perennialreader, Jen-the-Librarian, lowelibrary, treegardner, beehappy, LoriBelle7, ManWithAnAgenda, BarbaraSenn, hms2017clarinet, KJKuningas, hungrycaterpillar, kimsmugaotto, jtcmk19, magruderjc, Adhumphreys
Explanations
manque: Breaks the fourth wall to make the reader part of the story in a way that's guaranteed to engage any young child. My kids never watched Sesame Street, but loved this book all the same.
LoriBelle7: I remember my kids giggling and turning the pages anyway. Such a fun book.
kimsmugaotto: This is one I never really read to my kids, they never watch sesame street. But as a kid, I loved paging though this book, reading it to my little siblings. Talk about breaking the fourth wall! It's like Grover is really pleading with you. And the visuals of him mutilating the book added to the experience. Just brilliant!
2
30,817 members
1,513 reviews
½ 4.3
27 Members
tardis, poolays, anglemark, lulaa, paradoxosalpha, mzonderm, manque, shearon, wester, lizzy50usa, sallylou61, MaryKay1822, SylviaC, al.vick, Verkruissen, Jen-the-Librarian, Hope_H, treegardner, SandyAMcPherson, elorin, OurLittleLibrary, BaliHai, skid0612, Ken.Jones, KJKuningas, hungrycaterpillar, Kimthomp
Explanations
manque: Any list of favorite picture books must begin here.
SandyAMcPherson: Perfect for kids who feel out of place, and need a positive character with which to identify.
Ken.Jones: A story for boys who nail things to walls (like dogs and little sisters) and the mothers who love them anyway, usually against their better judgement.
3
19,632 members
455 reviews
½ 4.3
23 Members
timspalding, lundblad, ablachly, hipdeep, Micheller7, shearon, nobooksnolife, MaryKay1822, katie4098, olegalCA, Hope_H, stephanieann1983, treegardner, littleone1996, ManWithAnAgenda, Ravenwindsong, teesamai, Tosta, SealedArchive, EaglesTraceLibrary, Kalira, hungrycaterpillar, whito777
Explanations
Ravenwindsong: I remember reading this or having it read to us in 2nd grade. We then colored these paper Corduroy bears and sewed with yarn the two sides together and stuffed it with filling.
4
27,113 members
1,115 reviews
½ 4.4
5
13,072 members
273 reviews
4.2
6
11,284 members
184 reviews
½ 4.3
22 Members
bookwoman84, ablachly, poolays, dhm, amanda4242, sturlington, navelos, RBeffa, Marissa_Doyle, AbigailAdams26, lowelibrary, treegardner, SF_fan_mae, LoriBelle7, OurLittleLibrary, sarahkhl, KJKuningas, Stellanna, whito777, Kimthomp, jtcmk19, v1v1enne
Explanations
AbigailAdams26: This story about a bull who would rather sit still and smell the flowers is one of my all-time childhood favorites, read again and again!
7
22,875 members
751 reviews
4.2
17 Members
tardis, lundblad, lahochstetler, prosfilaes, raidergirl3, shearon, terran, sallylou61, MaryKay1822, SylviaC, katie4098, Hope_H, stephanieann1983, SandyAMcPherson, AlexanderPatico, EaglesTraceLibrary, hungrycaterpillar
Explanations
tardis: I know this book is a bit of a cliché, but I read it so many times to my kids (it felt like every night for several years) that I'm fond of it
SandyAMcPherson: We like this despite it's slightly dated feel. It's reassuring and calming. Not saccharine and an excellent settle down to sleep feeling.
9
9,286 members
228 reviews
½ 4.3
16 Members
shearon, dhm, nobooksnolife, EMS_24, Jen-the-Librarian, beehappy, msjudy, tealadytoo, elorin, BarbaraSenn, GrimFiend1977, Ken.Jones, KJKuningas, FayeCrichton, jtcmk19, Adhumphreys
Explanations
elorin: I loved this book as a child and then loved reading it to my daughter as she grew. Many happy memories in these pages.
Ken.Jones: A fusion of life, fantasy, and art, perfectly executed.
13
25,211 members
561 reviews
4.2
14
6,812 members
202 reviews
½ 4.3
13 Members
tardis, poolays, EerierIdyllMeme, raidergirl3, saskia17, Cecrow, Whisper1, SylviaC, SandyAMcPherson, OurLittleLibrary, BarbaraSenn, ngoomie, whito777
Explanations
saskia17: One of the best read-aloud authors ever.
SandyAMcPherson: Our family adores the non-traditional role for girls as the heroine
15
13,443 members
293 reviews
4.2
12 Members
aprille, Bookmarque, paradoxosalpha, navelos, olegalCA, treegardner, ManWithAnAgenda, teesamai, Ken.Jones, Kimthomp, magruderjc, v1v1enne
Explanations
Bookmarque: Silly adventures, cookies and warm friendship. My husband and I even started watching the animated series on Apple TV just for fun.
Ken.Jones: Arnold Lobel perfectly illustrates (both senses) the joy and intimacy of friendship through common experience and an adventurous spirit. I dedicate this message to my old friend, Gregg William Bryden.
16
4,379 members
65 reviews
4.2
11 Members
tardis, Herenya, dara85, Whisper1, MaryKay1822, SylviaC, navelos, perennialreader, souloftherose, gypsysmom, mabeling
Explanations
tardis: I once invented a Peach-Pear-Plum jam based on the title :)
17
12,251 members
187 reviews
4.1
12 Members
aprille, poolays, dara85, mzonderm, Micheller7, BonnieJune54, LaNS, msjudy, elorin, Ken.Jones, KJKuningas, magruderjc
Explanations
Ken.Jones: An old, old story, with perfectly executed illustrations.
18
4,558 members
116 reviews
4
10 Members
tardis, lulaa, knerd.knitter, lizzy50usa, sallylou61, BonnieJune54, Hope_H, treegardner, Ravenwindsong, Lauren-at-LT
Explanations
tardis: My boys loved this one, and it's one of the few that I've held on to.
knerd.knitter: It's weird, but I'll always love it.
Ravenwindsong: I kind of have to like this book. I grew up in the town where Wanda Gag lived. The story isn't as good to be me now that I'm older, but I love the illustrations.
19
8,364 members
96 reviews
3.9
10 Members
TeresaInTexas, dhm, sallylou61, BonnieJune54, GiGi2000, elorin, Ravenwindsong, Ken.Jones, Red-Hawk, jtcmk19
Explanations
Ken.Jones: Mom: "Curious George, what are you doing?" Me: "My name's not George!" Repeat.
20
27,621 members
752 reviews
½ 4.3
21
14,287 members
212 reviews
4.1
22
15,148 members
193 reviews
4.1
23
2,793 members
61 reviews
½ 4.5
24
19,870 members
328 reviews
4.1
9 Members
TeresaInTexas, vwinsloe, Marissa_Doyle, treegardner, tealadytoo, Charon07, PhilipAngelaMoore, hungrycaterpillar, Kimthomp
Explanations
Charon07: “Look what we found in the park in the dark…Will our mother like it? We don’t know.” So deliciously creepy and subversive for me as a tot just learning to read!
25
10,733 members
325 reviews
½ 4.4
26
898 members
38 reviews
½ 4.4
27
3,931 members
285 reviews
½ 4.4
28
16,935 members
238 reviews
4.2
9 Members
ablachly, shearon, sallylou61, nobooksnolife, lowelibrary, SF_fan_mae, SandyAMcPherson, Ravenwindsong, EaglesTraceLibrary
Explanations
SandyAMcPherson: Whimsical, invoking plausible nursery magic for young readers.
29
6,845 members
139 reviews
½ 4.3
30
13,721 members
517 reviews
½ 4.3
7 Members
terran, armc, Hope_H, hms2017clarinet, rubi.vallee, kimsmugaotto, Adhumphreys
Explanations
kimsmugaotto: Introduce your children to the upsides of unionized labor. I love the typed notes and the farmers expression and duck, duck is the best. (I'd have added Duck for President, but I'm avoiding all election related thoughts at present)
31
7,388 members
105 reviews
½ 4.3
8 Members
poolays, 2wonderY, Hope_H, OurLittleLibrary, sarahkhl, hms2017clarinet, FayeCrichton, Adhumphreys
Explanations
2wonderY: Possibly my favorite read aloud book of all times. I always give this one for baby showers.
32
12,634 members
256 reviews
4.2
7 Members
lundblad, nobooksnolife, MaryKay1822, Ravenwindsong, sarahkhl, SealedArchive, KJKuningas
Explanations
Ravenwindsong: Love her all books. Her illustrations and stories are great. She was my Principals favorite author, so she would get everyone of her books. We'd all crowd around the desk looking for the Hedgehog hiding on every page.
33
4,493 members
374 reviews
½ 4.5
6 Members
karenb, anglemark, kaixo, elenchus, teesamai, Charon07
Explanations
karenb: Not necessarily for children, no, but still so good. Notably with ONLY pictures, no words, which is apt for a book about immigrants/emigrants.
34
2,047 members
48 reviews
4.1
35
18,520 members
782 reviews
½ 4.3
36
2,376 members
25 reviews
½ 4.3
37
5,184 members
360 reviews
½ 4.3
6 Members
gmathis, lizzy50usa, armc, BarbaraSenn, Tosta, kimsmugaotto
Explanations
gmathis: A hilarious illustrations-only story. Words would just mess it up.
kimsmugaotto: Through their illustrations, picture books can tell some truly weird nonsense stories with practically no words and have them make sense (or their own kind of sense.) Tuesday is one of those books. For some reason one night the frogs fly around town and into people's houses on their lily pads. That's what its about, and it's great!
38
9,890 members
152 reviews
4.2
39
22,269 members
1,093 reviews
½ 4.3
40
1,833 members
79 reviews
½ 4.5
6 Members
bookwoman84, saskia17, Whisper1, elenchus, sturlington, Red-Hawk
Explanations
saskia17: These are some of my favorite inspirations to imagine a backstory.
41
4,547 members
82 reviews
4.2
42
7,918 members
137 reviews
4.2
5 Members
MDGentleReader, SF_fan_mae, dtowell, BarbaraSenn, kimsmugaotto
Explanations
kimsmugaotto: I love so many of the Dr. Suess books, but this one is my favorite. This book captures both the best and worst of humans, it has stakes that go way beyond most children books. "A person's a person no matter how small" chokes me up and brings me such joy.
43
898 members
35 reviews
4.2
44
3,166 members
121 reviews
3.9
45
11,719 members
314 reviews
½ 4.3
46
4,402 members
116 reviews
4.1
47
12,337 members
335 reviews
4.2
48
576 members
8 reviews
4.2
49
7,835 members
155 reviews
4.2
5 Members
hipdeep, elenchus, merrystar, MDGentleReader, LaNS
Explanations
elenchus: So many visual details not directly linked to the written story. Initially these reward the attentive Reader, even after countless readings; eventually, the reward is when others catch on, themselves.
50
7,073 members
249 reviews
4.2
51
4,541 members
75 reviews
4.2
52
2,408 members
30 reviews
4.2
53
2,123 members
56 reviews
3.9
54
6,595 members
72 reviews
½ 4.4
55
3,201 members
37 reviews
4.1
56
7,093 members
253 reviews
4.1
57
1,305 members
10 reviews
4.1
4 Members
lizzy50usa, tealadytoo, Charon07, jtcmk19
Explanations
Charon07: The glorious colors created by the kittens!
58
1,719 members
36 reviews
4
59
8,894 members
69 reviews
4.1
5 Members
Bookmarque, TeresaInTexas, navelos, ManWithAnAgenda, sarahj202
Explanations
Bookmarque: Reading a Little Bear book is like having your favorite blanket keeping you warm.
60
7,717 members
122 reviews
½ 4.4
4 Members
Ennas, passion4reading, stephanieann1983, kimsmugaotto
Explanations
kimsmugaotto: I love the way Gruffalo roles off the tongue as you read this book aloud, and all the wonderful rhyming---the paragraphs practically sing. The story itself is wonderfully clever, with the high point in middle when the trickster mouse runs into the gruffalo. And he tricks the monster as well, highly satisfying.
61
3,026 members
362 reviews
½ 4.3
62
14,195 members
179 reviews
4.2
63
1,913 members
26 reviews
4
64
17,963 members
671 reviews
4.2
65
14,242 members
723 reviews
½ 4.3
66
7,293 members
52 reviews
4.1
67
1,551 members
19 reviews
½ 4.3
68
723 members
13 reviews
4.2
4 Members
amanda4242, sturlington, Bookwomble, Charon07,kcasada ,GrimFiend1977
Explanations
amanda4242: The list description says only downvote titles which don't fit the theme of the list. Despite the title, this picture book contains no salacious images or text. Anything lascivious is a product of the reader's own mind.
Charon07: I don’t think the down-voters can have read this delightful book!
69
582 members
28 reviews
½ 4.3
70
321 members
3 reviews
½ 4.4
71
1,655 members
23 reviews
½ 4.3
72
3,522 members
536 reviews
½ 4.4
73
6,154 members
64 reviews
4.1
74
1,188 members
21 reviews
4.2
75
3,557 members
21 reviews
½ 4.5
76
1,659 members
17 reviews
4.2
77
7,162 members
375 reviews
½ 4.3
3 Members
sturlington, LoriBelle7, SandyAMcPherson
Explanations
LoriBelle7: Such a funny story with great illustrations.
78
1,177 members
21 reviews
½ 4.3
3 Members
wester, saskia17, navelos
Explanations
saskia17: Adorable, plus it has a dragon!
79
3,262 members
27 reviews
4.2
80
315 members
11 reviews
4
2 Members
eclbates, Marissa_Doyle
Explanations
Marissa_Doyle: I love this book. Gorgeously absurd--what else could a picture book about Hieronymous Bosch be?
81
101 members
4 reviews
3.8
2 Members
kaixo, EMS_24
82
3,221 members
47 reviews
½ 4.5
83
156 members
2 reviews
4.2
84
119 members
6 reviews
4.1
2 Members
manque, Bookwomble
Explanations
manque: An absolute gem, unique in artistic style and story, simple yet wildly deep, sure to capture the imagination of both young and old alike.
85
8,426 members
84 reviews
4.2
3 Members
SF_fan_mae, sarahkhl, Ken.Jones
Explanations
SF_fan_mae: Loved this when I was little, Mary Anne's name was spelled just like mine.
Ken.Jones: This was the book I clamored and clattered and chattered to have read because boys love power tools. It was a simpler time. I married a woman who likes power tools, too. So there. It's also a story about the end of an era...and community redevelopment.
86
39 members
2 reviews
½ 4.7
87
250 members
9 reviews
½ 4.4
2 Members
airgid, Adhumphreys
Explanations
airgid: wonderful watercolor and splashy ink paintings!
88
287 members
9 reviews
½ 4.3
2 Members
saskia17, Kalira
Explanations
saskia17: Charles Vess is one of my favorite illustrators, and this Charles de Lint tale is a perfect fairytale pairing.
Kalira: A beautifully-done story that has the feel of a traditional fae tale, bargains and loopholes!
89
6,407 members
304 reviews
4.1
90
1,190 members
12 reviews
½ 4.3
2 Members
SylviaC, eclbates
91
486 members
8 reviews
½ 4.5
2 Members
TeresaInTexas, saskia17
Explanations
saskia17: This was my favorite alphabet book. I wanted this doll and all her accessories so badly!
92
46 members
4 reviews
½ 4.3
93
7,957 members
178 reviews
½ 4.4
94
2,359 members
279 reviews
½ 4.5
2 Members
Lauren-at-LT, nd4s
95
1,543 members
38 reviews
½ 4.3
96
329 members
17 reviews
½ 4.3
97
17,743 members
467 reviews
½ 4.3
98
7,829 members
258 reviews
½ 4.3
99
568 members
27 reviews
½ 3.7
100
78 members
6 reviews
½ 4.4
2 Members
cgalvin, yoyogod