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Favorite Picture Books - Old & New Classics
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items I'm a huge fan of picture books, both to read and as an art form. Included in this list are classics that I remember from my own childhood and ones that I read to my children over the years. (This list contains affiliate links for my favorite books ...
Sections
6
Hilarious New Classics
My Ride-or-Die Favorite Classics
Delightful Rhymes
Beautiful Bedtime Books
Learn Something New (In the Funnest Way Possible)
Reader Resources
Hilarious New Classics
Get ready to laugh. These stories are absolutely hilarious and crack me and my kids up every time we read them.
Help the bear solve this *complete mystery* of who stole his hat. Absolutely one of the funniest picture books written in the last twenty years. My sons and I laugh every time we read it.
I Want My Hat Back
The Day The Crayons Quit and its sequel The Day The Crayons Came Home is cheeky hilarity from start to finish.
The Day The Crayons Quit (Picture Books)
Oh, those naughty dragons. These are silly good, taco-lovin' dragon fun.
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin & Daniel Salmieri
Oh, Llama Llama with your llama drama. My favorite in the series is Llama Llama Mad at Mama, but they're all delightfully funny and sweet.
Llama Llama series by Anna Dewdney
Click, Clack, Moo is a silly and fun picture book with such a great little twist at the end.
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Oh, that naughty, naughty pigeon. This is the book that kicked off his shenanigans, and it's a great read-aloud.
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
This is the first picture book I ever read to my son, when he was a newborn. It is one of my all-time, absolute favorites. It's so cute and fun and hilarious. Little Pea is every picky eater ever.
Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Jen Corace
This tale of two hens who are obsessed with seeing their rock idol Elvis Poultry is both cute and hilarious. It's a fun story of perseverance and pluck.
Chicken Dance by Tammi Sauer, Dan Santat
Oh, Olivia. This cheeky little pig will steal your heart and make you crack up.
Olivia | Hardcover
This sweet, amusing, hilarious book by Pat Zietlow Miller was one of my kids’ and my favorites! It’s such a gentle, humorous book with a great take on loss and perspective.
Sophie's Squash
Interrupting Chicken (and its sequels) are absolutely hilarious. Any exhausted parent will appreciate the sweet, relatable humor.
Interrupting Chicken - David Ezra Stein
13 Words is such an odd, funny picture book. It will actually teach your kid some complicated words though. lol
13 Words a book by Lemony Snicket and Maira Kalman
My Ride-or-Die Favorite Classics
I could read these classic picture books over and over and over. (And I did when my kiddos were little.)
Who doesn't love Corduroy? I actually won a writing contest many years ago by summing up Corduroy's plot in 4 words: Obsessive Bear Seeks Closure.
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Is it even possible to read Goodnight Moon without getting drowsy?
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
But he was STILL HUNGRY.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Shel Silverstein is a national treasure. Quick and witty, I have so many of these poems memorized from my childhood.
Where the Sidewalk Ends Special Edition
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If The Velveteen Rabbit doesn't get you in the feels, what will?
The Velveteen Rabbit Hardcover: Classic Edition
Many people are familiar with the Disney version of Winnie the Pooh, but I adore the classic story by A.A. Milne. He's such a witty writer, and the original illustrations capture his silliness.
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne, E.H. Shepard
I loved this book as a kid, and I still love the fantastical story. It's nothing like the movie if that's what you're basing your opinion on. It definitely has a classic, timeless feel.
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
This was my all-time favorite picture book as a child. I actually had the opportunity to meet the author Judith Viorst and have her sign my book, so it's extra-special to me.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Officer Buckle and Gloria is an absolute delight of a picture book. The earnest policeman and his goofy canine friend are the definition of a sweet friendship that simply works.
Officer Buckle and Gloria - Peggy Rathmann
I love all the fun details in this Richard Scarry classic about the ways in which people work.
Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day?
Miss Nelson is Missing is such a fun, funny classic with a cheeky message for misbehavers.
The Miss Nelson Collection: 3 Complete Books in 1!: Miss Nelson Is Missing, Miss Nelson Is Back, and Miss Nelson Has a Field Day
I have so many wonderful memories of reading Mrs. Piggle Wiggle as a kid. Her creative solutions to common bad behaviors are both hilarious and sneak a little bit of a lesson in at the same time.
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
Delightful Rhymes
I love rhyming picture books, especially when the rhyme is so good that it seems effortless.
The adventures of Little Blue Truck are a great bedtime read with the lilting rhyme.
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
Corey Rosen Schwartz is one of my favorite picture book rhymers. Three Ninja Pigs has it all. Namely Porcine Ninjas and girl power!
The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz
This is one of my favorite read-alouds of all time. The rhyme in Bubble Trouble rolls off your tongue, and it's such a sweet and silly story with happy ending for all.
Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy, Polly Dunbar
This sweet, rhyming story is delightful ducks on a camping trip. One of my boys' favs growing up.
Duck Tents by Lynne Berry & Hiroe Nakata
I love Sandra Boynton books, and you can't make me pick a favorite! No kid's library is complete without these hilarious classics.
Boynton's Greatest Hits the Big Blue Box (Boxed Set): Moo, Baa, La La La!; A to Z; Doggies; Blue Hat, Green Hat (Boxed Set) a book by Sandra Boynton
More Boynton favorites!
Boynton's Greatest Hits the Big Green Box (Boxed Set): Happy Hippo, Angry Duck; But Not the Armadillo; Dinosaur Dance!; Are You a Cow? a book by Sandra Boynton
I love all the Little Pookie books, but “What's Wrong, Little Pookie?” is my favorite.
What's Wrong, Little Pookie? a book by Sandra Boynton and Sandra Boynton
Beautiful Bedtime Books
These sweet, sentimental goodnight books are absolutely perfect for bedtime.
Nancy Tillman's lilting prose and delightfully engaging illustrations will enchant any reader! This is the first in a loosely grouped series, and my favorite of them.
On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman
A sweet and loving parent and child bedtime book.
I Love You to the Moon and Back by Hepworth
I think I still have this precious board book memorized from when my kiddos were babies.
I Love You As Big As the World by Van Buren
This perennial favorite answer the question “Guess How Much I Love You” (Spoiler Alert: A LOT.)
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
All of the “How Do Dinosaurs” books are delightful, but this bedtime one is sweet, silly, funny, and makes a wonderful sleepy ritual as you read it to your little dino.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?
Oh, little Llama Llama. He's the king of bedtime drama, but his mama sure is good at taming the crazies. lol
Llama Llama Red Pajama: Gift Edition
Learn Something New (In the Funnest Way Possible)
These picture books are all nonfiction or nonfiction-esque and a great way to sneak some educational material into your bedtime reading.
Did you know that koala bears aren't actually bears? Learn a whole lot more about them by reading this adorable and fun picture book about Koala's first day at camp.
Koala Is Not a Bear by Kristin L. Gray
This picture book about a day in the life of an earthworm is too funny (and surprisingly educational).
Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin, Harry Bliss
This occupation-themed series of books is as informational as it is adorable (i.e. very).
The Questioneers series by Andrea Beaty & David Roberts
This delightful picture book by Kristin Gray tells the true story of how NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover threw itself a little birthday party to celebrate a year of successful mission.
Rover Throws a Party: Inspired by NASA's Curiosity on Mars | Hardcover
Reader Resources
From the educational to the fun, here are some awesome resources for readers, young and old.
Reading to and with your kids is so important to help develop their emotional and mental well-being. This is a great article on the many benefits that reading provides.
Why Reading Aloud to Kids Helps Them Thrive | Parenting Tips & Advice
Makes a reading nook or corner extra special.
Once upon a time cut out, nursery wall decor, reading wall, fairytale decor, wood word cutouts
These customizable canvas book tote library bags come in several options for the character. Such a fun, personalized way to make a trip to the library or bookstore even more special.
Oh Mr Sun Kids Name Tote Bag, Christmas Gift, Children Book Bag,Kindergarten Library Tote,Personalized Canvas Tote, Preschool Tote, Tote bag
This personalized library sign makes such a cute addition to a bookshelf.
Library Sign, Personalized Acrylic Bookshelf Sign, Library Book Nook with Stand Bookish Home Decor, Reader Book Lover Gifts for Daughter Girl
Add your child's name to their favorite "keeper" books with this personalized book embosser stamp.
TOP SELLER - From the library of, Custom Embosser with 50 Gold Seal Labels - More than 40 designs to choose from! -Ex Libris Embosser 1-5/8"