Top Children's Picture Books

Here is the rest of my list that I had started back in August.  Seventeen picture books plus thirteen board books equals thirty books that I will never tire of.  Books that thrill me with artwork, impress me with creativity, and make me feel good inside.

                 Billy Twitters and his Blue Whale Problem  by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Adam Rex

                                 King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood and Don Wood

                                                             Buttons by Brock Cole

                                            Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

                                      Toot & Puddle - A Present for Toot by Holly Hobbie

                                                   The Story of Babar  by Jean DeBrunhoff

                                                            Zen Shorts by Jon Muth

                                                    Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Suess

                         Chicken Bedtime is Really Early by Erica S. Perl, illustrated by George Bates

                                                  Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel

                                                        Hoover's Bride by David Small

                                     Snipp, Snapp, Snurr and the Yellow Sled by Maj Lindman

                                                  The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

                                                 Olivia helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer

                                   Alphabet Soup - A Feast of Letters by Scott Gustafson

                                Why the Banana Split by Rick Walton, illustrated by Jimmy Holder

                                      The Race by Caroline Repchuk, illustrated by Alison Jay

Top Board Books

I aspire to write a children's picture book.  I keep thinking about my favorite books and why they are my favorites.  Yesterday I pulled out 30 children's books.  My criteria was absolute favorites, if I had to give away all the others, which ones would I never tire from?  Here is the thirteen which were board books, great for babies, children and adults.

                                                  The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

                                                    Good Dog Carl by Alexandre Day

                                                       Tickle, Tickle by Helen Oxenbury

                                                    Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

                                                      Little Oink by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

                                   Five Little Monkeys with Nothing to Do by Eileen Christelow

                                          Dog Food by Saxon Freymann and Joost Elffers

                                                   Belly Button Book by Sandra Boyton

                                                On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman

                                       Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don & Audrey Wood

                                                     Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

                Each was chosen for the artwork, the story, the rhythm, and the smile they give me.

Antics

I am a big fan of alphabet books.  Its the same concept used over and over again, but each time we get to enjoy the author/illustrator's imagination and interests as they share their take on an old formula.

My newest find in this genre is Antics!: An Alphabetical Anthology by Cathi Hepworth.  Every word includes "ant" in it and the illustrations are so funny,  you'll be smiling through the whole book.   Click on the title, and I link you to Amazon where you can see more pages.

Birdie's Big Girl Dress

I found a new book I love. It was right there when I walked into the children's department at Barnes and Nobles (now the only bookstore in town, please please don't go out of business!)

Introducing the cutest little girl, Birdie. Watercolours are always my favorite medium for children's illustrations and I just love the style of Sujean Rim's characters. Instead of painting all the dresses, some were made of actual fabric cut to shape and then scanned in. This combo is a fun mix with the watercolours.

There is another book featuring this lovable character, "Birdie's Big Girl Shoes". Usually I refrain from buying girl books, as I live in a house with all boys, but I am so smitten, I am going to treat myself to this book as soon as I finish my next goal.

New Favorites

Have you read the books by Amy Krouse Rosenthal? Teddy was given a set of three: Little Pea, Little Hoot, and Little Oink. The stories are so enjoyable and the language so clever.

Little Hoot wishes he could go to bed early like all the rest of his friends. "Stay up and play for one more hour and then you can go to sleep", Mama Owl compromised. "One whole hour?" he boo-whoo'd. "One whole hour," she cooed.

Each book has a similar angle, but you will be entertained and impressed every time you read them.

Book Review

I just received a package in the mail from my mom, things for the new baby. Included was a book titled "On the Night You Were Born" by Nancy Tillman. I am not usually a fan of sentimental children's books, but this book stands out in the crowd.

The illustrations are creative and beautiful. The message of the book: the world rejoices with each birth of a child. "So enchanted with you were the wind and the rain that they whispered the sound of your wonderful name...until everyone heard it and everyone knew of the one and only ever you."

I have certainly been touched by the kindness and generosity showered on me and my family in celebration for the birth of our Teddy.

Marla Frazee

Here are a few covers of books illustrated by Marla Frazee. I really like her style.

New Children's Book Finds

"She's Wearing a Dead Bird on her Head" by Kathryn Lasky is the true story of two women in the 1890's who saw a problem and actively pursued a solution with initiating the Audubon Society. Their tale is inspiring and entertaining.

I will be adding "The Story of Zachary Zween" to my collection. It's an amusing look at being alphabetically placed, illustrations include scenes throughout London, and I love books that rhyme.

Author and illustrator David McPhail has many enjoyable works to discover. My favorites right now are "The Puddle" and "The Magical Drawings of Moony B. Finch".

A New Favorite

This past year I ordered a collection of Caldecott Winning books from the Scholastic book order form. Included was a book titled "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" which I was not familar with.

The story is about a donkey who likes to collect pretty rocks, and one day he discovers a magic pebble that allows him whatever he wishes. The catch is Sylvester has to be holding the pebble in his paw as he makes the wish. Well, he accidently wishes he is was a rock and then can no longer hold the pebble to wish himself back into a donkey.

At the end of the story Sylvester is finally reunited with his family and he decides to put the pebble away in a safe place. I get choked up every time I read the last line. "Some day they might want to use it, but really, for now, what more could they wish for? They all had all that they wanted."