All Time Best Picture Books for Children

Kristy Pepping said:  The David Series of books by David Shannon follows the main character, David as he gets into constant trouble. However, kids will be entertained by his adventures and messes he leaves behind. The books themselves are filled with colorful illustrations and simple sentences. So whether you are reading these as bedtime stories or you have young reader learning to read, these are great books.

Tim Ponisciak said:  Whatever you do, don't push the button! Your kids will squeal with this book. It is simple, but very colorful and will make your kids think about what boundaries are out there, and what might happen if they step over them!

This story by Drew Daywalt is one of humor, triumph, and fun. Rock goes around looking for a true challenger to his mighty strength, and ends up finding worthy adversaries with scissors and paper along the way, but not after defeating a few less worthy foes.

This book is hilarious, engaging, and a quick read.

A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon is a true gem. Camilla Cream wants to fit in with her peers so she doesn't dare admit to the one food she loves, lima beans. Because she isn't true to herself, she develops a bad case of stripes. To be cured, she has to accept herself for who she is.

This book sends an excellent message of being your own person, not caring what other people think of you and not hiding your personality for fear you won't be liked by others. It is about accepting yourself and being proud of who you are.

Sharon Hagenmueller D... said:  Down the Road by Alice Schertle is a story about a young girl’s first steps toward her independence and how her family supports her.

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.

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.

Amy S. said:  This “creepy” tale follows Jasper Rabbit as he deals with a trio of spooky carrots who have been following him. Everyone tells him that he’s just imagining things, but he’s not so sure. This book has always been one of our favorites (the pages are covered in tape where the pages have been “overused”). It is compelling, funny, and uniquely illustrated with smooth, shadowy drawings, mostly in grayscale but with significant pops of color. The story ends with a twist that parents will enjoy but might be over the heads of younger kids, who never have any reason to doubt that what Jasper Rabbit sees is real…

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.