Category: Picture Book Lists

Picture Book List: 12 Great Picture Books About Mothers

On By Only Picture BooksIn Picture Book Lists

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it seems more than appropriate to sit back and take a good, long look at some of the best picture books featuring mothers of all types.

This is not an exhaustive list of every single picture book written by, about, for, or including mothers–there are MANY quality ones out there. The 12 included in this list are simply a small selection of OPB favorites.

Enjoy! And happy Mother’s Day!

Hair for Mama by Kelly A. Tinkham (illustrated by Amy June Bates)

It’s Family Photo Time, yet Mama doesn’t want her picture taken because she’s embarrassed. The chemo she’s receiving to treat her cancer has made her hair fall out. Leave it to eight-​year-​old Marcus to come up with a plan because it won’t be the same without her.

 

My Monster Mama Loves Me So by Laura Leuck (illustrated by Mark Buehner)

This rhyming bedtime story is sure to please young readers. Sure, it’s fine for Halloween, but this monster mama’s love is worth reading about any time of the year. Be warned: your kids might soon be asking for lizard juice on ice or cookies with bugs!

Enjoy a video read-​aloud of My Monster Mama Loves Me So.

 

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn (illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak)

First published in 1993, this book is widely used on the first day of school in kindergarten because it helps kids feel reassured anytime the world feels a little bit scary. Young readers will enjoy learning about Chester Raccoon’s secret–the kissing hand–that makes a new experience (like the first day of school) feel just as safe and cozy as being home with family.

Enjoy a video read-​aloud of The Kissing Hand.

 

Mama’s Saris by Pooja Makhijani (illustrated by Elena Gomez)

Mom has a suitcase full of silk, cotton, and embroidered saris, and when her daughter finds them, she wants to dress in those beautiful garments too. Of course, Mom understands this, and for the child’s seventh birthday, Mom allows her to dress beyond years–just for one magical day.

This sweet book captures every child’s wish to be just like their parents.

 

My New Mom & Me by Renata Galindo

If you’re looking for a book about nontraditional families, this is a great place to start. This emotional tale about a cat mom and a dog child (he’s a bit older than one might expect) is a good conversation-​starter for foster or adoptive school-​aged kids. I dare you not to feel weepy when the dog paints on stripes to be more like his new mom, and she washes them off because “She likes that we are different.”

 

Did I Tell You I Love You Today? by Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan (illustrated by Shane W. Evans)

I’m from Chicago, so I can’t help myself. This book–written by basketball legend Michael Jordan’s mother and sister–has to appear on this list. It does a very good job at showing the routines that effective parents have, even if you’re not a big fan of the Chicago Bulls or Michael Jordan (the greatest basketball player ever).

Kirkus call it a “tender read-​aloud.” OPB agrees.

Enjoy a video read-​aloud of Did I Tell You I Love You Today?

 

Mommy, Mama, and Me by Lesléa Newman (illustrated by Carol Thompson)

Many know Lesléa Newman for her groundbreaking book Heather Has Two Mommies and for her terrific interview at Only Picture Books! 🙂

Using rhythmic text and striking mixed-​media illustrations, this book shares the gentle, nurturing relationship of a lesbian couple and their little child. It does not get preachy or overly philosophical–it simply presents the clear, honest love that parents have for their child.

Enjoy a video read-​aloud of Mommy, Mama, and Me.

 

Mom School by Rebecca Van Slyke (illustrated by Priscilla Burris)

From the publisher: “Imagine what would happen if moms went to Mom School! In this adorable kid’s‑eye view of what would happen if Mom went to school, a little girl imagines Mom School, where all moms learn their amazing skills, like fixing a bike tire and baking cupcakes. With warm, funny illustrations and a fun role-​reversal story in which moms act like kids, young readers will love imagining what would happen if their own moms went to Mom School.”

 

Is Mommy? by Victoria Chang (illustrated by Marla Frazee)

From poet Victoria Chang comes this irreverent tale about toddlers and mommies that’s ultimately an insightful look on motherhood from a kid’s point of view. “Is Mommy fun or boring? BORING!” Spoiler: toddles love their mommies anyway. No matter what.

 

Just Like My Mom by David Melling

The mischievous lion cub in this story wants to show how he can act just like his mom. When it comes to bedtime, though, no one’s as terrific as she is. Melling is one of the UK’s best-​loved author/​illustrators. Check out Just Like My Mom (the Australian version is called Just Like My Mummy) and see why.

Enjoy a video read-​aloud of Just Like My Mom.

 

Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

Leave it to Ryan T. Higgins to create a fresh take on the “Are You My Mother?” tale. In this and Higgins’ other Bruce titles (5 total so far), poor Bruce just wants to have a good meal. But sometimes when you plan on having hard-​boiled goose eggs for dinner, things go sideways. Yet even a grump like Bruce can summon maternal instincts when a group of goslings decide he’s their mommy. To no one’s surprise, Higgins’ illustrations are (once again) hilarious and captivating.

Enjoy a video read-​along of Mother Bruce.

 

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown (illustrated by Clement Hurd)

In this classic (first published in 1942, it has never been out of print), a young bunny chooses to run away. “If you run away,” his mother says, “I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.” And so the imaginary game of chase begins. Generations of readers have fallen in love with this story’s reassuring words and soft, gentle pictures.

Enjoy a video read-​aloud of The Runaway Bunny.

 

Only Picture Books’ 18 Favorites of 2018

On By Only Picture BooksIn OPB Favorites, Picture Book Lists

What better way to close out 2018 than with a list of OPB’s 18 favorites from this past year?

Some of these titles appeared in the (digital) pages of OPB.

Some didn’t. (Alas, this isn’t a comprehensive PB review site like PW, Kirkus, or others.)

But make no mistake–I’m a fan of these 18 titles. I’ll even offer up a sentence or three for each to give a sense about why I liked them.

 

Note #1: Every book listed below is a total winner via my super-​subjective estimation. By that, I mean:

  • I own a copy. (Yep. Not just the freebie ARCs/​galleys here!)
  • I’d be happy to read any of these with a child.
  • I’d be happy to re-​read any of these, even without a child handy.
  • I’d be happy to have written, illustrated, and/​or edited ANY of these.
  • I’d be pleased as Hawaiian punch for any of the involved authors, illustrators, and editors to hit up OPB for an interview. HINT HINT HINT!

Note #2: They aren’t ranked in any particular way, save alphabetically by title. Want to know the #1 picture book of 2018? Read them yourself and make your own choice. Post your choice as a comment here. Or offer it up on your social media. Or add your glowing recommendation on an Amazon or Goodreads page.

Note #3: I like notes.

Note #4: There should be more picture books about sloths. (Please refer to question #1 of the Speed Round of editor Kait Feldmann’s OPB interview for proof of this profound sloth lack!)

Note #5: Refer to notes 1–4, as needed.

Are You Scared, Darth Vader? by Adam Rex (3 July 2018)

I often bring a picture book to share at my SCBWI PALs meetings, and this one brought the house down. It’s loads of fun, but it’s far more than just a Star Wars nostalgia riff. Well done, Mr. Rex!

 

Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson (9 October 2018)

If you liked Last Stop on Market Street, you’ll love de la Peña’s new book that powerfully spotlights children who are worthy of our attention. Plus Robinson’s acrylic paintings are rich and captivating. Simply terrific.

Enjoy an Oct 2018 interview about Carmela Full of Wishes with Matt and Christian at PW.

 

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Marlon Bundo and Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller

To everyone’s surprise, political satire and picture books can go together like chocolate and peanut butter. Plus Jim Parsons really rocks it on the audio version.

 

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López (28 August 2018)

It’s a memorable, inclusive story with lyrical writing and dreamy art. This is a book for every child who feels alone (which is to say “everybody” at one time or another).

Here’s The New York Times article on two of Woodson’s books (including this one).

 

Drawn Together by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat (5 June 2018)

This gorgeous book shows the power of art–and the creative process–in action. It’s a visual WOW.

Here’s a June 2018 NPR interview with Minh Lê about Drawn Together.

 

Giraffe Problems by Jory John, illustrated by Lane Smith (25 September 2018)

About twice a month, I go to my local library and grab two huge bags of whatever picture books catch my eye. Then I read them all at home. That’s the story of how I got introduced to this book, and it was the star of the whole batch by far. Clever. And full of positive messages too.

Here’s a Dec 2018 “speed interview” with Jory John on this cool book.

 

Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang, illustrated by Max Lang (15 May 2018)

The simplistic yet powerfully expressive illustrations are first-​rate. Plus there’s something wonderful about a grumpy monkey screaming “I’m not grumpy!” This is great for a kindergarten reading session. They’ll all make the faces along with the characters for sure.

 

How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk, illustrated by Sara Palacios (15 Mary 2018)

No rhymes or delicious puns here, but instead you have a kid-​friendly book that shows how to break down a seemingly big problem into small, manageable steps. It’s smart, useful, and just silly enough to keep all the learning fun.

Here’s a “Simply 7” interview (by Jena Benton) with the always-​interesting Josh Funk.

 

I Am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (2 October 2018)

I’ve been paying attention to this picture book team since I Am Yoga and they continue to deliver. This book is a fine celebration of the beautiful imperfectness of humanity. It’s a book that says it’s okay to make mistakes, and that’s a fine lesson for young readers that counteracts the over-​tested, over-​scheduled, must-have-GPAs-higher-than‑4.0 world in which we live.

 

I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët (24 April 2018)

I’ve been a fan of this husband-​wife team since their graphic novel Beautiful Darkness. This picture book shows just how magical a wordless story can be.

Here’s a fine review of I Walk with Vanessa at Unleashing Readers.

 

Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (23 April 2018)

This is a book that could’ve gone wrong in a host of ways … but doesn’t. It’s beautiful and empowering without being preachy.

Here’s a May 2018 interview with Jessica about this book at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

 

Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung (3 July 2018)

This celebratory book feels more relevant by the day. I’m also a fan of the graphic, eye-​catching style.

Read the full review of Mixed at OPB!

 

Night Job by Karen Hesse, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (11 September 2018)

This gentle story has a great big heart and Karas’ mixed media illustrations are spot-​on in every way.

Here’s the starred review of Night Job at Kirkus.

 

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Steven Salerno (10 April 2018)

I know Rob pretty well and despite that (just kidding, Rob!), I think this book is tremendously good and tremendously important. When Rob visited my Writing Picture Books class at Ringling College in spring 2018, he shared this book with them–it became the #1 most talked-​about book of the entire semester for the students, and for that reason alone, it’s got to be on this list. I also really dig the back matter timelines.

 

The Boo-​Boos that Changed the World: A True Story About an Accidental Invention (Really!) by Barry Wittenstein, illustrated by Chris Hsu (13 February 2018)

The retro look draws me in as much as the well-​told story about a now-​omnipresent first aid item.

Here’s a March 2018 speed interview with Barry at The Children’s Book Review.

 

The Eye that Never Sleeps: How Detective Pinkerton Saved President Lincoln by Marissa Moss, illustrated by Jeremy Holmes (6 November 2018)

The hip cartoony style works well with the text to present a memorable read about one of America’s greatest detectives.

 

The Wall in the Middle of the Book by Jon Agee (2 October 2018)

This book proves to be quite the discussion starter on the concepts of perspective and assumptions.

Here’s an October 2018 Q&A with Jon at PW.

Here’s an October 2018 interview with Jon at Let’s Talk Picture Books.

 

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins (19 June 2018)

The character? Hilarious. The ending? Delightful. It’s the type of back-​to-​school book I wish I had when my kids were little.

Here’s a Q&A with Ryan at PW.

Picture Book List: Nine Terrific Poetry Picture Books

On By Only Picture BooksIn Picture Book Lists

One of the pleasures of reading poetry is to witness the urgency, the intensity, and the sheer beauty of language. This is as true in well-​written picture books as it is in the classic “adult” poems of Rumi, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, or Yusef Komunyakaa.

As I think about which relatively-​recent picture books most embrace the wonders that poetry offers, I recall what Romanian-​born German poet Paul Celan once wrote:

“A poem … can be a message in a bottle, sent out in the–not always greatly hopeful–belief that somewhere and sometime it could wash up on land, on heartland perhaps. Poems in this sense, too, are under way: they are making toward something.”

Each of the following picture books all are a “making toward something” that’s remarkable thanks to their use of poetic forms and a keen sensibility for language.

See for yourself.

Thunder Underground by Jane Yolen (illustrated by Josee Masse)

In this collection of 21 playful poems by kidlit master Jane Yolen, readers learn all about the things beneath the Earth’s surface: subways, fossils, pirate treasure, caves, magma, and even tectonic plates. A Kirkus starred review notes that the poems honor “the ability of young readers to navigate syntax, imagery, and wordplay… a thoughtful exploration of nature expressed in poetry that should open the eyes of children to unseen worlds.”

 

Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photograph by Roxane Orgill (illustrated by Francis Vallejo)

In playful verse and vibrant images, this book captures an amazing real-​world moment from 1958, when Esquire magazine and graphic designer Art Kane brought together a group of 57 beloved jazz musicians to be photographed outside a Harlem brownstone. Celebrate Picture Books notes that author Roxane Orgill “recreates the syncopation of jazz and the exhilaration of the photo shoot in twenty poems that capture the sights, sounds, conversations, horseplay, and vibe of that special day that forever commemorate the Golden Age of Jazz.”

One especially cool feature? A fold-​out page in the book shares the final product of that historic photo shoot.

 

H is for Haiku: A Treasury of Haiku from A to Z by Sydell Rosenberg (illustrated by Sawsan Chalabi)

Writer’s Rumpus reports that this book is “a delightful exploration of the alphabet through Haiku. Each page explores a moment in time with lovely, lyrical and luscious language. Colorful, playful illustrations complement the poetic text.” As the late Rosenberg once shared: “The split second one starts to touch a flower–real or plastic? That’s haiku. Before the hoof comes down–that’s haiku.”

 

In the Land of Milk and Honey by Joyce Carol Thomas (illustrated by Floyd Cooper)

This book tells the true story of Joyce Carol Thomas’ trip as a girl from Oklahoma to California in 1948. A Booklist review shares that “clear free verse captures the excitement of the journey–the steaming train, the hissing wheels, the long lonesome whistle.” But don’t neglect Floyd Cooper’s masterful pastel artwork and oil wash paintings which are equally impressive and help make this book a must-read.

 

If I Never Forever Endeavor by Holly Meade

This book tells the inner story of a fledgling thinking about leaving the nest, but isn’t quite ready to go. To fly or not to fly? That is the question explored in these poems that emphasize rhyme, repetition, and onomatopoeia.

A Storypath review says that “the bird’s soliloquy is rhythmic and memorable and will be picked up by the listeners by the second reading.”

 

Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander and Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth (illustrated by Ekua Holmes)

Newbery Award-​winning author and poet Kwame Alexander–with Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth–writes poems about great poets … in the style of those poets themselves. In an NPR interview, Alexander states that the three aims for this book are to encourage kids to read poetry, introduce them to great poets, and inspire them to write poems of their own. “It’s a lofty goal,” he admits, “but I think that’s a metaphor for what poetry is.”

 

A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems by Paul B. Janeczko (illustrated by Chris Raschka)

This award-​winning collection of 30 poems provides no end of fun thanks to a commitment to the playfulness of poetry.  A Booklist starred review explains that “these aren’t poems to read aloud, but to look at and laugh at together, with young children and especially older readers, who will enjoy the surprise of what words look like and what can be done with them.” A Publisher’s Weekly starred review adds that this book is “an uncluttered, meditative space for the picturesque language.”

 

Marvelous Math: A Book of Poems by Lee Bennett Hopkins (illustrated by Karen Barbour)

It’s hard to imagine a list of good poetry picture books without including something by Lee Bennett Hopkins, the grand master of poetry and poetry anthologies for young readers. The 16 poems in this book–two written by Hopkins and the rest written by others–all include math or numbers as a thematic element. A few of my favorites? Lillian M. Fisher’s “To Build a House,” Janet S. Wong’s “One to Ten” and Felice Holman’s “Counting Birds.”

 

Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein

What can be said about a poetry book from 1974 that nearly all adults recall with wonder, joy, and an enduring sense of nostalgia?

Sisters are auctioned off.

Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout will simply not take the garbage out!

A girl eats a whale.

Crocodiles go to the dentist.

Silverstein’s poetic mad-​but-​makes-​sense world is one where you wash your shadow and plant diamond gardens. Yes, his poems are loads of fun, but he’s a master wordsmith whose writing is far more profound than you might realize at first.

 

Picture Book List: Six Terrific Picture Books about Vehicles and Travel

On By Only Picture BooksIn Picture Book Lists

Here’s a bonus list to fill out the final week of May 2018. We’re a car-​trip family (I’m even publishing this post while planning a multi-​city, in-​state trip for us and our minivan!), so it probably comes as no surprise that we’ve bought more than a few picture books about vehicles, road trips, and traveling in general.

So here’s a list of PBs on those very topics.

Since we all pretty much know a few obvious ones—Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things that Go, Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go! and Kate and Jim McMullan’s I Stink!, to name just three Biggies—the goal of this list is to offer up some quality but perhaps less familiar choices.

The Adventures of Taxi Dog by Debra and Sal Barracca (illustrated by Mark Buehner)

The funny rhyming story of Maxi, a stray dog, who’s found in a park by Jim the taxi driver. Why does Jim start receiving such big tips once Maxi starts riding along? A review by two young children (ages 8 and 9) at Spaghetti Book Club says: “We recommend this book because it is funny and the illustrations are colorful and full of detail. When the dog puts on his shows, the pictures make us feel like we are the passengers, with Maxi putting on the show for us.”

 

When Daddy’s Truck Picks Me Up by Jana Novotny Hunter (illustrated by Carol Thompson)

The rhyming story about a young boy who imagines the moment his father is going to arrive at school—from very far away—to pick him up in a tanker truck. A Kirkus review says: “The day crawls by even though he enjoys himself playing games and painting pictures. Eagerly anticipating his father’s arrival, the boy imagines Daddy driving toward him, traveling the tunnels, hurrying down a hill, carefully crossing a bridge and maneuvering through traffic.”

 

Everything I Know about Cars: A Collection of Made-​Up Facts, Educated Guesses, and Silly Pictures about Cars, Trucks, and Other Zoomy Things by Tom Lichtenheld

This book shares a host of information that’s “100% fact-​free,” but a lot of fun nevertheless. The wacky illustrations are matched by ever wackier info, such as “Some people aren’t satisfied while sitting on their butts; they want to go really fast while sitting on their butts. These people drive hot rods and race cars, which are stinkier and faster than regular cars.”

A Booklist review says “With an eye-​catching jacket and a terrific section on how to draw a car, this large-​format book has something for everyone (except maybe someone who actually wants to know about cars.)”

 

Journey by Aaron Becker

An homage to Harold and his purple crayon, Becker’s 2014 Caldecott Honor Book, Journey, tells the wordless story of a lonely girl whose afternoon becomes magical when she draws a door on the wall with red chalk … and walks into a new world. A Common Sense Media review shares: “Bravery, and a little help from the loyal bird, lead her to further adventures a bit closer to home, where she finds she’s not the only one with a magic crayon and an imagination.”

 

Bug on a Bike by Chris Monroe

A rhyming, read-​aloud treat, this book follows Bug on his journey to who knows where? Along the way, he picks up pals like Lizard Mike, Randy the Toad, and more. A Kirkus review states: “As entertaining as the text is, however, it is the illustrations that steal the show. Singularly absurd in their renditions (the lizard wears madras shorts, the snake dons a tubular blouse), the menagerie all nonetheless manage to look determined and earnest as they follow the bug on a bike—who himself has the endearing focused look of a toddler just learning to ride a two-wheeler.”

A non-​spoiler: Finding out Bug’s final destination is worth the wait.

 

Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by Steve Jenkins

This book—with its wonderful cut-​paper illustrations—takes readers on a journey from the surface of the ocean into the deepest sea canyon, showing more than fifty creatures who call the deep waters their home. A Kirkus review states: “Along the way he introduces such oddities as a three-​foot comb jelly called a Venus’s girdle, a glowing siphonophore colony and a hairy angler with her parasitic mate. Browsers will be delighted by the variety of species, shown in their appropriate colors although not to scale.”