Picture Book List: 15 Picture Books About Books

On September 30, 2024September 30, 2024 By Only Picture BooksIn Picture Book Lists5 Comments

Calling all bookworms and bibliophiles!

Today, we’re turning the pages on a delightful collection of picture books that celebrate the magic of stories. From heartwarming tales about libraries to whimsical journeys into the world of words, these 15 gems are sure to spark a love of reading in young hearts.

So snuggle up with your little ones, open a book, and let the adventure begin!

**If I missed your favorite picture book that’s about books, tell me in the comments!**

Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day by Pat Mora, illustrated by Rafael López (March 2016)

From Goodreads: “Take a ride in a long submarine or fly away in a hot air balloon. Whatever you do, just be sure to bring your favorite book! Rafael López’s colorful illustrations perfectly complement Pat Mora’s lilting text in this delightful celebration of El día de los niños/El día de los libros; Children’s Day/Book Day. Toon! Toon!

Includes a letter from the author and suggestions for celebrating El día de los niños/El día de los libros; Children’s Day/Book Day.”

40 pages
Reading Age: 4–8 years

The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak (Sept 2014)

From Goodreads: “Warning! This book looks serious but it is actually completely ridiculous!

A book with no pictures?

What could be fun about that?

After all, if a book has no pictures, there’s nothing to look at but the words on the page.

Words that might make you say silly sounds… In ridiculous voices…

Hey, what kind of book is this, anyway?

At once disarmingly simple and ingeniously imaginative, ‘The Book With No Pictures’ inspires laughter every time it is opened, creating a warm and joyous experience to share—and introducing young children to the powerful idea that the written word can be an unending source of mischief and delight.

If a kid is trying to make you read this book, the kid is playing a trick on you. You will end up saying silly things and making everybody laugh and laugh!

Don’t say I didn’t warn you…”

48 pages
Reading Age: 4–8 years

Charlie Cook’s Favorite Book by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (June 2006)

From Goodreads: “Charlie Cook has a favorite book. It’s about a pirate, who also has a favorite book … about Goldilocks, who also has a favorite book … about a knight, who also has a favorite book .… This hilarious pattern continues throughout the story, right to the satisfying and surprising end.”

32 pages
Reading Age: 2–4 years

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce, illustrated by Joe Bluhm (June 2012)

From Goodreads: “Morris Lessmore loved words.
He loved stories.
He loved books.
But every story has its upsets.
Everything in Morris Lessmore’s life, including his own story, is scattered to the winds.
But the power of story will save the day.”

56 pages
Reading Age: 4–8 years

How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills (July 2010)

From Goodreads: “Learn to read with this New York Times-bestselling picture book, starring an irresistible dog named Rocket and his teacher, a little yellow bird. Follow along as Rocket masters the alphabet, sounds out words, and finally … learns to read all on his own!

With a story that makes reading fun—and will even help listeners learn to read—this book is ideal for kindergarten classrooms and story hour or as a gift for that beginning reader. Fresh, charming art by Tad Hills, the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator of Duck & Goose, will make this a favorite.”

40 pages
Reading Age: 3–6 years

How to Read a Story by Kate Messner, illustrated by Mark Siegel (May 2015)

From Goodreads: “Step One: Find a story. (A good one.)
Step Two: Find a reading buddy. (Someone nice.)
Step Three: Find a reading spot. (Couches are cozy.)
Now: Begin.
Accomplished storytellers Kate Messner and Mark Siegel chronicle the process of becoming a reader: from pulling a book off the shelf and finding someone with whom to share a story, to reading aloud, predicting what will happen, and—finally—coming to The End . This picture book playfully and movingly illustrates the idea that the reader who discovers the love of reading finds, at the end, the beginning.”

36 pages
Reading Age: 5–7 years

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers (April 2007)

From Goodreads: “Like many children, Henry loves books. But Henry doesn’t like to read books, he likes to eat them. Big books, picture books, reference books … if it has pages, Henry chews them up and swallows (but red ones are his favorite). And the more he eats, the smarter he gets—he’s on his way to being the smartest boy in the world! But one day he feels sick to his stomach. And the information is so jumbled up inside, he can’t digest it! Can Henry find a way to enjoy books without using his teeth? With a stunning new artistic style and a die-cut surprise, Oliver Jeffers celebrates the joys of reading in this charming and quirky picture book. It’s almost good enough to eat.”

32 pages
Reading Age: 3–7 years

Let Me Finish! by Minh Lê, illustrated by Isabel Roxas (July 2016)

From Goodreads: “When our young hero settles in to read, the last thing he wants is for some noisy animals to ruin the ending of the story.

But ruin it they do.

And as it turns out, the boy is quickly approaching a surprise ending of his own! Maybe he should have listened to the animals after all.…

This silly, timeless picture book with a clever meta twist introduces debut author Minh Lê’s witty text and Isabel Roxas’s eye-catching illustrations.”

40 pages
Reading Age: 3–6 years

The Library by Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small (April 1995)

From Goodreads: “Meet an unforgettable bibliophile.

Elizabeth Brown doesn’t like to play with dolls and she doesn’t like to skate. What she does like to do is read books. And now that she’s grown up, her collection has gotten so big all the shelves are collapsing. Her front door has disappeared entirely. What in the world will she do? The reclusive Elizabeth Brown surprises everyone wit her splendid solution.

In charming verse and elegant watercolors Sarah Stewart and David Small celebrate one of America’s grandest institutions.”

40 pages
Reading Age: 5–9 years

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes (July 2006)

From Goodreads: “An affectionate storybook tribute to that truly wonderful place: the library.

Miss Merriweather, the head librarian, is very particular about rules in the library. No running allowed. And you must be quiet. But when a lion comes to the library one day, no one is sure what to do. There aren’t any rules about lions in the library. And, as it turns out, this lion seems very well suited to library visiting. His big feet are quiet on the library floor. He makes a comfy backrest for the children at story hour. And he never roars in the library, at least not anymore. But when something terrible happens, the lion quickly comes to the rescue in the only way he knows how. Michelle Knudsen’s disarming story, illustrated by the matchless Kevin Hawkes in an expressive timeless style, will win over even the most ardent of rule keepers.”

32 pages
Reading Age: 1–3 years

Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf by Troy Wilson, illustrated by Ilaria Campana (July 2019)

From Goodreads: “A retelling of the classic Little Red Riding Hood, starring our bookish heroine Red and a misunderstood, book-loving wolf desperate for a good story.

Little Red Reading Hood loves–you guessed it–reading! She applies everything she learns from books to the real world. So, when she sets off to take her sick grandmother a homemade treat, she’s prepared for anything that comes her way. In keeping with the original story, Red is in for a surprise when she arrives to find a wolf disguised as her grandmother. But this is no ordinary wolf… This is the Misread Wolf, who’s after something more delicious than your average snack. He’s desperate for a bedtime story and knows Little Red Reading Hood might just be his only hope.”

32 pages
Reading Age: 4–8 years

Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw (June 2006)

From Goodreads: “Learn about the library, checking out books, and story time with Lola. Every Tuesday Lola and her mommy go to the library. Lola meets her friends there. They share books and don’t have to be quiet all the time. The nice librarian tells stories. There is a big machine that buzzes Lola’s books in and out, and she can take any books she wants home with her. Lola and her mommy always stop for a treat on the way home. No wonder Lola loves the library.

This gentle story of growing with books encourages little ones to discover the joy of reading as well as getting them ready and excited to visit the library.

Sweet, bright illustrations are from a kids-eye point of view. Perfect for a lap read or story time, the first in Lola series, LOLA AT THE LIBRARY is a book young readers will fall in love with.”

32 pages
Reading Age: 1–3 years

Read the Book, Lemmings! by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Zachariah OHora (Nov 2017)

From Goodreads: “Aboard the S.S. Cliff, First Mate Foxy reads an interesting fact: “Lemmings don’t jump off cliffs.” But Foxy can’t get the lemmings on the Cliff to read his book, too. They’re too busy jumping off.

After a chilly third rescue, exasperated Foxy and grumbly polar bear Captain PB realize their naughty nautical crew isn’t being stubborn: The lemmings (Jumper, Me Too, and Ditto) can’t read. And until Foxy patiently teaches his lemmings to read the book, he can’t return to reading it, either!”

40 pages
Reading Age: 2–8 years

Tomás and the Library Lady by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Nate Wragg (Feb 2000)

From Goodreads: “Tomás is a son of migrant workers. Every summer he and his family follow the crops north from Texas to Iowa, spending long, arduous days in the fields. At night they gather around to hear Grandfather’s wonderful stories. But before long, Tomás knows all the stories by heart. “There are more stories in the library,” Papa Grande tells him. The very next day, Tomás meets the library lady and a whole new world opens up for him.

Based on the true story of the Mexican-American author and educator Tomás Rivera, a child of migrant workers who went on to become the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system, this inspirational story suggests what libraries–and education–can make possible. Raul Colón’s warm, expressive paintings perfectly interweave the harsh realities of Tomás’s life, the joyful imaginings he finds in books, and his special relationships with a wise grandfather and a caring librarian.”

40 pages
Reading Age: 3–7 years

Wolf! by Becky Bloom, illustrated by Pascal Biet (March 1999)

From Goodreads: “A wolf learns to read in order to impress a group of farmyard animals he has met.”

32 pages
Reading Age: 4–8 years

Picture Book List: 13 Delightful A to Z Books

On September 30, 2019September 30, 2019 By Only Picture BooksIn Picture Book Lists

I’ve been hired to write an alphabet picture book for a community organization (Thanks, Realize Bradenton!), and as part of my research and prewriting process, I’ve inundated myself with dozens of A to Z books. To clear, I have A to Z, ABC, and abecedarian books coming out of my ears. Almost literally!

After reading them for three weeks straight, here’s what I’ve come to believe. The pedestrian ones teach you the ABCs, sure. But the best of them do so much more.

That’s what this bonus picture book list is–13 of the most interesting A to Zs that I found. (Why not 26? you ask, since there are 26 letters in an A to Z. after all. Good question. The answer is this: I’m doing 13. Maybe we’ll do another 13 in a future installment of “Delightful A to Z books.” Who knows?)

Without further ado …

The ABCs of D&D
by Ivan Van Norman and Caleb Cleveland

Talk about indoctrinating your kids while teaching the ABCS! At least D&D is now recognized as being good for you in a lot of ways beyond just plain being fun. (Here’s journalist Ethan Gildsdorf’s Tedx talk on the topic!)

AlphaOops! The Day Z Went First
by Alethea Kontis (Illustrated by Bob Kolar)

Kolar’s bright, lively letters pop off the page and make a great match with Kontis’ clever wordplay. And I must confess–with a last name that starts with V, I’m pleased that we end-of-alphabeters might get a chance to go near the front for once!

America: A Patriotic Primer
by Lynne Cheney (Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser)

In a time where the word “America” might not have the patriotic oomph it once did, this book does a splendid job of presenting historical facts, the Constitution, freedom, what it means to be an American, and far more. It’s a winner for teachers/parents who want a picture book to help them take on topics like diversity and tenacity.

Animalicious: A Quirky ABC Book
by Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan (Illustrated by Claudia Boldt)

The animals in this book are indeed quirky (and imaginary). For example, it’s not a “python” but a “piethon.” Lots of fun to be had here!

The Dangerous Alphabet
by Neil Gaiman (Illustrated by Gris Grimly)

I’m happy to include Neil Gaiman on pretty much any book list I make. Thankfully, he DOES have an ABC book and–to no one’s surprise–it’s strange, fun, and (kid-appropriately) dark in equal measure. Gaiman warns that even the alphabet is not to be relied upon, which is part of the fun here. Check out a read-aloud video of the whole book here.

If Rocks Could Sing: A Discovered Alphabet
by Leslie McGuirk

So cool, so clever. The rocks don’t just look like letters–they also look like the things themselves. (N is for nose, and indeed, she’s got a terrific nose-shaped stone to complement the word!)

M Is for Melody: A Music Alphabet
by Kathy-jo Wargin (Illustrated by Katherine Larson)

This book is a lesson in both the ABCs and music, using instruments, composers, musical terminology, and even musical styles in read-aloud rhymes. The informative sidebars are a plus!

Once Upon an Alphabet: Short Stories for All the Letters
by Oliver Jeffers

While you probably know him as the illustrator of The Day the Crayons Quit, he’s also authored this fine book which has each letter in the alphabet associated with a word or phrase. Then Jeffers offers a humorous story to pair with it. (Here’s an example: E is for enigma, so … “How many elephants can you fit inside an envelope?”)

P Is for Pterodactyl: “The Worst Alphabet Book Ever”
by Raj Haldar and Chris Carpenter (Illustrated by Maria Tina Beddia)

While this might not help young readers with their spelling, this clever book is a lot of fun for adult and kid readers. Not every word has that silent first letter, but it’s an amusing list of tricky words, regardless. I find the cartoony illustrations to add to–as The New York Times says–“a raucous trip through the odd corners of our alphabet.”

Q Is for Duck: An Alphabet Guessing Game
by Mary Elting and Michael Folsom (Illustrated by Jack Kent)

This book has a mix of very easy (A is for Zoo–why?) to not-so-easy riddles (S is for camel–why? They spit!) for kids to solve using the letters of the alphabet as a jumping off point. Many of my K and 1st grade teacher friends use this one in class.

Superhero ABC
by Bob McLeod

This book really leans into the letter aspect, with entries such as “Laughing Lass, who laughs loudly at lawbreakers!” The comic-book style art is a nice touch, too.

What Pete Ate from A — Z
by Maira Kalman

The alliteration is over the top, but deliciously so as Pete the dog gobbles up anything he can, from an accordion to when he “ripped the head off my dear doll Dinky.” It’s told from a child’s point of view, which adds another level to the fine book.

Z Is for Moose
by Kelly Bingham (Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky)

I love this book. Poor, serious Zebra wants a simple ABC here, but Moose has other ideas. When M goes to a mouse, however, Moose throws a tantrum and rampages through the rest of the book. Don’t worry–it all comes together in the end. Z Is for Moose is silly, irreverent, and very memorable, too.

Picture Book List: 12 Books that (Wonderfully!) Break the Fourth Wall

On July 29, 2019July 29, 2019 By Only Picture BooksIn Picture Book Lists1 Comment

One of the books we (quite literally) wore out in our family was The Monster at the End of this Book written by Jon Stone and illustrated by Michael Smolin. My kids simply loved how Grover “talked” to them from the pages, begging them not to keep reading because he was 100% sure that at the end of the book, there’d be a monster. Yikes! As a parent reading with my kids, I loved how when Grover asked my kids questions (like “Do you know that you are very strong?”), my kids always roared and flexed their little girl muscles in response. Fun for everyone!

For those who like fancy terms, we’re talking about a type of metafiction here, meaning a book that’s fully aware that it’s a book, which allows the author and/or illustrator to play with the normal conventions of a book. (Here are some wise words and explanations about breaking the fourth wall from Romelle Broas’ blog.) When used in a picture book, breaking the fourth wall often results in a great read-aloud experience since kids are invited to be part of the plot. Who doesn’t want to join in with a terrific story, right?

I went through my PB bookshelf the other day with the idea of organizing them not by title or author name, but by type of book. And what I found was this–I have a LOT of books that break the fourth wall.

So, here are a few OPB favorites, plus a couple of ones you might not yet know, but surely will come to love. Did I miss your favorite? If so, tell me in the comments. I’ll make sure to get a copy so I can add it to my Fourth Wall shelf.

Six Classic Fourth-Wall-Breakers

The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak

He was terrific as Ryan the Temp in The Office, but he’s proven to be equally amusing as a picture book writer, too. Wait until the adults have to say “BLORK” or “GLIBBITY GLOBBITY” or “BLURRF”! Fun, fun, fun.

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

If you’ve ever felt that some crayons–like some people–don’t get their fair shake, then this book will prove satisfying. My fav is green, the real people-pleaser of the entire box. You’ll never look at crayons the same way again!

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

The fact that it’s a Caldecott Honor winner is reason enough to give it a shot. But kids LOVE being put in charge, and that’s what the bus driver does when he has to step out. And wow, that pigeon is willing to do or say anything to get his shot behind the wheel. Good, silly fun all around.

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

This timeless classic–written 60+ years ago–still lands well with readers today. As Harold takes his oversized crayon through the woods and past dragons before returning to bed, we see just how wonderful one’s imagination can be.

Press Here by Hervé Tullet

Kids who appreciate tactile interactions will love this book, which asks them to push buttons, shake the book, tilt it, and more. You might want to consider the board book version so you can be sure it’ll survive all the physical interactions. My nephew is wearing out his copy fast–it doesn’t sit for more than a day on his bookshelf before he’s enjoying it again.

Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham

Zebra wants the alphabet to be simple. A is for apple, etc., but Moose is far too excited to wait his turn. This comedy of errors is loads of fun that’s made all the better by Caldecott medalist Paul Zelinsky’s outrageous images.

Six Wall-Busting Picture Books You Might Not Know
(But Definitely Should!)

This Book Is Magic by Ashley Evanson

If you like Tullet’s Press Here, then this book is a must-read. Tap a hat to make a bunny appear. Utter the words to a spell to make a book–POOF–get bigger! Just watch out, though. Magic tricks don’t always end up the way one expects!

This Book Just Ate My Dog by Richard Byrne

Want to learn what the gutter of a book is? You will in Richard Byrne’s book., because this girl’s poor pooch disappears in the gutter—the gap between pages in the center. It’ll take far more than a hard tug on the leash to make things go right in this curious story.

Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas

This bossy little ladybug will keep readers having fun. The bold, cartoon style and wild, bright backdrops help make this a memorable, vivid reading experience. Wiggling, blowing, doing the chicken dance? There’s a lot of kid fun here.

Be warned, though–this is not a good book for quiet time. Kids will make a lot of noise.

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

In this fine book, readers are asked to interact with a tree. Every page turn rewards that action, with the tree changing in some manner. While many fourth wall breakers are more about fun than anything else, this one invites contemplation and reflection.

The Panda Problem by Deborah Underwood (lllustrated by Hannah Marks)

We all know how stories work, right? So does the narrator in this story, only Panda isn’t playing along. What’s a narrator to do now?

Check out the OPB review of this title for more details.

Wolves by Emily Gravett

Rabbits shouldn’t believe what they read in fairy tales, and neither should you. This story is pro-library and pro-fun. And if it seems a bit too dark at times, there’s a bonus alternate ending for the sensitive reader.

Six Classic Fourth-Wall-Breakers

Six Wall-​Busting Picture Books You Might Not Know (But Definitely Should!)

Six Wall-Busting Picture Books You Might Not Know
(But Definitely Should!)