Picture Books

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A

  • Alsburg, Chris Van

    • The Wretched Stone
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3, 4

B

  • Barker, Cicely Mary

    • The Lord of the Rushie River
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3
  • Bernadette

    • Varenka
      a Russian story of a delayed answer to prayer and the miracle that results
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3, 4
  • Bunting, Eve
    • A Hanukkah story—very moving

      • One Candle
        Gender: Both
        Level: 2, 3

C

  • Caudill, Rebecca

    • A Certain Small Shepherd
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3
  • Celenza, Anna Harwell

    • Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue
      C.D. incl.
      Gender: Both
      Level: 3, 4
  • Collington, Peter

    • A Small Miracle
      Wordless Christmas story—a family favorite
      Gender: Both
      Level: 1, 2, 3, 4
  • Cooney, Barbara

    • Eleanor
      About Eleanor Roosevelt’s life
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3

    • Miss Rumphius
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3
  • Cullen, Lynn

    • The Mightiest Heart
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3

D

  • Deedy, Carmen Agra

    • The Yellow Star
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3

E

  • Early, Margaret

    • Robin Hood
      Medieval looking illustrations—one plate per story
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3

G

  • Gruelle, Johnny

    • The Paper Dragon
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3

    • Wooden Willie
      A little known one, but a family favorite
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3
  • Guarnieri, Paolo

    • A Boy Named Giotto
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3

H

  • Herriot, James

    • A Treasury for Children
      Great retellings from his veterinarian books
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3, 4
  • Hest, Amy

    • When Jessie Came Across the Sea
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3
  • Hodges, Margaret

    • Merlin and the Making of the King
      Great retellings of many stories
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3

    • Saint George and the Dragon
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3

    • The Kitchen Knight
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3

L

  • Lunge-Larsen, Lise

    • The Race of the Birkebeiners
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3

P

  • Philbrick, Margaret

    • Back to the Manger
      Lovely Christmas story with great local (Chicago) references & illus.
      Gender: Both
      Level: 1, 2, 3, 4
  • Polacco, Patricia
     Great current children’s author who illustrates her own books; appeals to a broad range of children; celebrates family, miracle, and heritage. I do not like all of her books because they express attitudes or moral choices with which I disagree, but the ones listed below are excellent.

    • Pink and Say
      For older children—a Civil War story
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3

    • The Butterfly
      Heavy subject matter—Jews plight during the Holocaust
      Gender: Both
      Level: 3

R

  • Rylant, Cynthia
    • Cobblestreet Cousins

      • In Aunt Lucy's Kitchen
        Gender: Both
        Level: 2, 3

      • Some Good News
        Gender: Both
        Level: 2, 3

      • A Little Shopping
        Gender: Both
        Level: 2, 3

      • Special Gifts
        Gender: Both
        Level: 2, 3

    • The Relatives Came
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3, 4

T

  • Tudor, Tasha
     Mostly known for her lovely illustrations

    • A Doll's Christmas
      Gender: Both
      Level: 1, 2, 3, 4

    • A Time to Keep
      Gender: Both
      Level: 1, 2, 3, 4

    • Pumpkin Moonshine
      Gender: Both
      Level: 1, 2, 3, 4

    • Wings from the Wind
      An anthology of poems
      Gender: Both
      Level: 1, 2, 3, 4

V

  • von Stockhum, Hilda

    • A Day on Skates
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3

W

  • Wangerin, Walter, Jr.

    • Mary’s First Christmas
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3, 4

    • Peter’s First Easter
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3, 4
  • Wells, Rosemary

    • Lassie Come Home
      A retelling—beautifully illustrated
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3
  • Wise, William

    • The Black Falcon
      From the Decameron, retold by Wise
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3
  • Wood, Audrey and Don

    • A Cowboy Christmas: The Miracle at Lone Pine Ridge
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3