Picture Books

A

• Alsburg, Chris Van

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

• Anno, Mitsumasa

  • Choose
    Anno’s Journey
    There are several Anno books. Most are wordless and the reader has to find Anno in various landscapes—very fun even for young children.
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

• Ardizonne, Edward

  • The Tim series

  • Choose
    Tim and Ginger
    and more...
    Gender: B
    Level: 2
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    Ship Cook’s Ginger
    and more...
    Gender: B
    Level: 2
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    Tim and Charlotte
    and more...
    Gender: B
    Level: 2
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    Tim to the Rescue
    and more...
    Gender: B
    Level: 2

• Armstrong, Jennifer

  • Choose
    Pockets
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

B

• Barker, Cicely Mary

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

• Barklem, Jill

  • Choose
    The Brambly Hedge
    the illustrations are exquisite mostly G &
    Gender: G
    Level: 2, 3

  • The Brambly Hedge series

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    Poppy's Babies
    The illustrations are exquisite
    Gender: G
    Level: 2, 3
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    Summer Story
    The illustrations are exquisite
    Gender: G
    Level: 2, 3
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    Sea Story
    The illustrations are exquisite
    Gender: G
    Level: 2, 3
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    Autumn Story
    The illustrations are exquisite
    Gender: G
    Level: 2, 3
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    The Secret Staircase
    The illustrations are exquisite
    Gender: G
    Level: 2, 3
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    Winter Story
    The illustrations are exquisite
    Gender: G
    Level: 2, 3
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    The High Hills
    The illustrations are exquisite
    Gender: G
    Level: 2, 3
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    Spring Story
    The illustrations are exquisite
    Gender: G
    Level: 2, 3

• Bernadette

  • Choose
    Varenka
    a Russian story of a delayed answer to prayer and the miracle that results
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3, 4

• Beskow, Elsa

   All I’ve read of hers are great
  • Choose
    Children of the Forest
    all I’ve read of hers are great
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
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    Pelle’s New Suit
    all I’ve read of hers are great
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
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    Peter's Old House
    all I’ve read of hers are great
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

• Bishop, Jennie

  • Choose
    The Princess and the Kiss
    These books are about preserving purity
    Gender: G
    Level: 2
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    The Squire and the Scroll
    These books are about preserving purity
    Gender: B
    Level: 2

• Bolton, Michael

  • Choose
    The Secret of the Lost Kingdom
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Brett, Jan

  • Choose
    A Christmas Treasury
    This includes most of her great stories with their gorgeous, lush illustrations; you can easily find many of her individual books.
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

• Brisley, Joyce Lankester

  • Milly-Molly-Mandy and Sequels

  • Choose
    Milly-Molly-Mandy
    Gender: G
    Level: 2
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    More Milly-Molly-Mandy
    Gender: G
    Level: 2

• Brumbeau, Jeff

  • Choose
    The Quiltmaker’s Gift
    Phenomenal illustrations
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

• Bunting, Eve

  • A Hanukkah story—very moving

  • Choose
    One Candle
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3

C

• Cannon, Janell

  • Choose
    Stellaluna
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
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    Verdi
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

• Caudill, Rebecca

  • Choose
    A Certain Small Shepherd
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3

• Collington, Peter

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

• Cooney, Barbara

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

• Craft, Charlotte

  • Choose
    King Midas and the Golden Touch
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Cullen, Lynn

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

D

• Deedy, Carmen Agra

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

• DePaola, Tomie

  • Choose
    Pascual and the Kitchen Angels
    Great illustrator
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
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    Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland
    Great illustrator
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
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    Petook, an Easter Story
    Illus. by Tomie dePaola
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
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    The Clown of God
    Great illustrator; many Christian themes and saints’ stories
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
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    The Holy Twins
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
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    The Night of Las Posadas
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

• DeRico, Ul

  • Choose
    The Rainbow Goblins
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

E

• Early, Margaret

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

• Everett, Gwen

  • Choose
    John Brown: One Man Against Slavery
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

F

• Fair, Sylvia

  • Choose
    The Bedspread
    Gender: G
    Level: 2

• Field, Rachel

  • Choose
    Hitty
    I like the one rewritten by Rosemary Wells and illus. by Susan Jeffers—a cross betw. a picture book and a chapter book—lovely, full page illustrations
    Gender: G
    Level: 2, 3

G

• Gruelle, Johnny

  • Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy

  • Choose
    Raggedy Ann Stories
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
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    Raggedy Andy Stories
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
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    The Paper Dragon
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3
  • Choose
    Wooden Willie
    A little known one, but a family favorite
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3

• Guarnieri, Paolo

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

H

• Haas, Irene

  • Choose
    The Maggie B
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

• Helen Kinsey

  • Choose
    The Bear That Heard Crying
    Based on a true story about Sarah Witcher
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Herriot, James

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

• Hest, Amy

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

• Hobbie, Holly

  • Choose
    Toot & Puddle
    The Toot and Puddle series is good, but these are our favorites
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
  • Choose
    Wish You Were You Here
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

• Hodges, Margaret

  • Choose
    Merlin and the Making of the King
    Great retellings of many stories
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3
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    Saint George and the Dragon
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3
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    The Kitchen Knight
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3

• Houselander, Caryll

  • Choose
    Petook, an Easter Story
    Illus. by Tomie dePaola
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Hughes, Shirley

   A house favorite—author and illustrator
  • Choose
    Alfie and the Birthday Surprise
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
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    Alfie Wins a Prize
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
  • Choose
    All About Alfie
    This is a compilation of Alfie stories. They also are published individually as Alfie Gets in First, Alfie’s Feet, Alfie Gives a Hand, and An Evening With Alfie or individual stories.
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
  • Choose
    Dogger
    Had to read this one every night for weeks.
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
  • Choose
    Tales of Trotter Street
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
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    The Big Alfie and Annie Rose Storybook
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
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    The Big Alfie Out of Doors Storybook
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

• Hyman, Trina Schart

   Mostly an amazing illustrator
  • Choose
    Little Red Riding Hood Retold
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
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    Rapunzel
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
  • Choose
    Sleeping Beauty
    Mostly an amazing illustrator
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

K

• Kellogg, Steven

  • Choose
    Mike Fink
    Gender: B
    Level: 1, 2
  • Choose
    Paul Bunyan
    Gender: B
    Level: 1, 2

• Kinsey-Warnock

  • Choose
    The Bear That Heard Crying
    Based on a true story about Sarah Witcher
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

L

• Lasker, Joe

  • Choose
    A Tournament of Knights
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

• Lindman, Maj

  • Choose
    Flicka, Ricka, Dicka
    and all the different stories
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
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    Snip, Snap, Snurr
    And all the different stories
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Lunge-Larsen, Lise

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

M

• MacLachlan, Patricia

   I find her books painfully beautiful
  • Choose
    All the Places to Love
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
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    Through Grandpa’s Eyes
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Mayer, Marianna

  • Choose
    Beauty and the Beast
    Beautiful illustrations
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• McClintock, Barbara

  • Choose
    Dahlia
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• McCloskey, Robert

  • Choose
    Blueberries for Sal
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
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    Lentil
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
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    Make Way for Ducklings
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
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    One Morning in Maine
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

• McLerran, Alice

  • Choose
    Roxaboxen
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Meisel, Paul

  • Choose
    Zara’s Hats
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Mills, Lauren

  • Choose
    The Rag Coat
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

N

• Nesbit, E.

  • Choose
    The Book of Beasts
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Northcote, Nancy

  • Choose
    Pottle Pig
    Hilarious stories with great illus. about a very mischievous pig
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

O

• Oram, Hiawyn

  • Choose
    Badger’s Bring Something Party
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

• O’Connor, Sandra Day

  • Choose
    Finding Susie
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

P

• Paterson, Katherine

  • Choose
    The Angel and the Donkey
    a wonderful, beautifully illustrated retelling of the story of Balaam and his donkey
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Peet, Bill

  • Choose
    Capyboppy
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Philbrick, Margaret

  • Choose
    Back to the Manger
    Lovely Christmas story with great local (Chicago) references & illus.
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2, 3, 4

• Phillips, Mildred

  • Choose
    The Sign in Mendel’s Window
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• 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.
  • Choose
    An Orange for Frankie
    A touching Christmas story
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
  • Choose
    Betty Doll
    Gender: G
    Level: 2
  • Choose
    Chicken Sunday
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
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    January’s Sparrow
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
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    Just Plain and Fancy
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
  • Choose
    Pink and Say
    For older children—a Civil War story
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3
  • Choose
    Rechenka’s Eggs
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
  • Choose
    Thank you, Mr. Falker
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
  • Choose
    The Bee Tree
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
  • Choose
    The Christmas Tapestry
    An amazing Christmas story
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
  • Choose
    The Trees of the Dancing Goats
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
  • Choose
    Thunder Cake
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
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    Tikvah Means Hope
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
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    Uncle Vova’s Tree
    An Epiphany story
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Poole, Josephine

  • Choose
    Joan of Arc
    Illus. by Angela Barrett
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Potter, Beatrix

   Try getting the very small books as she published them
  • Choose
    The World of Peter Rabbit
    Can be purchased individually
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Provensen

  • Choose
    The Master Swordsman and The Magic Doorway
    Gender: B
    Level: 2

R

• Rand, Gloria

  • Choose
    Sailing Home
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Riordan, James

  • Choose
    Jason and the Golden Fleece
    A beautifully illustrated retelling
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Robertson, Bruce

  • Choose
    Marguerite Makes a Book
    Beautiful in showing how illumination was done
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Robinson, Joan

  • Choose
    Teddy Robinson
    An easy chapter book—a house favorite
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

• Rogasky, Barbara

  • Choose
    Rapunzel
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
  • Choose
    Sleeping Beauty
    Mostly an amazing illustrator
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
  • Choose
    The Water of Life: A Tale of the Brother’s Grimm
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Rylant, Cynthia

  • Cobblestreet Cousins

  • Choose
    In Aunt Lucy's Kitchen
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3
  • Choose
    Some Good News
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3
  • Choose
    A Little Shopping
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3
  • Choose
    Special Gifts
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3
  • Choose
    Let's Go Home
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
  • Choose
    The Relatives Came
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3, 4

S

• San Souci, Robert D.

  • Choose
    A Weave of Words
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Sanderson, Ruth

  • Choose
    Rose Red and Snow White
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
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    The Crystal Mountain
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
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    The Twelve Dancing Princesses
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Sherman, Josepha

  • Choose
    Vassilisa The Wise
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Steig, William

  • Choose
    Brave Irene
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
  • Choose
    Dr. DeSoto
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2
  • Choose
    The Library
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2

• Stewart, Sarah

  • Choose
    The Gardener
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
  • Choose
    The Journey
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2
  • Choose
    The Money Tree
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

T

• Tudor, Tasha

   Mostly known for her lovely illustrations
  • Choose
    A Doll's Christmas
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2, 3, 4
  • Choose
    A Time to Keep
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2, 3, 4
  • Choose
    Pumpkin Moonshine
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2, 3, 4
  • Choose
    Wings from the Wind
    An anthology of poems
    Gender: Both
    Level: 1, 2, 3, 4

V

• von Stockhum, Hilda

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

W

• Waddell, Martin

  • Choose
    The Hidden House
    Gender: G
    Level: 2

• Wangerin, Walter, Jr.

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

• Wells, Rosemary

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

• Wilde, Oscar

  • Choose
    The Selfish Giant
    Retold by many different authors; I like the one by Fiona Waters, illus by Fabian Negrin, but I have seen others I love
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Williams, Margery

  • Choose
    The Velveteen Rabbit
    This is a lovely story; just make sure you find one with equally beautiful illustrations, as the options are plentiful
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2

• Wise, William

  • Choose
    The Black Falcon
    From the Decameron, retold by Wise
    Gender: Both
    Level: 2, 3

• Wood, Audrey and Don

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

• Wynne-Jones, Tim

  • Choose
    The Zoom Trilogy
    Gender: B
    Level: 1, 2