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Picture Books

Once upon a time.... may be the oldest trick in the writer's bag, but we still fall for it—especially if it's accompanied by pictures. There's a sense in which all picture books are fairy tales (even the ones that take place in New York City or a log cabin) simply because they're able to transport us in a way words alone can't. We become part of the story viscerally, sensing the subtleties of mood and place and texture.

Not all picture books are created equal, of course. We don't go in for VeggieTales, or Disney, or Sesame Street (etc. etc.), preferring the more classic style (like Caldecott winners) and newer ones that are more artistic (as opposed to merely visual). The only thing a second-rate illustration can do is make you mourn the preeminence of Saturday morning cartoons, whereas a good one has the capacity to take you inside.

We're not trying to be snobs about this, but if we offer our children picture books to read and look at, we want them to be of the highest quality. We want the text to be excellently written, the plot well-crafted, the illustrations rich and vibrant. There's a very real sense in which a child's imagination is formed by the things he or she sees as a small human, and if they only get to look at poor drawings there's a pretty good chance their creative powers will end up severely limited.

If you've encountered the illustrations of Trina Schart Hyman, Robert McCloskey, Maurice Sendak, or Michael Morpurgo, you'll know what we're talking about. Good picture books have a way of showing us things we've always seen or imagined a little differently, tilting the canvas of the familiar to make it seem a little less so, more wild, more mysterious, more real.

Which is precisely why they're such a great way to introduce kids to reading. They don't have to know what the words say to get the gist of the story, yet when they do begin to learn what the words say, it's easier for them to grasp the meaning since they're already familiar with the basic premise. Many kids have learned to read this way, and we suspect many more will do so in the future.

That is, if they have access to quality picture books at a young age. We like them proliferating throughout the house like small landforms, squeezing out of bookcases, turning up beneath the couch and on top of dressers. Just remember—they aren't only for children. In fact, adults often need them more, to connect with their progeny, to recapture a sense of youth, or simply to rest when words stop making sense and only pictures are able to communicate.

When we say "picture book," there are a couple of things we aren't talking about: first, illustrated fiction. A great book, primarily text with illustrations here and there, are not the same as picture books, which focus on the artwork. Second, we don't include here non-fiction. There are lots of excellent science, math, biographical, and other types of picture books—we have plenty—but they are in separate sections (see below).

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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Active Filters: Preschool (Ages 4-5), Perfectbound, Used Books & Materials
"Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," said the Sloth
by Eric Carle
from World of Eric Carle
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
10 Little Hot Dogs
by John Himmelman
from Two Lions
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Alphabet & Counting Books (Location: PIC-ALPH)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Adventures of Beekle
by Dan Santat
from Scholastic Inc.
2015 Caldecott Medal winner
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
All Those Secrets of the World
by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Leslie Baker
1st edition from Little, Brown & Company
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Alvin Ailey
by Andrea Davis Pinkney; illustrated by Brian Pinkney
from Hyperion Books for Children
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
April's Kittens
by Claire Turlay Newberry
from Troll Publishing
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Better-Than-Best Purim
by Naomi Howland
PJ Library from Two Lions
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Jewish Holidays & Traditions (Location: HOLIDAY)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Beyond the Ridge
by Paul Goble
from Aladdin Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Book for Bramble
by Lynne Garner, illustrated by Gaby Hansen
from Orchard Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle
Smithsonian's Backyard Collection
by Deborah Dennard, illustrated by Kristin Kest
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Reptiles & Amphibians (Location: SCI-REPT)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Caleb & Kate
by William Steig
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (3 in stock)
Carp for Kimiko
by Virginia Kroll, illustrated by Katherine Roundtree
from Charlesbridge
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Cat Wants Cuddles (Oh no I don't!)
by P. Crumble, illustrated by Lucinda Gifford
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Cat's Pajamas
by Frances Brundage
2005 Reissue from Green Tiger Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Chameleon's Colors
by Chisato Tashiro, translated by Marianne Martens
from NorthSouth
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Cookie House
by Margaret Hillert, illustrated by K. Y. Craft
from Follett Publishing Co.
for Nursery-1st grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Corduroy
by Don Freeman
Imagination Library Edition from Puffin Books
Personification Stories for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Coyote Places the Stars
from Aladdin Paperbacks
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Daniel's Good Day
by Micha Archer
from Nancy Paulsen Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Dirt Movers
by Bobbie Kalman and Petrina Gentile
from Crabtree Publishing
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Things That Go (Location: SCI-TTGO)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
DK Mighty Machines: Tractor
by Claire Llewellyn
from DK Publishing
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Things That Go (Location: SCI-TTGO)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Emma
by Wendy Kesselman, illustrated by Barbara Cooney
from Picture Yearling
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Etcher's Studio
by Arthur Geisert
from Houghton Mifflin
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Fox Walked Alone
by Barbara Reid
PJ Library from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Good Night, Gorilla
by Peggy Rathmann
from Penguin Putnam
Picture Only Books for Preschool-Kindergarten
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Goodbye Geese
by Nancy White Carlstrom, Illustrated by Ed Young
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Gorky Rises
by William Steig
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (5 in stock)
Great Fuzz Frenzy
by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Growing: Farm, School and Me!
by Reiffton School Sixth Grade Students
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Handa's Noisy Night
by Eileen Browne
from Candlewick Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Hello, Goodbye Window
by Norton Juster
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool- 2nd Grade
2006 Caldecott Medal winner
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Hello, Red Fox
by Eric Carle
from Aladdin Paperbacks
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
How Smudge Came
by Nan Gregory, illustrated by Ron Lightburn
from Walker and Company
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
How We Say I Love You
by Nicole Chen, illustrated by Lenny Wen
Imagination Library Edition from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
I Go With My Family to Grandma's
by Riki Levinson, illustrated by Diane Goode
from Trumpet Club
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
I Just Want to Say Good Night
by Rachel Isadora
from Nancy Paulsen Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
I Read Signs
from Greenwillow Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Icky Bug Shapes
by Jerry Pallotta, illustrated by Shennen Bersani
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
If You Were a Minus Sign
by Tricia Speed Shaskan, illustrated by Francesca Carabelli
from Picture Window Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Math Picture Books (Location: MATR-PIC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
If You Were a Plus Sign
by Tricia Speed Shaskan, illustrated by Francesca Carabelli
from Picture Window Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Math Picture Books (Location: MATR-PIC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
In the Beginning: The First Seven Days
by Davis Carman; illustrated by Anderson Carman
from Apologia Educational Ministries
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
It's Fall!
by Linda Glaser, illustrated by Susan Swan
from Millbrook Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed
by Leslea Newman, illustrated by Amy June Bates
from The PJ Library
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
King Solomon and the Bee
by Dalia Hardof Renberg (adapter), illustrated by Ruth Heller
PJ Library from Crocodile Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
King Who Rained
by Fred Gwynne
from Prentice Hall
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Kite Flying
by Grace Lin
from Dragonfly Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Legend of the Loon
by Kathy-jo Wargin, illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen
from Sleeping Bear Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Life Cycle of a Bird
by Bobbie Kalman and Kathryn Smithyman
from Crabtree Publishing
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Birds (Location: SCI-BIRD)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Listening Walk
by Paul Showers, illustrated by Aliki
from HarperTrophy
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Little Polar Bear, Take Me Home!
by Hans de Beer
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Llama Llama Mad at Mama
by Anna Dewdney
from Scholastic Inc.
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Lola Plants a Garden
by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
from Charlesbridge
for Nursery-1st grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Lyle at the Office
by Bernard Waber
from Houghton Mifflin
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Mama, Do You Love Me?
by Barbara M. Joosse, Illustrated by Barbara Lavallee
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-1st grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.00 (4 in stock)
Math Counts: Pattern
by Henry Pluckrose
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Math Picture Books (Location: MATR-PIC)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Mesmerized
by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Iacopo Bruno
from Candlewick Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Colonial America (1690-1765) (Location: HISA-17COL)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Milo's Hat Trick
by Jon Agee
from Dial Books for Young Readers
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Moira's Birthday
by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko
2012 Printing from Annick Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
More Than Meets the Eye
by Bob Raczka
from Millbrook Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Mountain that Loved a Bird
by Alice McLerran; illustrated by Eric Carle
from Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Nativity
by Julie Vivas
from Voyager Books
for Preschool-4th grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
New Zealand Colours
by Gwenda Turner
from Puffin Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Night is Yours
by Abdul-Razak Zachariah, illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo
from Dial Books for Young Readers
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Now and Ben
by Gene Barretta
from Square Fish Publishing
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Inventions & Discoveries (Location: SCI-INV)
$8.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
On the Go
by Ann Morris, photos by Ken Heyman
from Mulberry Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Our Puppy's Vacation
by Ruth Brown
from Dutton Children's Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Patrick's Dinosaurs
by Carol Carrick, illustrated by Donald Carrick
from Clarion Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Pezzettino
by Leo Lionni
from Dragonfly Books
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Prince Ivan and the Firebird
by Bernard Lodge
from Whispering Coyote Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Princess Who Lost Her Hair
by Tololwa M. Mollel, illustrated by Charles Reasoner
from Troll Associates
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Puppy Who Wanted a Boy
by Jane Thayer, Illustrated by Lisa McCue
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-1st grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Puss In Boots
by John Cech (reteller), illustrated by Bernhard Oberdieck
from Sterling Publishing Co.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Quick as a Cricket
from Child's Play Ltd.
for Nursery-Kindergarten
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Rabbit's Snow Dance
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
by James and Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by Jeff Newman
from Dial Books for Young Readers
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Rainbow Rhino
by Peter Sis
from Dragonfly Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Red Light, Green Light
by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Ring Bearer
by Floyd Cooper
from Philomel Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Rocket Ship, Solo Trip
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
by Chiara Colombi, illustrated by Scott Magoon
Imagination Library Edition from Penguin Random House
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Rosie's Walk
by Pat Hutchins
from Aladdin Paperbacks
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$8.99 $4.50 (5 in stock)
Sail Away
by Donald Crews
from Scholastic Inc.
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Salmon for Simon
by Betty Waterton, illustrated by Ann Blades
2013rd edition from Groundwood Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Salty Sails North
by Gloria Rand, illustrated by Ted Rand
from Henry Holt and Company
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Sand to Stone and Back Again
by Nancy Bo Flood, photography by Tony Kuyper
from Fulcrum Publishing
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Geology (Rocks & Minerals) (Location: SCI-GEO)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
See the Circus
by H.A. Rey
from Houghton Mifflin
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Shapes, Shapes, Shapes
by Tana Hoban
from Greenwillow Books
for Preschool-1st grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Sign Painter
by Allen Say
1st edition from Houghton Mifflin
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.50 (3 in stock)
Snakes
by Gail Gibbons
from Holiday House
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Reptiles & Amphibians (Location: SCI-REPT)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Solomon the Rusty Nail
by William Steig
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (2 in stock)
Sounds All Around
Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science Level 1
by Wendy Pfeffer, illustrated by Anna Chernyshova
2nd edition from Harper
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in Light & Sound (Location: SCI-PHY)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Stray Dog
by Marc Simont
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
2002 Caldecott Honor Book
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Sweet Dreams for Little Ones
by Michael G. Pappas
from Winston Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Teddy Bear ABC
by Laura Rinkle Johnson, illustrated by Margaret Landers Sanford
from Green Tiger Press
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Alphabet & Counting Books (Location: PIC-ALPH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Telling Time
by Jules Older, illustrated by Megan Halsey
from Charlesbridge
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Math Picture Books (Location: MATR-PIC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Ten Black Dots
by Donald Crews
from Greenwillow Books
for Nursery-1st grade
in Alphabet & Counting Books (Location: PIC-ALPH)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
The Treasure
by Uri Shulevitz
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux
for Preschool-2nd grade
1980 Caldecott Honor Book
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Truck Stop
by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Melissa Iwai
from Viking Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Turquoise Boy
Native American Legends
by Terri Cohlene (adapter), illustrated by Charles Reasoner
2002 Reprint from Watermill Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Two of Them
by Aliki
from Mulberry Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Ty's One-man Band
by Mildred Pitts Walter, illustrated by Margot Tomes
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Usborne Big Book of Things to Spot
from EDC Publishing
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Look and Find Books (Location: PIC-LOOK)
$6.50 (1 in stock)
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