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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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Picture Books
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164 Items found Print
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Active Filters: 2nd grade (Ages 7-8), Perfectbound, Used Books & Materials
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)
Ancient Egyptians
History Opens Windows
by Jane Shuter
Revised and Updated from Heinemann-Raintree
for 1st-3rd grade
in Ancient Egypt (Location: HISW-ANEG)
$4.00 (2 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)
Back Home
by Gloria Jean Pinkney, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
from Puffin Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Bald Eagle
by Gordon Morrison
from Walter Lorraine Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Birds (Location: SCI-BIRD)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Barefoot Book of Buddhist Tales
by Sherab Chodzin & Alexandra Kohn (retellers), illustrated by Marie Cameron
from Barefoot Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Bedtime for Francis
by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Garth Williams
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Bee-Man of Orn
by Frank R. Stockton, illustrated by Maurice Sendak
from HarperTrophy
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Beluga Passage
Smithsonian's Oceanic collection
by Linda Lingemann, illustrated by Jon Weiman
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Whales & Dolphins (Location: SCI-OCEAN)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Benny's Pennies
by Pat Brisson, illustrated by Bob Barner
from Dragonfly Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.50 (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)
Big Moon Tortilla
by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Dyanne Strongbow
from Boyds Mill Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Biome Explorers: Destination Desert
by Laura Perdew, illustrated by Lex Cornell
from Nomad Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Deserts & Grasslands (Location: SCI-ECO)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Birdie's Lighthouse
by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Kimberly Root
2000 Paperback from Aladdin Paperbacks
for 1st-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Black Bear Cub at Sweet Berry Trail
Smithsonian's Backyard collection
by Laura Gates Galvin, illustrated by Will Nelson
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Blueberries for Sal
by Robert McCloskey
from Puffin Books
Realistic Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade
1949 Caldecott Honor Book
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Boats on the River
by Marjorie Flack, illustrated by Jay Hyde Barnum
1991 Reprint from Troll Associates
for Preschool-2nd grade
1947 Caldecott Honor Book
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (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)
Box Turtle at Silver Pond Lane
Smithsonian's Backyard collection
by Susan Korman, illustrated by Stephen Marchesi
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Reptiles & Amphibians (Location: SCI-REPT)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Buffalo Bird Girl
by S. D. Nelson
from Abrams Books for Young Readers
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$9.95 $6.00 (4 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 (6 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)
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)
City Colors
by Zoran Milich
from Kids Can Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Construction Alphabet Book
by Jerry Pallotta, illustrated by Rob Bolster
from Charlesbridge
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Alphabet & Counting Books (Location: PIC-ALPH)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Coral Reefs
by Jason Chin
from Square Fish Publishing
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Oceanography & Marine Biology (Location: SCI-OCEAN)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Corduroy - Spanish edition
by Don Freeman
from Puffin Books
Personification Stories for Preschool-2nd grade
in Spanish Resources (Location: FL-SPARE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Cottontail at Clover Crescent
Smithsonian's Backyard collection
by C. Drew Lamm, illustrated by Allen Davis
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
$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)
Dave's Down-to-Earth Rock Shop
MathStart Series Level 3
by Stuart J. Murphy, Illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith
from HarperTrophy
for 2nd-4th grade
in Math Picture Books (Location: MATR-PIC)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Deer Mouse at Old Farm Road
Smithsonian's Backyard collection
by Laura Gates Galvin, illustrated by Katy Bratun
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Do You Really Want to Meet a Weasel?
by Cari Meister, illustrated by Daniele Fabbri
from Amicus Ink
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Dolphin's Rescue
Smithsonian's Oceanic collection
by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by Steven James Petruccio
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Whales & Dolphins (Location: SCI-OCEAN)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Elizabeth Leads the Way
by Tanya Lee Stone, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon
from Square Fish Publishing
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Elves and the Shoemaker
by Freya Littledale, Illustrated by Brinton Turkle
from Scholastic Inc.
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.00 (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)
Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)
by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-4th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Fossils Tell of Long Ago
Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science Stage 2
by Aliki
Revised from HarperCollins
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Dinosaurs & Fossils (Location: SCI-DINO)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Fun with Roman Numerals
by David A. Adler, illustrated by Edward Miller III
from Holiday House
for 1st-4th grade
in Math Picture Books (Location: MATR-PIC)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Girl Who Thought in Pictures
by Julia Finley Mosca, illustrated by Daniel Rieley
from The Innovation Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Go, Fractions!
by Judith Bauer Stamper, illustrated by Chris Demarest
from Houghton Mifflin
for 2nd-4th grade
in Math Picture Books (Location: MATR-PIC)
$2.50 (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)
Grapes of Math
by Gregory Tang
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-4th grade
in Math Picture Books (Location: MATR-PIC)
$4.00 (3 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 Frogs
by Vivian French, illustrated by Alison Bartlett
from Candlewick Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Reptiles & Amphibians (Location: SCI-REPT)
$4.50 (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)
Hattie & Hudson
by Chris Van Dusen
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)
Hermit Crab's Home
Smithsonian's Oceanic collection
by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by Bob Dacey & Debra Bandelin
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Seashore & Tidepools (Location: SCI-ECO)
$4.50 (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)
Hurry and the Monarch
by Antoine O Flatharta, illustrated by Meilo So
from Dragonfly Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Insects & Arachnids (Location: SCI-BUG)
$4.00 (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 Grew Up With George Washington
If You Were There
by Ruth Belov Gross
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-5th grade
in Colonial America (1690-1765) (Location: HISA-17COL)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
If You Were a Kid in a Medieval Castle
by Josh Gregory, illustrated by Sebastian Gomez
from Scholastic Inc.
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
If You Were a Kid in the Thirteen Colonies
by Wil Mara, illustrated by Lluis Farre
from Scholastic Inc.
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Colonial America (1690-1765) (Location: HISA-17COL)
$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)
Jackrabbit and the Prairie Fire
Smithsonian Wild Heritage
by Susan Saunders, illustrated by Jo-Ellen Bosson
from Soundprints
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Jane on Her Own
A Catwings Tale Book 4
by Ursula K. Le Guin
from Orchard Books
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$2.50 (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)
Kitten Tale
by Eric Rohmann
from Dragonfly Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (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)
Lily Cupboard
by Shulamith Levey Oppenheim, illustrated by Ronald Himler
from HarperTrophy
for Kindergarten-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)
Lobster's Secret
Smithsonian's Oceanic collection
by Kathleen M. Hollenbeck, illustrated by Jon Weiman
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Oceanography & Marine Biology (Location: SCI-OCEAN)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Loon at Northwood Lake
Smithsonian's Backyard collection
by Elizabeth Ring, illustrated by Taylor Oughton
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Birds (Location: SCI-BIRD)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Louisa May Alcott: Her Girlhood Diary
by Louisa May Alcott
from Troll Medallion
for 2nd-5th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$5.00 (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)
Mallard Duck at Meadow View Pond
Smithsonian's Backyard collection
by Wendy Pfeffer, illustrated by Taylor Oughton
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Birds (Location: SCI-BIRD)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Mars Exploration 1960-2016
by Megan Noel
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$4.00 (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)
Millions to Measure
by David M. Schwartz
from HarperTrophy
for Kindergarten-6th grade
in Math Picture Books (Location: MATR-PIC)
$5.00 (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 Eric Carle, text by Alice McLerran
from Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers
by Karen Winnick
from Boyds Mill Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
My Name is York
by Elizabeth Van Steenwyk, illustrated by Bill Farnsworth
from Rising Moon Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Narwhal
Smithsonian's Oceanic collection
by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by Steven James Petruccio
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Whales & Dolphins (Location: SCI-OCEAN)
$4.50 (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)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Oak Inside the Acorn
by Max Lucado, Illustrated by George Angelini
from Tommy Nelson
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
On Earth
by G. Brian Karas
from Puffin Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Earth Science (Location: SCI-EARTH)
$5.00 (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)
Orca Song
Smithsonian's Oceanic collection
by Michael C. Armour, Illustrated Katie Lee
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Whales & Dolphins (Location: SCI-OCEAN)
$4.50 (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)
Paul and the Wolf
by Margo Lemieux, Illustrated by Bill Nelson
from Silver Press
for 1st-3rd 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)
Picture Book of Florence Nightingale
by David A. Adler, illustrated by John & Alexandra Wallner
Repackaged from Holiday House
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
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